History
In the 70s, the number of people
intoxicating themselves with psychoactive drugs started to raise
sharply. Measures undertaken by the health service and the Militia
were to make access to drugs difficult but did not reduce drug
supply and need to take drugs. There were no treatment, prevention
and information. This caused drastic increase of number of people
addicted to drugs in the late 70s, in сontrast to official
statistics which according to the authority recommendations (“ban to
inform the public about drug abuse and other negative social
phenomena”) were considerably understated. At that time also a
breakthrough in drug production and use took place. The “Polish
heroin” – an opiate which was possible to make in any kitchen - was
invented. In such circumstances the first therapeutic community “Monar”
was established in Gloskow on October 15, 1978, by Marek Kotanski
and his colleagues, employees of the Psychiatric Hospital in
Garwolin at that time. After the success of Gloskow Monar, a number
of new therapeutic communities were established in different regions
of Poland with the help of the Gloskow ex-clients and staff.
Kotanski’s Monar instantly reacted to new social phenomena and
problems which arose in Poland in the 80s and 90s. The important
milestone to shape our activities was the contact with the first
HIV-infected patient. Despite the common panic, overwhelming
unreliable and sensational information about the virus in the mass
media, Kotanski faced the challenge and established in Zbicko near
Opole a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts with HIV. However, it
turned out soon that the homogeneous community was mainly focused on
the infection problem which ruined any therapeutic effects. As a
result of this experience since 1988 all centres of Monar have
admitted drug addicted people regardless of their health status. It
was the beginning of the unprecedented events and activities
involving people living with HIV. Monar became an asylum and
Kotanski – the first advocate for them. People who were not addicted
but infected with HIV also started to come to Monar. They were
homosexuals, those who had been infected by virus in blood
transfusion, as a result of sexual contacts, and infants diagnosed
as HIV-positive who had been abandoned by their mothers in
hospitals. Nobody in Monar would get surprised by a phone call from
a hospital from a distant town of Poland with appeal to immediately
take away a baby with HIV. The only safe place ready to take these
babies was Monar. The only people ready to love these neglected
human creatures were Monar “neophytes”. Due to rapidly growing
number of HIV-infected children in 1989 the Centre in Wroclaw
changed its profile to become a house for drug addicted women and
children with HIV. It was for the benefit of all: children received
love and women emotionally devastated by drug addiction learnt how
to give love. Then it was the first time Kotanski used the words
“the touch of goodness” and “in need for each other”, and it became
clear then that the focus of all his activities was a human being
regardless of situation in which he or she found self. Everyone who
would come was of the biggest importance and deserved to be given a
chance. Many adversaries impeached such attitude as “everythingism”.
However Kotanski did not look for others’ woes, did not collect
them, people themselves would find him as a last resort. When all
others denied and failed, he would give helping hand and would not
judge. He had such an internal readiness and ability to give help to
people regardless of all possible limitations and obstacles. That
was a time when the Association “Solidarity AIDS PLUS” was
established – a sister entity to Monar which up to-date runs three
villages for people with HIV, sick with AIDS and their families.
The next change was brought about by the 90s and was related to
social and political transformation which broke out at that time.
Homeless and unemployed, alcoholic and drug addicts, juvenile
criminals and homeless mothers flooded streets of cities and towns.
Monar reacted instantly. The first element in the chain of the
forthcoming activities to help people to overcome homelessness and
social exclusion was the bath-house “The Pure Matter” in the Central
Railway Station in Warsaw. Halls which before had been out of use
and served as refuse dump were adjusted by Monar wards to become a
unit for social help with its bath, changing room, nurse room,
hair-dresser, and canteen. Although after one year the battle to
keep the unit was lost, this initiative gave a start to the Movement
Against Homelessness Markot of the Monar Association.
The main group of out wards both in Monar and Markot programs were
ex-prisoners, also recidivists. That is why we regarded as important
to organize special services for those who are released from prison
which would help them change their lifestyles and value system. One
month before Kotanski’s death one more unprecedented thing happened:
agreement between the Central Prison Board, Penitentiary Court and
Monar was signed. It gave a legal possibility to continue treatment
initiated in prison therapeutic units further in the community
centre of Monar.
All MONAR employees, apart from their therapeutic duties implement
prevention initiatives. The main program is the Pure Hearts
Movement. It was initiated in 1985 by an All-Polish Chain of the
Pure Hearts in which thousands of people stood holding hands from
the sea to Tatry mountains. The first person in this Chain standing
on Sopot’s Mole was Jola Koczurowska who is now the President of
Monar. The Pure Hearts Movement unites school student inspiring
activity for the benefit of neighbors, forming drug free lifestyles
and humanist attitudes.
Today 524 people are Monar members, 680 are the employees and 186
are volunteers. The Pure Hearts Movement is 28 Pure Hearts Clubs
bringing together over 400 young people and 35 school teachers.
Residential rehabilitation centres are 34, out-patient centres are
35, among them are counseling units, day care centres, and harm
reduction centres. Within the Markot Movement there are 65 houses:
night shelters, reintegration houses, centres for homeless mothers
with children.
In 2005, 41 688 persons benefited from services offered by MONAR in
over 200 programs of different types in the country! (Activity
Report for 2005).
The main tasks for MONAR for today are:
• to develop programs for vocational training of MONAR clients at
par with the requirements of the labour market
• to improve involvement of the mass media in prevention activities
and use its potential of intervention
• to establish more treatment centres for children and adolescents
with drug problems (related to increase of drug abuse practice in
this age group)
• to develop system of out-patient treatment based on therapeutic
community method, also day care centres for people with drug
problems
• to develop post-rehabilitation services: hostels, re-adaptation
flats and other
• to involve all patient of prison therapeutic units to the care
program for those after release
• to increase the role of families in the therapeutic process
through organising more therapeutic and integration programs for
them,
• to develop international cooperation, especially with the
countries of the Central and Eastern Europe
