Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Globally, substance abuse has had a profound impact on society, compounding factors around public health and safety, as well as the social fabric of family systems and communities. The substance abuse problem is complex and requires a comprehensive approach to addressing the phenomenon. Treatment for substance abuse is one aspect of addressing the problem and aims to reduce the harm associated with the use thereof. Treatment demand has increased consistently in South Africa over the past few years and the need for services has been articulated in key legislative and policy documents. Substance abuse is a well-researched field in South Africa; however, limited research exists that captures the experience and perceptions of service users that received outpatient treatment. Various studies conducted in Cape Town in the Western Cape have confirmed an inextricable link between substance abuse and the structural challenges present in historically disadvantaged communities. This study explores the experiences of service users who had completed an outpatient substance-abuse treatment programme in the City of Cape Town's health clinics in Parkwood and Delft South. The objectives of the study are to explore the individual-level and service-level factors impacting on service users' experiences of outpatient substance-abuse treatment, to explore the outcomes of outpatient substance-abuse treatment for service users and to make service-level recommendations and recommendations for further study. Nine research participants for the qualitative study were purposively sampled, as they required certain attributes to respond to the area of study. Data was collected in the form of semi-structured interviews in order to allow for the in-depth exploration into the experiences of service users. Data was analysed with the use of conceptual analysis, where themes were thematically grouped and analysed. Key findings in the study were that the City's outpatient treatment programme is designed exclusively for adult service users. It was, however, found that the age of substance use and the onset of abuse occurred between the ages of 11 and 17-years. The study highlighted the need for the City to modify its outpatient programme to address the needs of youth service users and children of service users to facilitate their adjustment to a parent in recovery. A further finding in the study was the challenges experienced by service users, particularly female service users. It emerged that female service users experienced more stigmatisation than males accessing the service. The need for aftercare treatment post-treatment was a gap identified in the study. In the exploratory study, participants' experiences and perceptions of the City's outpatient programme were positive. The scope of the study was therefore narrow. Recovery, however, remains a challenge for service users due to triggers brought on by structural challenges present in disadvantaged communities, again highlighting the need for coordinated efforts by all government spheres to address the scourge of substance abuse. As a prospect for further study, it is proposed that the long-term impact of the City’s outpatient programme be considered with a larger sample of participants.

The goal of the study was to explore the perceptions of social workers regarding their role in aftercare and reintegration towards substance-dependent persons. The research was about the quest to unlock the perceptions that social workers, both in the employ of the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA, have about their role in aftercare and reintegration services. Hence, the research approach followed was qualitative. Due to the nature of the study, the researcher used focus group interviews for data collection. An interview schedule, with guiding questions, was prepared in advance. The research also aimed to make comparisons between the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA findings. Consequently, two focus group interviews were conducted for Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA, respectively. The findings from the two focus groups conducted were packaged in three sections, namely, findings from Gauteng Department of Social Development, from SANCA Eersterust and the combined data. The key findings from the Gauteng Department of Social Development were that aftercare services were viewed as motivation of clients and providing emotional support. The causes of substance abuse relapse were due to a lack of support, boredom and stigma. There was limited knowledge amongst social workers on how relevant legislation and policies link up with aftercare and reintegration services. There was a lack of manuals or guidelines on how aftercare and reintegration services should be rendered, and lastly, there was a view from social workers that the Department of Social Development should play a leading role on issues of aftercare and reintegration services. The key findings from SANCA were that aftercare and reintegration services were more about a holistic approach. The causes of substance abuse relapse were mainly about triggers and lack of social infrastructure. The stumbling blocks for effective aftercare and reintegration services were part of an external locus of control, shortage of skills development centres and inadequate services in treatment centres. Aftercare and reintegration services should include assessment, support groups for clients and families, skills development programmes and referrals. Lastly, the role of social workers when it came to aftercare and reintegration services included case management and support. The role of the social workers both from the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA according to the participating social workers were as follows: resource management, therapy, empowerment, case management and support. Recommendations were made for effective aftercare and reintegration services and for future research. The recommendations for effective aftercare and reintegration services were: (1) aftercare and reintegration services should include in their programmes sessions and activities on emotional support and motivation; (2) the holistic approach should be adopted when rendering aftercare and reintegration services to substance-dependent persons; (3) the Department of Social Development should take the lead on issues of aftercare and reintegration services and should be supported by NGOs; (4) social workers were best located and more effective as case managers for substance abuse and aftercare and reintegration services in particular; (5) specialisation of social workers in the field of substance abuse was recommended; (6) there was a need for workshops for social workers in the substance abuse field to be trained about relevant policy and legislation in the sector; (7) there was a need for a manual from the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA which should sketch out the process and procedures of rendering aftercare and reintegration services to recovering substance-dependent persons. The recommendations for future research were that this study was based on social workers from the Gauteng Department of Social Development and social workers from SANCA within the jurisdiction of the Tshwane area. It was recommended that a study be conducted in other areas of South Africa to make comparisons of the data. It was established that there were various legislation and policies which deal with issues of aftercare and reintegration services. There was however, a need to determine whether such legislation and policy were in line with the needs of the substance dependent people. Lastly, it was also recommended that there should be more scientific enquiry on issues of aftercare and reintegration services in substance-dependent persons in South Africa. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmchunu2014 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has intensified in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a fairly new drug on the market known as nyaope which is being abused mostly by the youth in the townships. Nyaope is a drug consisting of heroin, dagga and other elements like rat poison, cleaning detergents and even crushed antiretroviral drugs. Failure to find a solution to drug abuse can lead to economic problems and handicap the social development of the country, as well as threatening the life and health of the people involved. In the South African context, the value of aftercare has been downplayed and there has been relatively little emphasis on aftercare and reintegration services in both research and practice. Therefore, it was the goal of this study to explore and describe the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users' and the significant others' points of view in Hammanskraal. In order to achieve this goal, a qualitative research was adopted to explore and describe the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users' and the significant others' points of view. Due to the nature of the study, the researcher had two sampling groups, namely (1) nyaope users and (2) significant others. The study was guided by a collective case study design. Semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection method for this study and two distinct interview schedules were developed and used for nyaope users and significant others, respectively. The researcher aimed at answering the following two research questions: (1) "Based on the views of nyaope users, what are the aftercare needs of nyaope users in the Hammanskraal community?"; and (2) "Based on the views of significant others, what are the aftercare needs of nyaope users in the Hammanskraal community?" From the raw data, the researcher implemented thematic analysis as stipulated by Braun and Clarke (2006) in analysing the data. The researcher used credibility and triangulation in establishing the trustworthiness of the data analysis. The findings from the two sets of samples were unpacked in three sections, namely, findings from the nyaope users, from significant others and the combined data with the aim of triangulation. The key findings from nyaope users and the significant others are as follows: The key findings from nyaope users were that nyaope use has a negative impact on the physical, psychological, spiritual well-being of the users. Causes of relapse were identified as a lack of support from the government and family members, personal problems that users encounter during the recovery process, going back to the same environment and being coerced to go for treatment. Furthermore, nyaope users indicated that they value the trust of community members that is often lost and can be regained by a change of lifestyles following treatment and getting volunteering opportunities in order to create awareness at local schools. The users indicated that they could achieve total abstinence if they can change the type of lifestyle they were living before, such strategies include going for treatment, adopting a more conducive and healthy lifestyle, get adequate support from their families, attending group sessions following treatment, the implementation of an adequate aftercare programme that could assist in preventing relapse, the creation of employment and spiritual support during and post treatment. The key findings from the significant others were that families are victims of theft due to nyaope users' stealing to sustain their habits. As a result significant others are left with feelings of disappointment and hurt. Nyaope also impacts negatively on family relationships in a manner that there is a lack of communication and ineffective communication among family members. The significant others identified the causes of relapse as a lack of educational programmes in communities, high unemployment rate, a lack of spiritual support, inadequate aftercare programmes and the return to the same community and friends following treatment. Significant others also indicated that nyaope users require volunteering opportunities in communities as a form of reintegration and that nyaope users need to change their lifestyles following treatment in order to regain trust from the community. Significant others recommended that nyaope users require support from family, spiritual support from spiritual leaders and psychosocial support in order for them to maintain total abstinence. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

Background: Aftercare services with an aftercare program in the Czech Republic significantly help to integrate persons with addictological problems into the majority society. However, according to the National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, more than 50 % of users of these services are unsuccessful in their aftercare. Objective: The aim of the research is to find out the needs of clients in the area of housing at selected after-treatment centers. Identify whether these needs are met and whether clients' success in aftercare programs is not affected by unmet housing needs. Methodology: The theoretical and practical part of the thesis delimits the research findings. The theoretical part deals with aftercare services with aftercare program and the effect of relapse and relapse in aftercare for addiction.The practical part defines the area of research and with the use of quantitative methods of research comes up with statistical data, which are subsequently interpreted. Results: 7 residential facilities with a capacity of 85 beds participated in the research. The research sample consisted of 76 respondents. The research sample found that a significant proportion of clients did not meet the housing needs and in 44,7 % would use the sociohealth services only for housing. In the research...

Nationwide more than 2 million youth are placed in custody annually, approximately 80,000 children return home, and more than 70% have a diagnosable mental disorder. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the outcomes of 311 youth released from secure residential facilities in Georgia between January 2012 thru May 2017. In the dataset, 136 youth returned to regular homes, 128 returned to group homes (GC), and 47 returned to traditional foster homes (TFC). The goal of the study was to examine the differences in probation outcomes based on the type of placement. For the purpose of the study, probation success was defined as having no additional placements in a secure residential facility within 365 days of release. To provide additional context, mental health status, race, sex, and age were analyzed. Binomial logistic regression and chi-square tests were performed to answer the research question. The tests did not reflect a statistically significant difference in the outcomes. However, the analysis did reflect that race and placement type had some effect on probation success. For race, success was 15.4% for black, 24.0% for white, and 24.1% for other. For placement type, probation success was 15.6% for youth returning to GC, 20.6% for youth returning to regular homes, and 23.4% for youth returning to TFC. As reflected in the literature, issues such as lack of proven programs in the community, mental health, and family impact the outcomes of delinquent youth in foster care. This study and the literature reflect the need for social change which can occur when the needs of delinquent juveniles supervised in foster care are addressed systematically.

No description available.

Background: There are many researches on the topic of employing (ex) drug users in abroad, but a little works in the Czech Republic. Its pioneers did not aim specifically to describe a group of clients of aftercare centers who are most closely to the working process. Aims: In cooperation with three Prague aftercare centers (Drop In, Magdaléna, SANANIM) and Work and social agency SANANIM to map and describe job experiences of their clients on the job market. Next aim is to create a typology of clients in the aftercare centers according to their current un/employment. Complex of recommendations how to prevent mistakes at the job market was suggested. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to data collection - a questionnaire to map experiences of clients at the job market and interviews for detailed description of client types. Data analysis was carried out by open cosiny and descriptive statistics. All the ethical questions were kept. Sample: Basic population was created by all current clients of aftercare centers in Prague. It was necessary to fulfil these criteria: to be current client of some of the centers, to have at least one contact with the job market during the aftercare programme and to give an agreement with attendance in the study. Total number of respondents...

Backgrounds: Establishing and maintaining a satisfactory and fulfilling partnering relationship after the end of addictology treatment is often a goal that people cite as one of the goals in their next addictive life. Being able to establish, maintain and develop a good partnership is a confirmation of their newly acquired competences and their new role in society. People who have an affiliate relationship from an earlier time when they have used addictive substances now have to face the problems that their dependency .has caused in their relationship. Objectives: The aim of the thesis is to analyze the style of emotional attachment (EA) of individual clients of aftercare programs in their current partnership as a possible source of support or burden that significantly affects their lives and how they solve their problems and describe their satisfaction in these relationships. Study sample: The study sample consisted of 39 respondents who were clients of certified after-treatment addictology services based in the capital city of Prague at the time of the research. The research sample consisted of 19 women and 20 men aged between 19 and 47 years. Methods: The resulting data was obtained using a questionnaire battery of questionnaires: a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, a...

Bakgrund: Av Sveriges totala befolkning är 5 % beroende och/eller missbrukar alkohol och droger. Det finns samband mellan människors aktivitetsmönster och missbruk, då missbruket har en inverkan på de dagliga aktiviteterna. Strukturen i vardagen har en betydande roll för alkoholkonsumtion och återfall. Arbetsterapeuter som yrkesgrupp förekommer sällan inom beroende och missbruksvård, trots att ett missbruk påverkar de vardagliga aktiviteterna. Personer med alkohol- och/eller drogproblematik känner sig ofta tillfredsställda med vårdprogrammen på behandlingshem men inte med eftervården som ges. Syfte: Beskriva hur personer med drog- och/eller alkoholproblematik hanterar och värderar vardagliga aktiviteter efter avslutad behandling på behandlingshem. Vidare jämförs om det finns någon skillnad i hantering och värdering av vardagliga aktiviteter hos de som haft och inte haft återfall efter avslutad behandling. Metod: Syftet besvarades genom en kvantitativ studie. Enkäter innehållande självskattningsinstrumentet Min Mening och författarnas egna konstruerade bakgrundsfrågor har använts. 35 män och kvinnor som behandlats på behandlingshem för sin alkohol- och eller drogproblematik deltog i studien. Resultat: Det framkom att deltagarnas drogfrihet har påverkat de vardagliga aktiviteterna till det bättre. Deltagarna upplevde att aktiviteterna “Att få gjort det jag behöver göra” och “Att koppla av och roa mig” fungerade minst bra. De värderade aktiviteten “Att sköta min ekonomi” högst. Det framkom skillnader mellan de deltagare som haft och inte haft återfall efter avslutad behandling. Alla vardagliga aktiviteter i denna studie upplevdes fungera bättre för de som inte haft återfall. Slutsats: Resultatet går i linje med den forskning som redan finns vad gäller samband mellan aktivitetsmönster och missbruk samt belyser och uppmärksammar arbetsterapins betydelse inom missbruksområdet vidare. / Background: 5% of the population in Sweden are having substance abuse problems. There is a connection between individual activity patterns and substance abuse, because the substance abuse is affecting the everyday activities. The relation of the everyday life contra alcohol consumption and relapses is significant. Professional occupational therapists are rarely involved in the treatment of substance abusers, despite that substance abuse is affecting the everyday activities. People with substance abuse problems often feel satisfied with the treatment program at a treatment center, but not with the given aftercare. Purpose: Describe how people with substance abuse problems handles and values everyday activities after finished treatment at a treatment center. Furthermore, a comparison is made to evaluate if there are any differences between the participants in the study who have had a relapse and those who have not had a relapse to how they handle everyday activities and how they value them. Method: The purpose was answered through a quantitative study. Surveys containing the instrument Occupational Self-Assessment and the authors’ own constructed questions was used. 35 men and women who have been treated at treatment center for some kind of substance abuse participated in the study. Result: it was revealed that the participants’ drug free living affected their everyday activities. The participants experienced that the activities ”accomplishing what I set out to do” and “relaxing and enjoying myself” were least successful. They valued the activity” managing my finances” the most. It was revealed that there were differences between the participants that have had a relapse and those who have not had a relapse after they finished their treatment. Those who did not have a relapse experienced better function in all the everyday activities in the study. Conclusion: The result is in line with already available research which touches the connection between activity pattern and substance abuse. The importance of occupational therapy within the field of substance abuse is, furthermore, highlighted and brought to attention.

Abstrakt Bakgrund Hjärtstopp är förknippat med hög dödlighet. Eftersom antalet överlevare ökar är det betydelsefullt att få en förståelse för vilken typ av hälsoproblematik och livskvalitet som överlevare innehar. Syfte Syftet är att beskriva självskattade hälsoproblem hos personer som överlevt hjärtstopp. Metod En systematisk litteraturstudie genomfördes och resultatet baseras på 12 kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat I resultatet framgick fysiska-, psykiska och sociala hälsoproblem hos hjärtstoppsöverlevare. De mest framträdande problemen var smärta, trötthet, ångest och depression samt problematik att delta i samhället som exempelvis, att återgå till arbetet efter hjärtstopp. Flera faktorer tycks påverka överlevares hälsoproblematik. Slutsats Studien visade på fysiska, mentala och sociala hälsoproblem som till viss del samvarierade. Det fanns också stora individuella skillnader mellan överlevare som delvis kunde förklaras av ålder, kön och personlighetsfaktorer. I syfte att förbättra överlevares hälsa bör eftervården inriktas på att identifiera den enskildes hälsoproblem och individualisera vården utifrån dessa. Nyckelord Hjärtstopp, överlevare, hälsa, livskvalitet, eftervård. Tack Ett stort tack till Johan Israelsson för all stöttning och ditt stora engagemang.