J. DRUG EDUCATION, Vol. 33(2) 143-157, 2003 USING FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEWS TO UNDERSTAND STAFF PERCEPTIONS FROM TRAINING IN THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY MODEL ANNA TSIBOUKLI Hellenic Open University, Athens, Greece KIM WOLFF King’s College, University of London ABSTRACT The current article is concerned with the use of focus group interviews in understanding staff perceptions of training to work with drug users during the different stages of change from addiction to rehabilitation in the Therapeutic Community model. The article discusses the use of the focus group interview as the most appropriate method for the scope of this study, based on the assumption that trainees are aware of their own needs and demands from training. Methodological issues relevant to the use of focus groups and the individual responses to the training program are discussed. The content and structure of the training program are also discussed. The article concludes that gaining information on people’s own perceptions and experiences from the training process can contribute significantly to program improvement. INTRODUCTION From the beginning of Greek Therapeutic Communities back in 1983 and until the mid-90s, the only mode of training staff was experiential. This required staff to live in a residential therapeutic community for between 6 to 12 weeks and experience the different phases of the treatment program from the viewpoint of the drug user. This was more or less an assimilation task aimed at assisting staff to better understand drug users’ difficulties in the process of recovery, familiarize with the treatment environment, and become more aware of their own 143 Ó 2003, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.