Theoretical Reflections on Rites of Passage in a Hungarian Therapeutic Community

Abstract

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.

Reentry as a rite of passage

“…In fact, elements of reintegration rituals can be found in existing interventions as disparate as drug courts and other speciality courts (Wexler, 2001), wilderness challenge programs (Russell, 2001), circles of support (Walker et al, 2006), boot camps (Benda et al, 2006), therapeutic communities (Seltzer and Gabor, 2009), and more general rehabilitation practices (Burrell, 2004). Indeed, restorative justice interventions have already inspired a sophisticated literature around ritual in understanding the power of restorative conferencing (Ahmed et al, 2001;Braithwaite and Mugford, 1994).…”

Talking about change – Positioning and interpretative repertoires in stories about substance abuse and change

“…Järvinen (2002) calls attention to an institutional resignation , where there is a large group of abusers in whom the alcohol and drug treatment system has lost all hope. Researchers studying the change process as seen from drug users’ own perspective demonstrate how recovering persons often make use of narratives that enable constructions of non-addict identities (Kelemen et al., 2007; McIntosh and McKeganey, 2000; Neale et al., 2014; Nettleton et al., 2013; Seltzer and Gabor, 2009). Andersen (2015) further explored the influence of drug treatment professionals on the development of such stories of moment-to-moment change among addicts in recovery programmes.…”

A felépülés folyamata és értékelése kliensek, valamint segítőik részéről

“…60. terápiába lépés: rákérdeztünk a kezdeti benyomásokra, élményekre: a korábbi kutatásokkal összhangban ezt leginkább mint egy átmeneti rítus kezdeti szakaszát írták le a felépülők. (Seltzer & Kelemen, 2009;Kelemen, B. Erdős & Madácsy, 2007;Kelemen & B. Erdős, 2003) A mélypont elérését követően (a korábbi módon tovább fejlődni-létezni lehetetlen) jellemző a megadás, a várakozás, majd a kívülálló alkalmassá nyilvánítását követően elindul a küzdelem (társas tanulás) az új, józan identitás megszerzéséért. Egyes esetekben szerepet játszik a külső kényszer (elterelés, családi nyomás), és a törődő szembesítés, a "carefronting".…”