Treating the Drug User: Considering the “Demands” of Therapeutic Technologies and Their Implications for Treatment Planning, Implementation, and Outcome

Abstract

Continued confusion regarding the actual and potential interface between technical issues (techniques/therapies) and ideological-theoretical considerations (treatment as a planned change process) results in built-in failure in the treatment of drug users. Only a limited number of currently available “therapies” are generally used for planned treatment intervention or for institutionalized reflexive reactions. Limited consideration has been given to the planning and implementation “demands” of a selected number of critical variables which affect the “therapies” currently in use and/or which can be chosen to be used. This note is designed as a catalytic cognitive resource to facilitate changing this situation by exploring some of the factors associated with this self-defeating, self-fulfilling prophecy.