Therapeutic architectural approach to the design of drug rehabilitation centre in Nigeria

Drug de-addiction and rehabilitation strives to provide psychological assistance and medical care to attain permanent abstinence from illicit drugs and psychotropic substances, instead of exclusively eradication of physical drug dependence. Many rehabilitation centres in Nigeria adopt arrest and detention approach in the treatment of drug addicts instead of therapeutic measures. Owing to the dearth of drug rehabilitation and treatment options in Nigeria, which include lack of detoxification, psychotherapy, and meditation programs, new drug addicts who are released from detention camps go back into society as nuisance with a high risk of relapsing. To support the emerging rehabilitation trend for drug addicts, this study aims to examine the therapeutic architecture approach to develop an atmosphere for healing. Cross-literature technique was adopted to elicit data from purposively selected rehabilitation centres. The results of this study reveal the significance of architecture in supporting drug-addiction therapy, by designing a therapeutic facility for accommodation, treatment, social interaction, confinement and education, as well as an atmosphere to re-unite addicts with the society minimum professional assistance.