ABSTRACT
In answer to a common dilemma among clinicians, this chapter suggests how they should go about the task of engaging the ambivalent crack smoker in the treatment process. The explanation of newly abstinent crack smokers’ behavior and the techniques discussed in this chapter may be of value to those professionals, paraprofessionals, and counselors working in a variety of treatment modalities who may be faced with this kind of ambivalence. The chapter also describes practical clinical techniques that the author drew upon to meet the challenge of treating crack patients in an inpatient-detoxification setting. In effect, group interpretations in community meetings, empathic mirroring and attunement, affect labeling, cognitive refraining, and education combine to provide a short-term therapy approach of value in a 14-day detoxification setting. The multifaceted clinical technique described for use in the assessment phase should find extension to the work of professionals and paraprofessionals working with the chemically dependent in diverse treatment settings.
