General Information: This program is designed for persons who need more than just an alcohol education class. It is for persons who not only lack an understanding about chemical dependency, but also lack insight into how their repeated substance abuse creates problems in various areas of their lives. Special attention was paid to the DSM IV criteria for Substance Abuse in the formulation of this program.

Philosophy: It is the philosophy of The Discovery Center that often times people repeatedly make poor decisions about the use of alcohol and/or drugs due to lack of information. We believe that by providing a therapeutic learning environment, accurate information about chemical dependency, and by showing the impact that repeated substance abuse can have on a person's life, clients will be able to make better lifestyle decisions.

Goals and Objectives:

• To educate clients about chemical dependency.
  
• To help them gain insight into their self-defeating relationship with mood-altering chemicals.
  
• To help clients learn responsible behaviors related to their substance abuse.
  
• To teach clients to apply the essential skills necessary to make better lifestyle decisions.
  

Program Description: The Discovery Center's Substance Abuser Program is a five week program. During this period clients will attend an alcohol/drug education class for one and one-half hours, once a week and attend a group therapy session for two and one-half hours twice weekly. The Program will include lectures, videos, reading and writing assignments and, if necessary, individual counseling sessions. Substance Abuser Clients will be in group therapy with clients who are attending Intensive Outpatient Treatment, and will be able to gain from their past experiences. Clients are required to attend one A. A. meeting per week during the five weeks of the program. Clients will be required to sign a contract to abstain from all mood-altering chemicals during the course of the Program.

Referral: If there is any indication that a client's substance abuse in more serious than it was earlier diagnosed, they will be referred to the appropriate program.