|
Philosophy and
Observations
The
program is based on the premise that addiction to alcohol and/or
other drugs is a disease and that the majority of repeat offenders
suffer from this disease. Over the years, however, it has been
observed that those who have a problem with alcohol abuse frequently
have other serious problems as well. These range from a history of
physical abuse to health problems and mental illness. Based on our
experiences, we have come to believe that identifying these other
issues and helping the client find the support needed to deal with
them can be a determining factor in a successful recovery.
Another observation we have made over the years is that problems
with alcohol abuse do not discriminate. They do not recognize
gender, ethnicity or socio-economic background. In the early years
of the DUIL Program, our clients were largely white and male. But
demographics in the Northeast, just as across the country, are
changing. We are seeing higher numbers of female second offenders.
We are also seeing more clients who speak little or no English.
Changes have been made in the program to help in adapting to these
changing demographics.
Our
objective is to offer all clients excellent educational and
counseling opportunities while they are attending our program. DUIL
also makes every effort to locate adequate resources for all clients
upon completing the program.
Program Summary
DUIL clients are
encouraged to examine their drinking and drug use habits in order to
fully understand the role these habits have played in their arrest
and to recognize the serious consequences that may result should
they fail to change their alcohol and/or other drug use habits.
Clients are encouraged to develop goals involving reducing or
eliminating their alcohol and /or drug use and are further
encouraged to carry these goals over to aftercare treatment.
In order to initiate,
accelerate and sustain treatment, DUIL provides eight (8) major
service elements. These include: 1) an initial medical screening at
the time of admission; 2) three (3) to four (4) hours of assessment
and individual counseling, including the administration of the ASUDS
assessment; 3) sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) hours of group
counseling; 4) case management; 5) core educational and other
educational classes and films; 6) introduction, orientation and
nightly attendance at AA and other self-help groups; 7)
AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Disease (“STD”) Education; and, 8)
discharge/aftercare transitioning to include the sharing of ASUDS
results with the appropriate Second Offender Aftercare provider.
(These services are described in detail below.) Free time is
available for telephone usage, letter writing, and completion of
homework assignments.
On Monday of the
first week of treatment, clinical staff and clients engage in an
open and honest dialogue involving the Stages of Change Model and
the goals and expectations of the two treatment tracks offered.
Clients are allowed to self-select their treatment track. Track 1
(Motivational Group) is for clients who are ready to make a
commitment to abstinence from alcohol and/or other drugs. Track 2
(Recovery Skills Group) is for clients who are not yet ready to make
a commitment not to drink, for those unsure of their relationship
with alcohol, and for those interested only in changing their
drinking habits so to avoid the consequences of further drunk
driving arrest. Both tracks are exposed to the same core
educational classes and films. Specific tracks meet in small groups
of 8 to 12 usually twice each day for group counseling/education.
Regardless of choice
of track, all clients receive an individualized treatment plan which
is reviewed during their two week stay. All services are provided
in a caring, supportive and confidential manner in an environment
that is physically and emotionally safe.
Program Services
The Middlesex DUIL Program provides many major
services including these described below:
Medical
Evaluation: All clients are medically evaluated to determine
their eligibility for admission consistent with l05 CMR l60.000
Rules and Regulations for the Approval of Residential Alcohol
Treatment Programs for Operating Under the Influence Offenders.
DUIL will not admit intoxicated individuals or individuals in need
of detoxification services (s. l66.050). The medical evaluation is
designed to establish whether an individual's health status is
appropriate for the level of care provided and that no acute medical
problems that warrant immediate inpatient or outpatient attention
exist (s.l66.050). Clients deemed unsuitable for admission are told
the specific reasons why and are offered referral assistance.
Referring probation officers will be informed by phone immediately.
A written notice delineating reasons why admission
was denied and outlining remedial steps necessary for admission will
be mailed to the referring court within forty-eight (48) hours.
Individual
Counseling: Clients entering the DUIL Program come from diverse
socioeconomic backgrounds, are multi-racial and culturally unique.
Many have had issues with impulse control and have exhibited poor
judgment. During the time available for one to one counseling and
interaction, the primary counselor sets conditions of treatment,
details program expectations and requirements, and clearly outlines
what will be occurring throughout the fourteen (l4) days of the
program. Once this is accomplished, the clinician then moves on to
gathering information necessary to form an accurate assessment and
develops a treatment plan and engages aftercare planning for the
client. A minimum of four (4) sessions are spent on these and
related activities.
Group Counseling:
DUIL clients receive l6 to 18 hours of group counseling, over the
course of two (2) weeks. Group time is used to explore drinking
patterns, to access consequences of drinking/drugging habits and
behaviors, to gain an understanding and some insight into these
behaviors and to encourage and motivate clients to make all
necessary behavioral changes. The group experience offers an
excellent opportunity for clients to realistically recognize the
damage caused by their drinking, to identify obstacles to sobriety
and to give and receive encouragement and motivation to pursue a
sober lifestyle.
Case Management:
Every effort is made to identify and respond to the unique needs of
DUIL clients. Special groups are offered during the evening.
Referrals are routinely made to providers outside the aftercare
network (V.A., shelters, legal counseling, marital counseling, HIV
testing etc.) Such referrals are in addition to referrals to
licensed aftercare to commence upon completion of the DUIL program.
Substance Abuse
Education: The intent of the educational component of the DUIL
Program is to provide clients with a body of factual information
about alcohol, alcoholism and substance abuse. This increased
knowledge gained in individual and group counseling serves to
encourage necessary behavioral change and to demonstrate the need
for, and benefit of, aftercare services. In addition, a special
skill building curriculum is in place during the evenings. Through
a combination of short film clips, lectures, group discussions, and
group and individual exercises, clients are taught communication
skills, problem-solving techniques, methods of coping with personal
feelings such as anger, frustration, guilt, shame and hopelessness.
Approximately forty (40) hours over fourteen (l4) days are devoted
to education.
AIDS/STD
Education: Given that alcohol/drug abusing populations
constitute high risk as regards to AIDS, a discrete program
component was developed several years ago to adequately address this
issue. A total of 2 hours education/class discussion is spent on
AIDS/STD. All pertinent issues are discussed, and HIV testing is
made available on an anonymous basis.
Self-help Groups:
Due to the critical role self-help groups, and particularly AA, play
in the long- term recovery process, nightly AA and NA meetings are
held and attendance by all clients is mandatory. Other self-help
groups are routinely invited also. Group commitments are coordinated
by DUIL staff, who make a concerted effort to ensure that invited
groups represent the diverse cultural, racial and economic groupings
of the clients served by DUIL.
Aftercare
Planning: All clients participate in aftercare planning as a
condition of continued program participation. Recommendations for
aftercare are based upon a comprehensive client assessment which is
developed through use of court reports, tests questionnaires,
individual and group progress notes, medical reports and staff
comments and observations. Based upon the nature of the assessment,
which is discussed with the client, a written recommendation for
further treatment is developed. The recommendation establishes why
further treatment has been determined as important. It details the
level of client motivation toward further treatment, and indicates
the level of risk in regard to the likelihood of further drunk
driving activities. Prior to discharge, each client will have a
specific agency to report to along with name of therapist, time,
date, length and cost of treatment.
Program Facility
The Middlesex DUIL
Program is located on the campus of Tewksbury Hospital in an old
nurses' quarters, designated as Hall III. Middlesex Human Service
Agency (“MHSA”) has invested heavily in the building over the past
ten (10) years causing extensive renovations in the building which
dates back approximately 100 years. The DUIL Program occupies the
first two (2) floors and the basement of the historic brick building
located just west of the main building on the campus, the Saunders
Building. It is the first building on the right off of the Chandler
Street entrance to Tewksbury Hospital.
The building contains
a large classroom, a cafeteria, a kitchen and food preparation area,
and two (2) adjoining recreation rooms on the basement level. The
first floor includes a separate eighteen (18) bed women's wing and a
day room, and a nine (9) bed wing dedicated to accommodate men with
ambulatory or health problems. Most of the Program's administrative
and counseling staff offices are also located on the first floor, as
is the reception area and the medication room. The second floor
consists of three (3) men's wings, including two (2) day rooms, as
well as five (5) staff offices and assorted storage rooms.
A full institutional
bathroom with three (3) showers, sinks and toilets is contained in
the women's wing, and two (2) such bathrooms are on the second floor
serving the three (3) men's wings there. The first floor “medical
wing” has it's own accessible bathroom facility.
Accessible bathrooms
are also contained on the basement level off one of the recreation
rooms. There are a total of forty-five (45) client rooms in the
building, most of which are double occupancy.
Smoking is permitted
at designated times, in a dedicated area outside the rear of the
building. (Rules pertaining to smoking are strictly enforced.)
Three (3)
nutritionally balanced meals are provided to clients each day.
Snacks are available in vending machines in the basement recreation
rooms. Washers and dryers are available for limited use, as are pay
telephones during designated times each day.
Executive Director: Michael Kennedy
Telephone:
Voice: 978-863-0048
Fax: 978-863-9914
Address: P.O. Box 149
Tewksbury, MA 01876
E-Mail: DUIL@MHSAInc.org
|
