This article begins with an ethnographic account of a rite of passage involving a newcomer to a therapeutic community of persons suffering from alcohol and drug addiction in rural Hungary. Following a brief commentary about substance abuse and treatment in the social context of Hungarian society, the ceremony is analyzed in a framework using concepts drawn from anthropological science, narrative theory, and family therapy. This is supplemented by material drawn from interviews with graduates of the community's treatment program including the subject of this ritual 3 years after its performance. The article concludes with a brief discussion of possible contributions blended theoretical perspectives on rituals can make to our understanding of the structure and dynamics of the therapeutic work in similar communities treating women and men suffering from substance abuse.
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