Therapeutic Community"Riera Major"

The “Riera Major” Therapeutic Community is a professional care resource whose main objective is the cessation, treatment and social reintegration of people dependent on alcohol, cocaine and new consumption patterns (synthetic drugs, etc.) through intensive residential treatment lasting three and a half months, followed by a further three months of outpatient follow-up in an urban setting.

Over the last year, 80 people with an addiction to cocaine, alcohol or both substances simultaneously were treated, many of whom also had other psychological disorders.

A very important part of the treatment is the work with families, who from the second fortnight after admission can already make contact with service users and obtain all the information and support they need (through therapeutic sessions and groups) to learn how to cope with the problem of addiction. Taking this into account, over the last year we have supported more than 1,000 people through group therapies in which families play a very important role.

The process takes place in two phases. In the first phase, intensive residential treatment is provided in a rural setting, which allows a temporary distancing from the habits and social circle in which the person admitted to the centre is usually immersed. During this period, which lasts approximately three and a half months, the person is helped with physical detoxification from substances (where indicated) and with becoming aware of their problem, is motivated to change addictive habits and attitudes, and is encouraged to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to maintain abstinence once outside the centre. The care team is made up of a psychiatrist, psychologists, social educators and support workers, all highly trained and experienced.

The process is completed with a second phase of intensive outpatient treatment for three months at FSC’s Psychosocial Care Services in the city of Barcelona. The aim of this phase is to put into practice everything worked on during the previous phase and to help the person and their family to resolve and cope with the difficulties they encounter in everyday life, in order to consolidate abstinence within each person’s own environment. This phase can be carried out while living at home or in FSC’s own reintegration flat.

Over the last year, 73.7% of the people treated completed their stay with a therapeutic discharge. In addition, 20 publicly funded places have been arranged with the Secretaria d’Inclusió Social i de Promoció de l’Autonomia Personal (SISPAP) of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Our Therapeutic Centres have a high rate of effectiveness, as shown by a pioneering study carried out by Fundación Salud y Comunidad together with the University of Barcelona: nearly 50% of service users admitted to our therapeutic centres remain abstinent 5 years after admission