Changing careers: Becoming clean and sober in a therapeutic community

Journal/Book: Qual Health Res. 1998; 8: 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Sage Publications Inc. 466-480.

Abstract: Substance abuse remains a major threat to public health. Recovery is complex and variable, occurring with and without intervention. Therapeutic communities (TC) offer a unique long-term approach to recovery. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of individuals in a TC. Grounded theory provides the methodological basis for the study. Interviews were conducted with 13 individuals in 3 settings. The findings indicate that recovery is analogous to changing careers and suggest a theory that explicates incremental stages in the redirection of the self to achieve a more productive lifestyle. Whereas TCs often purport to bring about character change, the findings of this study emphasize the importance of residual strengths of the previous self-strengths that must be valued to achieve success.

Note: Article Marcus MT, Univ Texas, Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Nursing Syst & Technol, Sch Nursing, Houston,TX 77225 USA

Keyword(s): RETENTION; CONVERSION; BEHAVIORS; LOFLAND; LENGTH; MODEL

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