Therapeutic communities in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of a programme aimed at raising standards of care and levels of professionalism in private, drug-free therapeutic communities (TCs) in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes the Reviver intervention in detail and draws on subjective insights collected during its implementation. Findings - Over 100 TCs applied to the Reviver project, of which 83 qualified to participate. The large majority of TCs were found to combine community-as-method, religious worship and abstinence in their treatment model. Research limitations/implications - The paper highlights the significant role religious organisations have in the treating substance dependency in Brazil and raises ethical and practical questions regarding the incorporation of religious TCs into mainstream public mental health provision. Practical implications - The paper outlines the qualification process, control systems and monitoring procedures employed by the Reviver project. Originality/value - The paper attends to the gap in English language publications regarding TCs in Brazil and raises important questions regarding the role of religion, faith and spirituality in the treatment of substance dependency.