Drugs have no boundaries.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MotherLand, Inc. has involved volunteer adult recovering addicts who have experienced street life to educate young people about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and other self-destructive behavior, in an effort to develop a personal commitment to change. The process thus comes full circle as these high-risk youth not only build self-esteem but help their peers establish a frame of reference for success.

One of our therapeutic drama troupes which has been in operation for almost two years and two months has drawn an overwhelming positive response so far. The troupe has performed to several audiences, including recovery groups, prison units, churches, residential facilities, schools, universities, community centers and the regional Cocaine Anonymous convention. The following statements adequately summarizes the far-reaching effects of our efforts.

THERAPEUTIC DRAMA

An Effective Counseling strategy:
“Change is gonna come,” a MotherLand, Inc. therapeutic group drama production, offers recovering addicts the most beneficial aspects of group counseling and more. Within the group process model, individuals have the opportunity to discover that their problems and situations are not unique. Group members share information and learn from each other. This sense of universality allows group members to view their problems with a new and often different perspective and to look beyond themselves. Therapeutic group drama allows this altruism to be extended further, thus enhancing the function of the participants as helpers. As group members write, direct and act out the realities of life and addiction, they not only share their personal recovery process, they develop a vital role in the larger community. Sharing their messages brings other people together and enhances the self-esteem of those in the production.

As the personal drama unfolds, the players reveal the power of addiction and uncover the common and complex patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that inhibit individuals from effectively coping with the issues that lead them to addiction and often drive them back to continued abuse. The honest expression, dialogue and interaction of the participants as they “relive” experiences and situations allow for new self-statements and modified guides for thinking and behavior. With each performance these new patterns are reinforced and participants acquire coping skills that can be applied to current problems as well as future ones. Having an effective coping skills framework greatly increases the recovery process.

In general, counseling literature suggests that the potential for drug abuse relapse is high for clients in treatment programs. Prevention programs for substance abuse also tend to be fairly unsuccessful in reducing use and abuse. Treatments and approaches that show promise of positive results are ones that focus a great deal of effort on development of social skills and the promotion of alternative activities and lifestyles. In this regard, the therapeutic drama group setting forces the participants to develop and effectively utilize skills necessary to interact and communicate with each other as well as their audience. Portraying alternative ways of living to selves and others serves as a model for those searching for a different way to live, a life without drugs.