Dear (Craig) and
All,
These last few days discussion
have brought to me many things to think about, including my own reactions. In
an attempt to continue to move forward, I would like to share the following
experiences and thoughts, some about the past, some about present time, and
some about the future.
1)
The lessons from the
past are often mixed, and particularly in the field of therapeutic communities
well documented.
2)
The experiences which
took place in the past, of Synanon are one example of this, why bring this up
now? Synanon has been well documented, also more recent examples of the
dangers of charismatic leadership, (though not so much about what goes well,
charisma is not so bad, sometimes).
3)
In the early 1990’s I
found myself in the company of the director and some of his staff, who spent
some time justifying the use of violence in a well known therapeutic
community. My colleagues and I, of course confronted this “model of
treatment,” as having no place in treatment services of any type.
4)
The scientific
documentation which was available from the past of these types of abuses,
added to the solidarity & experience of “our” position and values
system.
5)
What relevance does
this has in the present time?
6)
A couple of years ago
during this 21st century , I was able to visit a country in Central
& Eastern Europe, I think the current term is “emerging country”, where
there are two members of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities. One of the difficulties
being faced locally at that time, was the growing popularity of a “privately”
owned therapeutic community, run by a charismatic businessman, who had the
vulnerable clients “working for him”, when they objected, violence was used as
a therapeutic tool. The country in which this was located, a former member of
the Soviet Union, in a cultural sense, simply
accepted that as the people who were in “treatment,” were drug addicts, former
prostitutes, and former criminals that this was to be expected, in essence
they deserved it, and so, it was OK. Oddly enough the community member’s
families also accepted this approach; my own view was (when I met them) that
perhaps, they felt powerless to do much about
it.
7)
After meeting
with the ministers of justice, health and social policy, the wife of the
president of the country, the head of the church, It was possible, with the
help of the staff from the local therapeutic community, acting as translators
and giving me support ( holding my hand ), to explain the values of
therapeutic community treatment, (also the advantages of an integrated system
approach to substance abuse treatment, including methadone and other medical
approaches) to the responsible
authorities.
8)
It was also possible
to create the possibility of a public debate on television, in newspapers and
professional journals (not English, I’m afraid) with the businessman / leader/
director/ to explore his treatment regime.
9)
He refused to
participate.
10)
He lost his political
and economic support, plus his license to provide
treatment.
11)
Lessons and
experiences from the 20th century, in the context of therapeutic
community treatment in the 21st century, in countries without the
experience which we are fortunate to be able to draw upon, together with our
current levels of broad personal & professional experience, knowledge,
skills, values, and standards of treatment and ethics are
essential.
12)
Less than two months
ago, I was invited to travel to a former central and eastern European county,
where on this occasion the director of a present day, world wide known
“therapeutic community”, was invited by the responsible authorities /
government departments to lecture and promote the benefits of his methodology,
( please excuse me now, if I sound cynical) which is in present time, that in
his therapeutic communities, as long as a community member believes in the
Christian God, then if they have HIV or AIDS, then they will be cured, while
in his programme. ( incidentally the programme does help people with other
problems)
13)
I leave this to you,
to react to, but if it is possible to do this, why don’t we all provide
bottles of faith and share this with everyone? (For
free).
14)
At the moment, ( more
present time):
15)
There is another
“emerging” country, which is considering the development of some 26 new
therapeutic communities for substance abuser’s, they actually want (amongst
other things) to learn form our collective experiences, mistakes and whatever
we have succeeded with.
16)
Perhaps, we have
learned something, in this movement from 1960’s passivity to something a
little more valuable?
17)
The future: This is a
beast with many heads and agenda’s; the experience which has so far been
accumulated is invaluable. ( For example)
:
18)
Therapeutic
communities, whether of the transitional or Cull De Sac variety provide the
opportunity for change, for many disadvantaged groups, and most importantly
those men, women & children who are often perceived by the mainstream,
as having little or no value to society and not worth the effort or
expense.
19)
There are as I am
sure you all know lots of different projects, for different “special target”
populations. However, one particular special needs group which very few people
care to acknowledge, is women, children and men who have been trafficked for
the purpose of prostitution or slave labour. My limited experience to date
draws a picture, wherein almost no-one, whether it is government or national
treatment provider, is willing in real terms, to accept this group and the
challenges that they bring, except in terms of providing temporary or short
term crisis treatment. Then ship them back to country of origin, maybe we can
do better?
20)
Why
Not?
21)
The answer which I
have become familiar with is this: They, “it” is not our problem, they are
just in transition, and we are just a transitional country, along the
way.
22)
Interesting? (The
transitional word), perhaps some truth in this expression, in this context,
I’m not sure.
23)
To the point, if I
can.
24)
Therapeutic
communities, also provide people with the opportunity to change, to move in a
different direction, to get better, to heal, and perhaps in some ways, to
re-invent themselves.
25)
Some time ago,
following a number of discussions, an old abandoned monastery was pledged for
the purpose of developing the possibility of providing a safe haven, a
21st century modified therapeutic community, for the provision of
treatment to these men, women, and children to spend time, to create a new
life, to re-invent themselves? (If possible be healed) to maybe find a new
future.
26)
( Trafficking
in Humans is the 3rd fastest growing economy, slightly behind the
sale of arms and drugs)
27)
What the project
lacks is funding for a minimum of 5 years, to provide long term,
multidisciplinary treatment ( not just a couple of
months)
28)
Agreement of support
on a broad European level.
29)
Protection from
violent traffickers.
30)
If there is anyone,
on this discussion list, who has the skills, experience, and willingness to
bring to this venture, then I and my associates will be pleased to hear from
you.
31)
As for me, I’ll have
more time to make available to work with this in 2006.
32)
Craig, if you have
anything in your archives, which you think could help in this challenge,
please let me know.
Anthony
Anthony
Slater,
Director: Phoenix
Haga.
President: European Federation of
Therapeutic
Communities.
c/o Phoenix Haga, N - 1850 Mysen, Norway.
Tel: + 47 69 89 82
50.
Fax: + 47 69 89 82
51.
e-post: [log in to unmask]
http://www.phoenixhouse.no
http://www.eftc-europe.com