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ADDICTS AND AFTERCARE - COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OF THE FORMER DRUG USER

NCJ Number
62537
Editor(s)
B S BROWN
Date Published
1979
Length
294 pages
Annotation
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE THEORY THAT CONFORMITY TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CONVENTIONAL SOCIAL ORDER IS ENSURED BY STRONG BONDS OF COMMITMENT, INVOLVEMENT, AND ATTACHMENT.
Abstract
RESEARCH ALSO SUGGESTS THAT DEVIANCE INVOLVES NOT ONLY AN ABSENCE OF BONDING TO THE CONVENTIONAL ORDER, BUT AN ATTACHMENT TO A DEVIANT SUBCULTURE. SUCH ATTACHMENTS, HOWEVER, MAY BE VULNERABLE. THIS VULNERABILITY IS SUGGESTED BY THE WEAK INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS FOUND AMONG STREET DRUG USERS AND THE SEVERANCE OF SUCH RELATIONSHIPS DURING THE WITHDRAWAL PHASE OF THE DRUG ABUSE CYCLE. SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION, THEREFORE, INCLUDES THE COMMITMENT OF THE DEVIANT TO CONVENTIONAL LINES OF ACTION, TO ACHIEVING THE REWARDS OF SUCH ACTION, AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NECESSARY SKILLS. EFFECTIVE DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS CAN STRENGTHEN COMMITMENTS BY OFFERING REWARDS (E.G., FREE DENTAL CARE), ENCOURAGING GREATER PERCEPTION OF POWER AND PERSONAL CONTROL, AND ASSISTING IN THE CHANGE TO A MORE CONVENTIONAL WAY OF LIVING. CONTINUING CARE PROGRAMS CAN ALSO HELP BY OFFERING PRIMARY, RELEVANT, AND FLEXIBLE SERVICES; SUPPORT NETWORKS OF MORE CONVENTIONAL FRIENDS; APPROPRIATE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS; AND COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT MODELS. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)