Abstract
Therapeutic communities (TCs) for substance abusers are oriented toward changing the entire person as a means for facilitating
a drug-free future. This vision parallels ideas such as integrated care for the treatment of co-occurring substance abuse
and psychiatric conditions. The extent to which integrated services are available in TCs has not been documented. Using data
from a national sample of 345 TCs, this paper examines the availability of integrated care in TCs and the structural and cultural
characteristics of TCs that offer integrated care. The results indicate that a substantial portion of TCs in this sample admit
clients with co-occurring disorders (70.7%), and as many as half of the TCs offer integrated care. TCs that offer integrated
care show increased use of professional staff, individual psychotherapy, and a less confrontational milieu, but notably, retain
many of the “essential elements” of the traditional TC model.
a drug-free future. This vision parallels ideas such as integrated care for the treatment of co-occurring substance abuse
and psychiatric conditions. The extent to which integrated services are available in TCs has not been documented. Using data
from a national sample of 345 TCs, this paper examines the availability of integrated care in TCs and the structural and cultural
characteristics of TCs that offer integrated care. The results indicate that a substantial portion of TCs in this sample admit
clients with co-occurring disorders (70.7%), and as many as half of the TCs offer integrated care. TCs that offer integrated
care show increased use of professional staff, individual psychotherapy, and a less confrontational milieu, but notably, retain
many of the “essential elements” of the traditional TC model.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11414-011-9251-1
- Authors
- Meredith Huey Dye, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Middle Tennessee State University, 331 Todd Hall, P.O. Box 10, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
- Paul M. Roman, Department of Sociology Center for Research on Behavioral Health and Human Services Delivery, University of Georgia, 101 Barrow Hall, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Hannah K. Knudsen, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, 109 Medical Behavioral Science Building, Lexington, KY 40536-0086, USA
- J. Aaron Johnson, Department of Family Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine and Medical Center of Central Georgia, 3780 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, GA 31201, USA
- Journal The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research
- Online ISSN 1556-3308
- Print ISSN 1094-3412