“House of Hope Serbia”
Therapeutic
Community
- community based treatment
of (drug) addiction -
The Therapeutic Community is an
environment that helps people
while they are helping others.
(F.B. Perfas, 2003)
Foundation of
House of Hope Serbia
•
We recognized the need for a humanistic
support for drug users in Serbia and their
rehabilitation in society
• Model of Therapeutic Community (TC):
because of its treatment and cost efficiency,
sustainability, humanity and flexibility
regarding therapeutic methods
• Collaboration of a group of professionals
from the Netherlands and Serbia
Project Group ‘House of Hope’
Darko Cvetic (NL/SRB): Former Resident of TC;
Health Caretaker
Lineke van Hal (NL): Medical Anthropologist;
PhD-candidate in Health Sciences
Anna Maria Brassé (NL): Communication Expert;
Advisor International Public Health Projects
Jelena Zulevic (SRB): Constructivist Psychotherapist;
Trainer self-help groups
Hatta Smit (NL): Sociotherapist in Dutch TC; Trainer
Adriaan Korver (NL): Medical Doctor;
Director Public Health NGO ‘Yanos’
What is Therapeutic Community?
•
A participative, community-based approach to
different types of addiction.
Foster individual change and promote positive growth, by
changing an individual’s lifestyle through a community of
committed people working together to help themselves and
each other.
•
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TC’s are residential settings. Residents are encouraged to take
responsibility for themselves and others within the
community.
Peer influence, mediated through group processes, is used
to help individuals to learn and assimilate social norms and
develop more effective social skills.
Methodology of TC
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TC’s differ from other treatment approaches principally in their
use of the community, comprising both treatment staff and
residents as key agents of change. This is based on “mutual
self-help”.
TC members interact in structured and unstructured ways to
influence attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors associated with
drug use.
Includes different activities combined with unstructured
interactions with peers → “community as method”
TC’s methods are not focused on medical aspects of addiction
but on a person as a whole (however, there is cooperation with
medical professionals when needed).
Efficiency of TC’s
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Research on TC’s from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), U.S.
Department of Health: Those who successfully completed treatment in a TC had:
lower levels of cocaine, heroin, and alcohol use; lower levels of criminal
behavior; lower levels of unemployment; and lower levels of indicators of
depression than before treatment.
Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS, 1991 - 1993) showed:
In Netherlands: 1/3 never uses drugs again; 1/3 recidivises (usually not with
“hard” drugs); 1/3 is difficult to be helped
What is so special about our
model of TC?
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Over 40 years it is successfully implemented around the world: it
is a well known and recognized method, with clear rules
and principles of work.
It is not based on any religion and focuses on inclusion
Integrative focus: The approach is not medical, but medical
issues are considered important so our residents won’t be
brought into danger by lack of medical care
Work and vocational training are important
parts of the therapeutic process. The residents
will contribute (economically) to local
community through volunteer work,
and they will be trained to find jobs.
What do we want to achieve
with the project?
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Establishment of TC (location with basic
furniture)
Training of therapists
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Post-graduate training in drug addiction
Introduction into philosophy of TC’s
Management training to run the TC
Involvement of local community
(incl. recruitment of clients)
Useful links
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www.houseofhopeserbia.com
www.therapeuticcommunities.org
www.therapeuticcommunitiesofamerica.org
www.daytop.org
Questions?
info@houseofhopeserbia.com