Models and Approaches to Alcohol and Drug Addiction Rehabilitation in Kenya (Published)
Drug addiction is a complex illness. It is characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. Counsellors therefore need to study and develop multi-faceted drug intervention models that are “drug specific” to the addiction at hand. One size does not fit all. This paper looks at the various approaches to rehabilitation used to enhance recovery of alcoholics and drug abusers in registered inpatient rehabilitation centres in Kenya. A descriptive study that used a qualitative approach was carried out. The study focused on all the residential drug rehabilitation centres in and around Nairobi. The Study Sample included the counselors directly dealing with the treatment of clients in these centres. A two level questionnaire was used to establish the treatment models used in the various in patient drug rehabilitation centres from the respondents, using a qualitative key informant interview. Data was analysed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that various models of treatment were used for treatment of clients admitted in drug rehabilitation centres in Nairobi. The commonly used models included the 12 step program of the Minnesota model, Therapeutic community model, Medical model and in most places a mixture of the various models.
Keywords: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug, Rehabilitation, Treatment models