Search Results

AbstractIn the late 80's, in Quebec, the harm reduction approach was mixed with other currents that had already started to influence and renew the philosophy of treatment and the methods of intervention used at the time in the field of drug abuse rehabilitation. This article will discuss the impact of the 1997 implementation of this approach at the Centre Dollard-Cormier. We assert that the care-givers of the centre rallied to the approach and that it facilitated, especially through the expression of «high tolerance», the adoption of such values as flexibility, accessibility and acceptance of all persons who request help, whatever their motives or the precariousness of their situation. With a five-year background, we can assess the strengths and limits of the approach in the context of rehabilitation. Concerning the strengths, we must observe a higher respect of the user's objectives, in particular those that concern the use of psychoactive substances, a transformation towards more flexible and accessible services, and a favourable prejudice towards the less fortunate. As for the difficulties, we will mention the adjustments made to our methods of intervention to meet the varied objectives of substance use and to conciliate high tolerance with the therapeutic framework. Even though the harm reduction approach has taught us to appreciate any improvement in the situation of addicted persons as a legitimate result, valid by itself, our mission requires us not to lose sight of the large number users who nevertheless pursue the objective of liberating themselves from their dependence, either by abstinence or otherwise, and take back control of their lives.

We have conducted a research on therapeutic follow-ups with delinquents on parole, in Metropolitan Montreal, by analyzing the following characteristics: the clientele's professional care, the proportion of subjects who use the therapeutic follow-ups during their jail term and parole, the relevance of treatment, and the beneficiary's legal status of parole. According to our results, 81% of the subjects had classified clinical diagnostics at DSM III-R; 23,33% for double diagnostics; 14% for substance abuse and 6,67% for mood swings.85,3% of the clients receive treatment given by psychologists, making it the most popular. Officers estimate that therapeutic follow-ups are pertinent in 91,9% of the cases, when the treatments are given to individuals with behavior problems or mental health disorders, and in 86,6% of the cases, when dealing with clients who are less motivated to take treatment. The results also show that 61,3% of the subjects were involved in therapeutic follow-ups in the last months of incarceration. This percentage proves that subjects who receive psychological treatments during their incarceration are the most likely to continue during parole. Generally speaking, the results were very encouraging and contradict some statements to the effect that there is a lack of motivation in delinquents and that therapeutic follow-ups offered to parole clientele are impertinent. Results also show that the clientele who remains in psychological treatment is motivated to continue the treatment and that these follow-ups are considered pertinent by the clientele.

AbstractWorkers who work with drug addicts in needle-exchange and methadone-provision programs encounter ethical challenges every day. This article presents the results of a qualitative analysis of the ethical problems encountered by 26 Montreal workers in their daily practice. The data was analysed using an ethical framework inspired by Paul Ricoeur's ethical approach. Problems were classified in two categories. First, those linked to the political, legal, or organizational context, notably, the prosecution of drug addicts, the discrepancy between technocratic management and ground-level realities, and inconsistencies in practices and services. Second, the problems mentioned involve the relationships that develop during these programs related to access for certain people (e.g. minors, pregnant women, violent individuals) to services, outreach workers' relationships with the people being helped, confidentiality, power relationships, and moralizing. This study shows the complexities inherent in these problems and the necessity of analysing them in an ethical system that integrates all dimensions of harm reduction intervention.

Keywords: réduction des méfaits, éthique, Paul Ricoeur, échange de seringues, méthadone, santé publique, Harm reduction, ethics, Paul Ricoeur, needle-exchange and methadone-provision programs, Public Health, reducción de los delitos, ética, Paul Ricoeur, intercambio de jeringas, metadona, salud pública

AbstractThe acquired expertise of large scale intergovernmental organisations concerning conflict resolution has become more sophisticated in terms of the peace adaptation process immediately following the mediation phase. The peace adaptation process is now less encumbered by the meddling of outside actors. Humanitarian and military actions of “demobilization” are principally governed by the goal of reintegrating former combatants into civil life. This form of socialisation, which seeks to promote a more peaceful lifestyle, must follow a path in which the “guerrilero” must psychologically and physically gain control of his own self, if he is to become a citizen once more. The study of the demobilized body as defined as a body that suits the needs of peace may reveal forms of power related to peacemaking. This form of “biopower” as enforced by an international community during the 1997 demobilization in Guatemala subsequently caused reintegration problems to “demobilized guerrileros” as this new category and what it meant was completely absent from the Guatemalan mindset.

Keywords: Laliberté, Guatemala, résolution des conflits, démobilisation, guérilla, biopouvoir, réinsertion sociale, URGN, La liberté, Guatemala,   demobilization, guerrilero,   peacemaking, “biopower”, reintegration, URGN, Laliberté, Guatemala, resolución de conflictos, desmovilización, guerrilla, bio-poder, reintegración social

AbstractABSTRACTCommunication, the Other, the Inexpressible. Patient Self-helpPatient self-help groups in Quebec are examined from the viewpoint of the particular relationship to speech that is found in them, and of ils translation into a representation of illness as hindered communication. The study focuses on the credo of these groups to the effect that only those who have lived through the same experience can truly understand one another. We seek to identify the cultural signification of this idea, and the meaning it gives to the self-relationship and to the relationship with others among the patients participating in these groups.Key words : Gagnon, illness, speech, self-help groups, suffering, communication

AbstractThis article analyses a series of acts performed during the gathering of the Confederation of the Cree Nations of Canada that took place in August 2001 in Chisasibi (East James Bay). All these activities, enacted in the space of a few hours rather than several weeks, as in daily life, create a condensation of space-time and authenticity. In their quest for an identity that encompasses the hunting, fishing and material life of the subarctic Cree, without losing the dance, song and spiritual life of the Plains Cree, the two groups engage in a process of reciprocal admiration in which each represents for the other the ideal Indian.

Keywords: Roué, identité, Indiens cris, hybridité, musée, Roué, identity, Cree Indians, hybridity, museum, Roué, Identidad, Indios Cris, hibridismo, museo

Abstract Most often, forks in the trajectory of an actor's life are treated as “break points.” This conceptualisation is not without its problems. Examining three distinct moments in life, the article examines concretely such forks in the trajectory. The three moments are: the start of retirement, the diagnosis of a chronic disease or HIV-AIDS, and a homosexual coming-out. The author's claim is that rather than emphasising the break point, it is more relevant to focus on the identity work involved in creating coherence. By looking backward and forward from the fork in the trajectory, analysis uncovers a succession of objective situations and subjective adjustments linked to them. The author calls for a more careful usage if not abandonment of the concept of biographical break.

ABSTRACTIn Quebec between 1930 and 1960, Catholic discourse regarding sexual education revolved around three major themes: the teaching of chastity, the ennobling of sexuality and the "new" pedagogy. Various tendencies confronted each other and inter-mingled; within the confines of the old system, new ideas emerged and grew in strength. These differing approaches can be linked to the changing perceptions of the family. In the post-war years, despite an outdated institutional framework, participants in this debate became more numerous and more varied. Tracing the ways in which this discourse was transformed sheds light on the emergence of a modern pedagogical system.

AbstractThis article looks at the interaction of the visual and the verbal in simultaneous interpreting, describing the significance of different elements of visual nonverbal communication with focus on those that facilitate understanding or need to be rendered in some way in the interpretation. While studies show that this visual information is often redundant, it can nevertheless aid the processing of verbal information. Visual contact can certainly be of importance when the verbal message refers to something visible to the audience or when the nonverbal adds information not present in the verbal message. A small experiment was conducted at the University of Vienna in order to determine whether there were any appreciable differences in interpreting with and without visual contact. The descriptive analysis sought to identify types of visual nonverbal communication that were particularly important for understanding the message.

Keywords: nonverbal communication, visual input, body language, simultaneous interpreting processes