Songwriting with the Chemically Dependent

The purpose of this article is to discuss songwriting as a therapeutic procedure with the chemically dependent population. The article includes (a) characteristics of the chemically dependent, (b) prominent treatment approaches used with the chemically dependent, (c) therapeutic objectives of songwriting with the chemically dependent, (d) techniques for facilitating songwriting, (e) lyric analysis of original songs, and (f) the role of the music therapist in the songwriting process. The article is based on the author's experience with chemically dependent persons in a 24-day in-patient treatment facility. The average age of those in treatment is 29 years, with a mean school education of 11.7 years. They are 80% male, 37% unemployed, and 91% Caucasian. Eighty-seven and one-half percent claim that their primary drug use is alcohol. The remaining 12.5% claim drug abuse (other than alcohol) as their primary addiction.