The current issue is a tribute to a number of people who have dedicated their professional life in drug addiction treatment. The interviews presented hereby have already been published in our past issues, and were conducted by members of the Editorial group of EXARTISIS. Many more interviews than the ones included in this issue have been published by this journal and full texts are always available in our past issues.
Herein we have selected just a few of them focusing mainly on researchers and theorists who were the pioneers of their respective fields, in a way that’s related to the initiation of the therapeutic communities’ movement, but who have also worked together with KETHEA one way or the other.
The current issue presents only a few selected excerpts and not the full text of the interviews, in an effort to facilitate the understanding of a practitioner’s role, or the development of the Therapeutic Community model. In other words, it is an effort to try to bring together the basic questions and main answers that would promote and expand the conversation around the modernization of the TC model. The questions might remain unchanged in time, either because it is not easy to answer them or because at times it is too difficult to comprehend them.
Hopefully this compilation of different views will offer our readers the opportunity to develop even further their critical thinking around the issues pertaining to the drug addiction treatment field.
Harold Bridger focuses on the development of the first “democratic” therapeutic communities, while Griffith Edwards explores critical approaches in mental health. Edwards’ main position focuses on the necessity to form good relationships and partnerships hoping ‘At best, (that) one, with others, perhaps is able to contribute a little which is valuable, but is time-bound and probably ephemeral.’ This helps remind us all of the boundaries of therapy and the therapeutic role, as well as the value of working in groups. Other scientists, such as George De Leon or Mark Schuckit bring forward research issues, relating to the effectiveness of the treatment models.
The interviews are presented by regions so as to focus on the way therapeutic communities were developed regionally, but also to bring out the main individuals who played an important role.
Finally, what is really worth mentioning is that practically every theorist, researcher, or therapist in the field refers to the necessity to offer second chances. A second chance that therapeutic communities in Greece and all over the world have proven they are capable of offering.
We hope you’ll enjoy it!!
