Music Therapy Today - World Federation of Music Therapy

Abdollahnejad, M.R. (2006) The use of music therapy with substance abusers. Music Therapy Today (Online)
Vol.VII (2) 318-332. available at http://musictherapyworld.net
Treatment of addiction in Iran dates back to 50 years following a govern-
mental ban on substance abuse when therapeutic centers were estab-
lished.
At that point of time, medical treatment was the only modality of treat-
ment; however, in the course of time and as other treatment methods
improved, different other rehabilitation methods were taken into account.
Hence, in recent decades, therapies such as psychotherapy (individually
and in groups), twelve-step groups and therapeutic communities became
emergent. Out of the mentioned approaches, therapeutic community is
the most recent and dates back to 5 years ago.
Music therapy is also in its early stages and MAMPHA in Iran have
started to scientifically look at music therapy in the past five years.
In Iran, this research work is the first experience as far as the application
of music therapy in therapeutic community and substance abusers is con-
cerned. The objective of this research was to help the substance abusers
residing at Tehran TC express their feelings and emotions by applying
lyric analysis and song sharing taking into account the fact that the same
techniques had been successfully used and experienced in other coun-
tries.
Music Application in Mental & Physical Health
Association
In 1996 a group of university students in the fields of Medical Sciences,
Psychology, and Music at Tehran University started their studies in music
therapy and continued their activity by holding work shops and doing
research works based on the local culture with the assistance of univer-
sity conductors.
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