What the researchers have to say

[Anonymous]

Question and Answer Time:

I appreciate their speedy response too!

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 1:16 AM
To: http://www.aarc.ab.ca/endorsement.html
 
They claim to have an 85% proven success rate, which seems to me, very high.
 
I can't find a lot of information on their research.
 
The program is ran by a F. Dean Vause. He submitted a thesis to the Union Institute in 1994 a couple of years after founding the AARC program. Thesis can be found here:
 
http://cardcatalog.tui.edu/WebOPAC/Sear ... Search.asp
 
The program claims to be revolutionary, they've been operating in Calgary for over a decade. I don't understand why there isn't a lot of information out there regarding their treatment methods.
 
I'm writing to see if you are familiar with this.

Thank you in advance,

XXX XXXX
_________________________________________________________

And the response:

Hi xxx xxxx

I have asked two of our research staff and have received the following
information.

One is familiar with the AARC program and suggests that a good question to be asked would be "how many adolescents were admitted to the program and how many completed?" Those who do not complete are not considered as program failures because the responsibility is shifted to the client who is regarded as non-compliant or not-treatment-ready or such.

The other researcher points out that it is a pretty standard 12-step/disease
model approach and that it works for some. This researcher suggested that the attached article provides information on a few different approaches which you may find of assistance and urged that you think deeply about who the person is you are wanting to help, and the possible sources of their discontent (which may involve a lot of complex and personal life factors), and then consider what kind of intervention might be most beneficial.  

Both concluded that this confrontation based approach works for some but not everyone.  As far as we are aware, there has been no external evaluation of the program and its effectiveness.

Good luck

Jennifer Bond
Centre for Addictions Research of BC | Communication and Resource Unit |
University of Victoria | 909 - 510 Burrard Street | Vancouver, BC  V6C 3A8
Telephone: 604.408.7753x222 | Fax: 604.408.7731 |
www.carbc.ca

__________________________________________________________

[Anonymous]

Here is the attached article:

Re-conceptualizing Addictions:  What if the Absence of Deep Healing Explains the Need for Life Long Abstinence?

Several months ago I was in my office at CCSA reading an article where a proponent of the “disease modelâ€

[Anonymous]

Oh, and thank you Jennifer!

[ajax13]

The other researcher points out that it is a pretty standard 12-step/disease
model approach and that it works for some. This researcher suggested that the attached article provides information on a few different approaches which you may find of assistance and urged that you think deeply about who the person is you are wanting to help, and the possible sources of their discontent (which may involve a lot of complex and personal life factors), and then consider what kind of intervention might be most beneficial.  

Both concluded that this confrontation based approach works for some but not everyone.  As far as we are aware, there has been no external evaluation of the program and its effectiveness.

__________________________________________________________

AARC is certainly not standard 12-step/disease model approach.  People who joint AA or other 12-step programs do so of their own will.  As AARC's clientele is coerced into the program, and then forcibly detained, it is fundamenally unlike AA.  People in AA integrate the program's philosophy into their lives to whatever extent they choose.  Prisoners in AARC must demonstrate adherence to the program's dogma or suffer continued detention in AARC, unable to advance through the program's phases.

[ajax13]

The other researcher points out that it is a pretty standard 12-step/disease
model approach and that it works for some.

__________________________________________________________

AARC is certainly not a standard 12-step/disease model approach.  People who join AA or other 12-step programs do so of their own will.  As AARC's clientele is coerced into the program, and then forcibly detained, it is fundamentally unlike AA.  People in AA integrate the program's philosophy into their lives to whatever extent they choose.  Prisoners in AARC must demonstrate adherence to the program's dogma or suffer continued detention in AARC, unable to advance through the program's phases.

[ajax13]

The other researcher points out that it is a pretty standard 12-step/disease
model approach and that it works for some.

__________________________________________________________

AARC is certainly not a standard 12-step/disease model approach.  People who join AA or other 12-step programs do so of their own will.  As AARC's clientele is coerced into the program, and then forcibly detained, it is fundamentally unlike AA.  People in AA integrate the program's philosophy into their lives to whatever extent they choose.  Prisoners in AARC must demonstrate adherence to the program's dogma or suffer continued detention in AARC, unable to advance through the program's phases.

[Anonymous]

That is very true.