Music Therapy Today - World Federation of Music Therapy

Horesh, T. (2006) “Music is My Whole Life” - The many meanings of music in addicts’ lives. Music Therapy Today
(Online) Vol.VII (2) 291-317. available at http://musictherapyworld.net
THERAPEUTIC
COMMUNITY
CULTURE OF
ADDICTION
The basic ideology of the therapeutic community is one of inclusive,
drug free, therapeutic care for the addict, as an individual and as a mem-
ber of society. This ideology is based on the assumption that drug depen-
dency is a mix of educational, psycho social, medical, emotional,
spiritual and psychological factors, all of which must be addressed by
treatment. It incorporates both psychodynamic and behavior-modifica-
tion methods in an effort to relate to the complexity of the issues of
addiction.
Addiction can be looked upon as a psychological or medical pathology,
but it is also a cultural phenomenon and a culture in itself. The aim of
treatment is to assist the addicts in leaving this culture and entering the
culture of recovery. It is a long and difficult journey.
In his book "Pathways from the Culture of Addiction to the Culture of
Recovery", William White (1996) writes about the role the culture of
addiction plays in sustaining addiction, regardless of the etiology that led
to the initiation of the person-drug relationship. And, in the late stages of
addiction, the culture of addiction can pose the largest obstacle for clients
entering the recovery process.
The culture of addiction is a way of life: a way of talking, thinking,
behaving and relating to others, that separates substance abusers from
those who are not. The culture encompasses values, places, rituals, sym-
bols and music - all of which reinforce one's involvement in excessive
drug consumption. A particular client may have initially started to abuse
drugs in order to deal with emotional trauma, but it is clear that his addic-
tion has shaped every aspect of his lifestyle, and that all these aspects
must be examined in the recovery process. Many addicts have found it
easier to break the physiological relationship with their drug than to
Drug addicts, addiction and rehabilitation treatment 300