Punished for what Crime..
It is established that TC?s are not only treatment centers, but also and predominantly so are they centers for punishment. The government on different levels not only know about, but also support these programs, which leads to the question: Why are children who use drugs, being punished? The success rate of these programs is terrible, and yet still these centers are in place continuing their worthless work, in their small corners of existence. So what is their purpose?
It becomes clear that their obvious purpose is solely punishment, and not therapy of any kind. I say that children who use drugs are being punished for quite simply disobedience. It is very convenient for the government to have a place to put people who do not listen.. who do not obey. A place to have their individuality beat out of them.
In entering a place, such as Daytop, one might quickly realize where they are. The signs on the wall might be an indicator? comparable to political, or religious propaganda, or to that of a cult. Next the similarity in language of all the residents might be an indicator. They all seem to use the same words, and the same phrases, yet very few even know what the words, nor the phrases actually mean. One might next then realize the God/ Principle/Ideology/Figure Head/ Higher Power.. In this case it is ?Sobriety? Sobriety is given as the last line of defense to rationlise every wrong-doing within these places.
You quickly get the feeling that you are in some type of cult or oppressive governing body designed with the purpose of squelching out your identity, and individually. Is it possible that the government views teen users of drugs a threat, because they have proven that they are people willing to, or with a tendency to disobey, make their own decisions, and ignore society? It fits. All throughout youth, you are told not to do drugs. You are given reasons not to do them. Programs are financed to influence you in the direction of never so much as trying them, and yet you did. You have proven yourself a person who either cannot or will be controlled. If a gentle prodding does not work, they must think, then perhaps, a genuine ass kicking will. It is kind of like taming a horse. They call it therapy, but is it in the best interest of the patient? Was it ever believed that it would be?
Society?s loose noose is not working, and so they tighten the noose. Hell maybe it will work.. maybe it will not, but no matter, as they are not the ones going through it. Whether it is intentional on the part of the programs, and government or not is irrelevant though. It is wrong, reguardless, and if I can see this, and so can any other reasonable person, given the proper information, how can the ?powers that be? not?
My hope is not for the government to shut these places down, or put further restrictions on them. I would like however, to see the government withdraw it?s support from these places, and cease it?s favors. ( and there are very many favors, of which I know, and I am sure that there are far many more that I don ?t know). Essentaily, I think what will be the end of these places is more people knowing their reality, better alternatives available, and all areas of the government, getting completely, totally, and entirely out of the way. The Governmet has no role in the realm of professional psychological practice. Of course, another thing that would help, would be parents taking more responsibility for their own children, and not looking for quick fixes to the ?problem? that is their child.
Paul St. John
