[Development and evaluation of a therapeutic community model in Japan: Use of an encounter group method].

The purpose of the present study was to develop a therapeutic community (TC) model in the Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center (DARC), the rehabilitation facility group managed by recovered drug users in Japan, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. The TC model is a drug-free self-help program that is significant for its use of the peer community to facilitate social and psychological change in individuals. Although the TC model has been developed around the world in a variety of settings, its use in Japan is not well known. We introduced the therapy group with an encounter group method representing the TC model at the Kawasaki DARC, and conducted pre- and post-evaluations using the modified Self-Actualization Scale (SEAS2000). Results showed that the scores of the subscale "sobering of self-affirmation" were remarkably high among those who experienced encounter groups for six months. However, the scores of the subscale "release from biased view" declined among the users at the DARC who have experienced encounter group. for a short-term, while .the scores increased among those who have a medium-term and a long-term experience. These results suggest that the encounter group may be effective especially for the medium- and long-term users in the DARC. The development of a more effective TC model is required.