ERIC Number: ED454025
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2000-Jan
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Use of Adventure Programming in Traditional Substance Abuse Treatment Programs: An Exploratory Investigation.
Moraes, Ricardo
As a valuable addition to substance abuse treatment, adventure programming can have positive impacts on clients' self-efficacy, social behavior, and problem solving. A study explored the extent to which traditional substance abuse treatment programs use adventure programming, the level of adventure training and experience among substance abuse practitioners, and constraints inhibiting the incorporation of adventure programming into the treatment milieu. Questionnaires were completed by 62 substance abuse treatment programs that had never used adventure programming and by 24 programs that had used adventure programming as a treatment modality. Seventy percent of "non-users" perceived the potential therapeutic benefits of adventure programming as appropriate or excellent, and most wanted more information about adventure programming, preferably through professional journals. Costs, third-party reimbursement, and lack of specialized staff were the main perceived constraints inhibiting use of adventure programming. Of programs that used adventure programming, almost all felt that it enhanced their programs. Although 57 percent of "users" reported having staff with formal adventure training, almost half of those had less than 1 month of training. Most programs that used adventure programming owned equipment or camp facilities. Clients referred to adventure programming were predominantly teenagers and young adults. The main therapeutic benefit of adventure programming lay in its motivational aspects, as it engaged clients and offered opportunities for sober fun. Implications for program development and further research are discussed. (Contains 30 references.) (SV)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A