Hi, here I go (at the risk of upsetting someone, somewhere, apologies in advance)

a) On the web site of the EFTC www.eftc-europe.com there is simple basic outlines of, for example the staff code of ethics & standards & goals, which touch on these issues. Also to put it simply attempt to state “our” position on this topic or topics.

b) The membership of the EFTC, for example includes countries and cultural diversity, in addition to different religious beliefs.

c) We agree to respect each others differences, in terms of each individual’s right to his or her’s own beliefs.

d) As the director of a therapeutic community, I think it is my responsibility to ensure that each person has the opportunity to develop and or express their own belief without judgment or influence from the tc environment.

e) My personal belief or lack of is my business and no-one else’s. However, to put it simply whatever that might be, I leave it at home when I am at work, and not use it to influence any community members, who may be vulnerable to “suggestion”.

In terms of the article and the Nazareth Code of Honor:

I agree that we should tread carefully here, though I must admit that I would have less of a problem if these people actually lived in Nazareth, for example. But apparently it’s Manila?

In terms of the statement “God is the center of my recovery”, I can only reply by saying that I asked one of our community members for her thoughts, as someone who has also been involved in other methods of treatment, which embraced the notion of a higher power. The community member replied, that she was not comfortable with that, and that it should be her own decision as to what to believe in or not.

A role which TC’s can play is to proved those in treatment, with the opportunity to discover, art, creativity, different cultures and of course belief systems, to stimulate a persons intellect or broaden their view of the world.  

In terms of “house philosophies”, here we have a translation of what was written by Richard Beavais during his stay at Daytop in the USA. When I met him at the last World Conference of Therapeutic Communities in New York, 2006, he described it as a poem that he had written, which touched upon similarities of those in that treatment programme, at that time.   

To return to the “Nazareth Code of Honor”:

It reads as a kind of mix of AA/ NA and a simplistic “outline” of what according to the newspaper, was written by a group of recovering addicts, maybe we should give them a pat on the back for at least making a start, to explain themselves?

Having said that, I read the translation as something that closely resembles organized Christian religion, and wonder about other communities in the region which may be Buddhist for example, I would guess that they have something else?

The last two sentences leave me feeling uneasy, as “I will be loyal and forever grateful to this family”, can lead to guilt when not achieved by an individual.

“I am a Nazarene”, I’d feel more comfortable if it said “I am a Manilan”, or something like that.

As to my own beliefs etc, that’s my business.

As ever, may the force be with you.

Anthony.

Rowdy Yates

Senior Research Fellow

Scottish Addiction Studies

Department of Applied Social Science

University of Stirling 

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Rowdy Yates

Senior Research Fellow

Scottish Addiction Studies

Department of Applied Social Science

University of Stirling 

E: [log in to unmask]

T: 01786 - 467737

W: http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/sections/scot-ad/