Outdoor courses for alcohol and drug addicts

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 21

Outdoor courses for alcohol and drug addicts

By

LIZ ROWE

Psychotherapy without the words — that is how the medical superintendent of Queen Mary Hospital, Dr Robert Crawford, describes the hospital’s new, “outward bound” style programme.

Queen Mary Hospital, in Hanmer Springs, is renowned for its treatment of alcoholics and drug addicts. Under the supervision of Dr Crawford and the hospital’s activities officer, Mr David Dawson, the hospital has now started taking patients on overnight tramps and putting them through a rope-con-fidence course.

“The whole philosophy behind what we are trying to do is very similar to the philosophy behind the Outward Bound course. We try to challenge people physically and mentally,” Dr Crawford says.

“The difference is that Outward Bound is for highly motivated, physically fit people. Most of those we have here have never done anything like, this before.” Dr Crawford says the inspiration for the programme came from Hanmer Springs itself. The surrounding country offered so much for outdoor activities that it seemed a pity not to use it.

Three years ago, he and Mr Dawson went on one of the Outward Bound courses “for the oldies.” They returned with an idea of what could be adapted to suit the treatment programme. “We dream up tasks that are hard, but not so hard that people fail. If they fail their self-esteem is lowered even more.. You have to raise people’s self-esteem to help them get over their alcohol and drug problems.” With the help of the Amuri Lions Club, the hospital built a ropeconfidence course in the hospital grounds. It has been in operation for about 18 months. All patients, except the very old or those with physical disabilities, are put through it at least once during their eight-week stay.

Six activities are involved — a tension traverse, kitten crawl, three leaps, Burma bridge, and flying fox. “The most difficult thing we have to do is to motivate and activate people,” Mr Dawson says.

“Many we have here have put things off in their lives and think they cannot achieve anything. When they have a go at something like this they see they can do it.” Mr Dawson says the only part of the rope course that is very demanding physically is the kitten crawl. Other activities are more of a mental challenge. “One woman got stuck in the middle of the Burma bridge. She got so frightened she froze completely. Finally, I had to get up there and coax her along to the end, inch by inch. “It was quite amazing to see how good she felt after finishing it.” It took longer to get the overnight tramps off the ground because of the finance necessary to buy all the equipment required. These started a year ago, and a group of six patients and two staff go away once a month. During the summer the parties climb Mount Charon, and in the winter tramp in lower altitudes because of the danger of the weather closing in.

Both routes go through country where there are no roads.

“Because it is right in the wilds there is no way out once you get started, so you have to finish,” Dr Crawford says.

“For some people it’s the first thing in their life they have ever finished. When the tramp is over they learn the joys of endurance and can feel good about that. It is important for young people to get kicks from other things apart from drugs.” Staff members choose which patients are to go on the tramps. “Those who will benefit most are the shy, rebellious, self-centred ones. They have to learn to live in a group by learning to stick toSier and support each other,” Dr wford says.

Dr Crawford says that the benefits of the programme are considerable in teaching people about being physically fit and giving them an appreciation of the outdoors. It also fitted in very well with the hospital’s treatment philosophy.

“Both the rope course and the overnight tramps are good for confronting people, with what they will not do. All are physically capable of doing the activities, but a lot of people will not attempt them.

“Recovery from alcohol or drug dependency is not something you cannot do, but something you will not do.”

He emphasises that the courses are not a panacea for all the patient’s problems, but just another way of trying to match up the hospital’s various treatment programmes.

“We try to give people the tools to use. Whether or not they decide to use them is up to the individual patient.”