1. PHOENIX AFTERCARE Programme for psychosocial reintegration of substance dependent populations Teodora Groshkova Institute for Ecology of Cognition Bulgaria

2. Institute for Ecology of Cognition

3. Legal Framework
NGO in public benefit
Registration No 7806/2002

4. Programmes
Phoenix Therapeutic Community (TC) for substance dependent individuals
license , Ministry of Work & Social Policy
license , Ministry of Health
Three Phoenix Admission Centres & two Aftercare centres across Bulgaria
CBT & TC training programmes
accreditation, Bulgarian Association CBT

5. Collaboration in Bulgaria
Partnership agreement with Ministry of Work & Social Policy
Authorisation No 0802/05
Partnership with Ministry of Health for training of professionals in TC model
Part of a national professional network along with National Addiction Centre, Sofia Municipality Centre for Drug Use Prevention, Bulgarian Association for Partnership & Integration, Bulgarian Association for CBT

6. International Affiliations
Member of European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC)
Member of Association of Therapeutic Communities (ATC)
Member of Community of Communities – A Quality Network of Therapeutic Communities (Royal College of Psychiatrists, London)

7. Projects
‘TC Phoenix’
Project No 5632/2007, Ministry of Work & Social Policy, Social Support Agency
‘Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Drug Dependent Individuals from Therapeutic Community’
Project No 021/2007, Ministry of Health
‘Resocialisation of Drug Dependent Individuals’
supported by Grant Contract External Action of the European Community, CSDP 2006 Lot 1 – 031
‘Socio-labour reinstatement’
in cooperation with Bulgarian Association for Partnership & Integration
supported by FICT – Federazione Italiana Comunità Terapeutiche
‘Psychosocial Reintegration Phoenix’
supported by UK Embassy in Bulgaria, Department for International Development, Small Grants Scheme 2003/04

8. Phoenix Aftercare

9. The context What extend of needs?
lack of consistent systematic monitoring of drug treatment and rehab referral / completion rates data across the country
a significant No of drug users seek rehab abroad
Expert opinions agreed on existing need of social reintegration services
Social reintegration services – almost completely underdeveloped
Phoenix aftercare programme was developed as an attempt to answer existing needs in a structured and coordinated manner
There is no official data about the number of substance dependent individuals seeking medical
treatment and rehabilitation of drug addiction (EMCDDA Report, ). Data on referral to TC
Phoenix are available but there is a lack of consistem systematic monitoring of referral / drug
treatment service usage data across the country and, in addition, a significant number of clients
(based on expert opinions) seek rehabilitation abroad. These factors contribute and explain why
official data is lacking but expert opinions tend to agree on the fact that there is an existing need of
those services – to address the needs of both clinets who seek treatment and rehabilitation within the
country and those who go abroad – the latter, upon return are equally, if not more, in need of
resocialisation in their own environment.
In general, social reintegration is considered to be an integral part of addiction treatment and
rehabilitation and a crucial element for the overall success of addiction recovery. However, provision
of social reintegration services, as elements of coordinated patient treatment journey in Bulgaria have
remained almost completely undeveloped or where these have emerged, they are available as
informal interventions by self-help groups.
Phoenix Aftercare programme was developed as an attempt to answer existing needs in a structured
and coordinated manner. As part of TC Phoenix rehabilitation programme, the Aftercare project is
now a full member of the Association of Therapeutic Communities (ATC), UK and of the European
Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC). It is also actively involved in “Community of
Communities” – a standards-based quality improvement international network, managed by the
Royal College of Psychiatrists’ in partnership with the ATC, EFTC amongst others. Active
involvement in international projects and initiatives provides staff members the opportunity to be a
part of intensive and constant exchange of best practices in the field of social reintegration and hence
master in the provision of high quality services – in answer of the ever increasing needs at a national
level.
The development of the programme has, but partially, met the still existing needs. In addition to the
above stated, social and reintegration programmes and actions can and should aim to address not only
drug users but other vulnerable social groups in general, such as the street homeless, the street
children – issues that are often interwined with substance misuse. It has been identified that these
groups are lacking the opportunity to have their needs met due to the lack of availability of social
reintegration services nationwide.

10. Aftercare Programme Sofia and Bourgas National coverage of referrals
Varied length of stay but tending to one year
6m intensive support and assertive outreach
6m flexible support (possibility to attend on request following graduation)

11. Interventions Initial assessment
individual needs and aspirations
personal strengths and family resources
Care coordination as per individual aftercare plan
Career guidance
Job placement and employment
Education and training
Individual counselling
Groups
support groups
family/significant others groups
social network therapy
UDS
Crisis interventions

12. Staffing Two trained ex-drug users in clinical positions
Two social workers
One applied psychologist
Admin support

13. Support and collaboration
FICT
Sofia and Bourgas Municipal Addiction Prevention Centres
Ministry of Work & Social Policy Programme “Independent again”
a nation-wide programme of the Ministry aiming at enabling employment for long-term unemployed people with minority ethnic background and or disabilities (including substance misuse)
University of National and World Economy, Sofia Programme for vocational training of young people with history of substance misuse