C.A.R.E.’s Journey Program Serves HIV+ People With Drug Use
Problems On November 19, the C.A.R.E. Program opened its new Journey Outpatient
Treatment Program, designed to meet the personal needs of HIV+ people with
substance use issues. Journey’s treatment goals are based on helping people to
assume responsibility for self-selected behavior changes.
This approach is a holistic one and includes brief therapy, identification and
expansion of personal strengths and successes, connection with personal
spirituality, acknowledgment of grief and loss issues, and management of HIV
infection and of complications caused by substance use. Activities include art,
auricular acupuncture (acu-detox), EEG-assisted counseling, herbal teas, and
relaxation. Services are provided in an environment that is sensitive to
gender, culture, sexual preference, and drug of choice. The model for Journey
is one of harm reduction which accepts any reduction in harm associated with
drug use as personal success and management.
Journey participants can access other C.A.R.E. services including: detox and
inpatient residential treatment through referral, low-cost housing
opportunities for Persons With AIDS (PWAs), case management, lab services and
follow-up, medical referrals, and mental health counseling.
The C.A.R.E. Program is at 1633 E. Second St. in Austin. Journey program hours
are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 12-5pm. Services are free. Acu-Detox
is available daily at 4pm. For Journey screening or information, call 473-2273.
“The journey of change is an adventure!” The Journey Outpatient Treatment
Program is “where the journey begins….”
This article appears in January 17 • 1997 and January 17 • 1997 (Cover).