The recognized and globally accepted United Nations' lnternational Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders2 recommend comprehensive and balanced approaches to drug demand reduction, suggesting evidence-based and human rights interventions, such as outreach programs and outpatient and residential treatments. Therapeutic Communities are one of the most common and widely available approaches.
Therapeutic Communities are based on a model of learning communities where the objective, from a biopsychosocial approach, is not only abstinence, but, through a process of continuous and multidimensional change, transiting to a better functionality and quality of life in various leveis such as physical and mental health, housing, employment, social participation or caring for their environment. They also prevent the intergenerational transmission of addictive behaviors.
