Journal Facts

Journal
International Journal of Self-Help and Self-Care
ISSN
1091-2851 (print) 1541-4450 (electronic)
Volume
2
Issue
2
Date
2/1/2003

Article Facts

Title
OUTPATIENT SELF HELP FOR DRUG DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS IN GERMANY--APPROACHES, CLIENTELE, AND EFFECTS
DOI
10.2190/0J9M-DUYT-1L1T-PKKH
Authors
  • FREDERIC FREDERSDORF
  • NANDA BECK
Pages
169-181
Online Date
04/16/2004

Article Links

OUTPATIENT SELF HELP FOR DRUG DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS IN GERMANY--APPROACHES, CLIENTELE, AND EFFECTS

FREDERIC FREDERSDORF
NANDA BECK

DOI: 10.2190/0J9M-DUYT-1L1T-PKKH

Abstract

Between November 1999 and April 2001 the German Department of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit) supported a study analyzing the situation of outpatient self-help for drug dependent individuals in Germany. The term outpatient self-help for drug dependent individuals (SHG) refers to those self-help groups existing independently, outside of therapeutic or institutional settings, whose members are either former users and/or are still using drugs. The presented study is the first one to analyze all self-help approaches for drug dependent individuals existing in Germany. It describes their philosophy, structural frame, and characteristics of their members. First statements about the effects of SHGs are generated--employing a cross-section analysis-- using the examined population as an example. This article presents central results of the study. They lead to the conclusion that SHGs are relevant to the social, psychic, and substance-specific reintegration of their members.

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