The Drug Abuse Problem

The human relation problem/issue that I choose is about drug abuse. Most sociologist and social psychologists agree that drug use is a learned behavior that spreads through the groups of peers who influenced one another. Which led me to the new idea that emerges from the class the therapeutic communities’ concept to attack the problem of drug abuse. As we all know drug use has remained one of the most serious problems in the United States. At present there are no fully effective means of dealing with it; drug traffickers have succeeded in overcoming every obstacle placed in their way, and the demands for illegal drugs remains high. So to fully irradicate drug use is totally out of the question. However, therapeutic communities’ concept brings hope to the solution for this problem in the long run.

Therapeutic communities are a way to attack the high relapse rate of addicts who are detoxified and returned to the larger society. They enable individuals to re-enter social life gradually and at their own pace. This reduces the shock of moving from protective institutional environment to the much higher freedom of the outside world. Here, addicts who completed their treatment are transferred to a Re-entry House for gradual reintegration into everyday life. Educational facilities are part of the program and include training in vocational skills and preparation for entry into another educational program.

Therapeutic communities’ approach rests on two essential precepts: that addict must assume responsibility for their actions, and that treatment should address psychological as well as physical difficulties. With that in mind, it is agreed that drug use is a learned social behavior. So what better to help cope with this problem than the help of the communities around that person. The most important direct influence on drug use is that of the peer group. People can stop using drugs relatively easily if their social milieu does not encourage drug use. That is why the community is such a significant force in battling this problem.

Also with therapeutic communities approach they rely on ex-addicts, who often more effective in breaking through the barriers of isolation and hostility. Also, ex-addicts provide living proof that addiction can be overcome. So with therapeutic communities’ approach, they are also preaching that what better to combat drug use than that of the direct influence of peer group or the city itself. Therapeutic communities approach promotes hope in the realm of fighting drug use. I believed that with the mere presence and good example that the ex-addicts that will be involved with this approach can revolutionize the solution to this problem