Patterns of Therapeutic Communication in Rehabilitation Institution for the Narcotics Users in East Java, Indonesia
Author(s): Iwan Joko Prasetyo, Sanhari Prawiradiredja and R. Ayu Erni Jusnita
Abstract
The province of East Java is an area with a high prevalence of drug and narcotic abuse. Since the creation of the BNN (Badan Narkotika Nasional [National Narcotics Agency]) in 2009, more than 7000 cases have been handled. On a national scale, of the 4.9 million drug users in Indonesia, 400,000 of them were in East Java. Issues relating to resolving the drug endemic include the challenge of developing a rehabilitation process that is effective and life-long. The difficulty is the complexity of individual differences, such as background or social affiliations. Therapeutic communication needs a specific approach in order to free the sufferers from the addiction, so mental capacity and other personal factors must be considered by therapists. The aim of this study is to investigate how patterns in therapeutic communications at rehabilitation centers across East Java encourage drug users to break their addictions. A qualitative approach was implemented to find a pattern of therapeutic communication for drug users, and it concluded two types of interactions. The first appears in interpersonal communication between therapist/counselor with client (drug users), while the second occurs as community therapy. In this context, the community means drug user activities are controlled in social environment built in a quarantined setting. Specific activities are created for them to behave and respond appropriately in normal social situations. Socialpsychology intervention like step study, social awareness development, and creating group care and concern are managed in order to make drug users free from the addiction and live a better quality of life.