Thesis (DPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The aim of the study was to design an alcohol abuse prevention program for the workplace that was based on a sound program theory. Ultimately the study aimed to indicate an approach to the improvement of social service programs by the incorporation of program theory in the design, implementation and evaluation of social service programs. In the first phase of the study the program theory was developed. Literature studies on the prevention of alcohol abuse and on program evaluation were done. This was followed by a survey in the workplace to determine alcohol consumption and abuse, factors contributing to alcohol consumption, workplace factors contributing to abuse and attitudes towards the responsible consumption of alcohol. The survey was complemented by focus group discussions. Eight hundred and fifteen respondents completed the survey. The most important findings were that 46% of respondents indicated that they drink alcohol, nine percent could be classified as alcohol dependent according to the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (Selzer, 1971) and 24% of men and 15 % of women drank at risky levels. The most important factors contributing to alcohol consumption were social problems, social drinking and dependence. Workplace factors contributing to alcohol consumption were the lack of control, availability of alcohol, social pressure to drink and the quality of work. The program theory was formulated from the results of the literature study, the survey and the focus group discussions. The all-inclusive program theory was that life skills training will lead to a reduction in frustration and therefore a reduction in the abuse of alcohol, within a positive work environment. In the following phase the program was implemented and evaluated. The program consisted of life skills training, supervisor training and the revision of the alcohol policy. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to test the program theory and evaluate the program. The life skills program was tested by means of an experimental design. The experimental groups showed an improvement in psychosocial functioning, but the differences were not statistically significant. The intervention had no significant effect on the consumption of alcohol. Respondents’ knowledge about the moderate drinking of alcohol improved significantly, but attitudes towards moderate drinking were not affected. Supervisor training was done to improve relationships at work and to lower frustration. Supervisors improved their knowledge of managing a troubled employee significantly and felt more comfortable in managing troubled employees after the training. The substance abuse policy of the workplace was revised successfully. The study contributes significantly to the methodological improvement of substance abuse prevention programs in the workplace and illustrates the importance of program theory in the design and evaluation of social programs. The study also illustrates how a process of formative evaluation can be used to improve social programs. More specifically the value of a systematic process of program development and program evaluation has been demonstrated, including that an in depth problem analysis has been done, an intensive and collaborative process of theory development has been undertaken and a rigorist evaluation design (with quantitative and qualitative components) has been applied.

Assignment (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the South African context, research on the impact of alcohol rehabilitation is particularly limited. This study aimed at describing the impact of the alcohol rehabilitation programme offered at Neuro Clinic D, Stikland Hospital. Outcome was assessed at 12-15 months with the objective of exploring the perceptions and experiences of the ex-patients to ascertain whether there has been an improvement in psychological well-being and positive lifestyle changes. The study was motivated by a request made by the staff at Neuro Clinic D; as such an investigation has never been conducted. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to gather data from 44 out of the 166 ex-patients admitted to Neuro Clinic D between January and June 2002. The relationships between the rate of relapse and age, gender, marital status, employment status, previous rehabilitation, health problems, police contact, aftercare attendance, participation in the 3- or 4- week programme and other medication/substance abuse were explored. While no statistically significant relationships were found between any of the variables, some evidence of interaction emerged with regards to the relationships between relapse status and participation in the 3- or 4-week programme, aftercare attendance, employment and marital status. The qualitative analysis revealed four central themes, namely coping mechanisms; responses to specific components of the programme; confounding factors and the impact of the programme. An integration of the quantitative and qualitative data supports the conclusion that while there was a low rate of consistent abstinence, the respondents reported an overall post-treatment improvement in psychological well-being and positive lifestyle changes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing op die impak van alcohol rehabilitasie is besonder beperk in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Hierdie studie het ten doelom die impak van die alcohol rehabilitasie program, gebied deur Neuro Kliniek D, Stikland Hospitaal, te beskryf. Die uitkoms is bepaal na 12-15 maande deur die persepsies en envaringe van eks-pasiente te ondersoek om sodoende vas te stelof daar verbetering was in sielkundige welstand en of positiewe leefstyle veranderinge aangegaan is. Die betrokke studie is gemotiveer deur 'n versoek gerig deur die personeel van Neuro Kliniek D, aangesien so 'n ondersoek nog nooit vantevore gedoen is nie. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe metodologieë is gebruik om data in te samel van 44 die 166 eks-pasiente toegelaat tot Neuro Kliniek D tussen Januarie en Junie 2002. Die korrelasie/verhouding tussen die terugvalkoers en ouderdom, geslag, huwelikstatus, werkstatus, vonge rehabilitasie, gesondheidsprobleme, polisie kontak, nasorg bywoning, deelname in die 3- of 4-week program en ander medikasie/substans misbruik is ondersoek. Terwyl geen statisties beduidende verhoudinge gevind is tussen enige van die veranderlikes nie, is daar wel aanduidings van interaksie met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen terugvalstatus en deelname aan die 3- of 4- week program, nasorg bywoning, werkstatus en huwelikstatus. Die kwalitatiewe analise het 4 sentrale temas onthul, naamlik, hanteringsmeganismes; response tot spesifieke komponente van die program; verydelende faktore en die impak van die program. 'n Integrasie van die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data steun die gevolgtrekking dat alhoewel daar 'n lae voorkoms was van volgehoue onthouding, die respondente wel 'n algemene verbetering in sielkundige welstand en postiewe leefstyle veranderinge na behandeling gerapporteer het.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Non-biological caregivers often take children into their care when their own biological caregivers have failed to provide them with a safe and loving home. These children are often also affected with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Learning of a child’s disability can be a big shock to non-biological caregivers especially if it is misunderstood, available professional help is scarce and intervention resources are not readily available. These non-biological caregivers are often not prepared for the financial, emotional and physical investment that is required to fully support the children and their development. This can cause various emotional reactions and implications that are challenging for the caregivers. It is critical to recognise parenting experiences and challenges as a means of developing and promoting intervention strategies and support that will respond to the needs of the children with FASD and their non-biological caregivers especially from a South African perspective. There is a need for social workers to take on responsibility for addressing FASD as they have the professional capacity to help families living with FASD to develop and maintain stable and nurturing households. One way in which this can be achieved is through the initiation and facilitation of support groups. The goal of the study was to gain an understanding on the experiences of non-biological caregivers of children with FASD and of the utilisation of support groups to help them cope better. The researcher made use of a combination of an exploratory and descriptive research design. By using both a quantitative and qualitative approach in a complimentary manner, the researcher was able to gain an in depth insight into the lives of the non-biological caregivers and how they experience this disability and support groups that are utilised as a means of helping them cope. Permission to conduct the study was granted by the committee for Human Research at the University of Stellenbosch. The literature study firstly investigated the implication of FASD on affected children. Secondly, the extents to which non-biological caregivers are affected by the consequences of this disability were discussed. After this the utilisation of support groups as a method of supporting non-biological caregivers, with the emphasis on a mutual-aid and educational approach as theoretical underpinning was described. The empirical study was completed with 16 participants through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. An interview schedule based on the findings of the literature study was utilised. The criteria for inclusion were that participants had to have attended at least 5 support group sessions and had to be a non-biological caregiver of FASD children who had attended the support groups specifically related to this disorder. The results of this study mostly confirmed the findings from the literature study which showed that support groups play a vital role in providing necessary support to non-biological caregivers who are often unprepared for the realities of caring for a FASD child. Recommendations are aimed at the social work profession in South Africa who need to align itself in providing necessary support to non-biological caregivers through the use of support groups and various other methods of service rendering. Suggestions for future research are also made in line with how non-biological caregivers can be supported in their unique caregiver responsibilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie-biologiese versorgers neem dikwels kinders in hul sorg wanneer kinders se biologiese ouers versuim om vir hulle ‘n veilige en liefdevolle huis en omgewing te skep. Hierdie kinders kan ook ly aan of geaffekteer word deur Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Versteuring (FASV). Dit kan ‘n groot skok wees wanneer versorgers uitvind dat die kind geaffekteer is daardeur, veral as hierdie versteuring misverstaan word. Professionele hulp is skaars, en intervensies en hulpbronne is nie vryelik beskikbaar nie. Versorgers is dikwels nie voorbereid op die finansiële, emosionele en fisiese eise wat nodig is om ten volle die kind se ontwikkeling te ondersteun nie. Dit kan dit lei tot verskillende emosionele reaksies met verskeie gevolge wat opsigself ook verskeie uitdagings vir die nie- biologiese versorgers veroorsaak. Dit is van kritieke belang om die ervarings en uitdagings van ouerskap te verken in die bevordering en ontwikkeling van intervensiestrategieë ter ondersteuning van die behoeftes van die kinders met FASV en hul versorgers, veral vanuit ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief. Daar word vereis van maatskaplike werkers om verantwoordelikheid te neem vir die aanspreek van FASV, aangesien hulle die professionele kapasiteit het om families wat geaffekteer is te help, en om hulle by te staan sodat ‘n stabiele en koesterende huishouding ontwikkel en volgehou kan word. Een manier waarop dit bereik kan word, is deur die vestiging en fasilitering van ondersteuningsgroepe. Die doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n begrip te ontwikkel oor die ervarings van nie-biologiese versorgers van kinders met FASV se benutting van ondersteuningsgroepe. Die navorser het gebruik gemaak van ‘n kombinasie van ‘n verkennende en beskrywende navorsing. Deur die gebruik van beide ʼn kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe benadering, is die navorser in staat gestel om ‘n indiepte insig in die lewens van die versorgers te bekom, en ondersoek in te stel oor hul ervarings van die versteuring/gestremdheid deur ondersteuningsgroepe wat as intervensie aangewend is. Toestemming om die studie te doen is deur die Etiese Komitee vir Menslike Navorsing aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch bekom. Eerstens is die literatuurstudie voltooi waarin die navorser ondersoek ingestel het oor die implikasies van FASV op geaffekteerde kinders. Tweedens is daar bespreek hoe nie-biologiese versorgers geraak word deur die gevolge van hierdie versteuring/gestremdheid. Daarna is ondersteuningsgroepe as ‘n metode van ondersteuning aan versorgers ondersoek, en klem is gelê op ‘n wedersydse hulpbenadering en ‘n opvoedkundige benadering as teoretiese grondslag. Die empiriese studie is voltooi met 16 deelnemers deur middel van individuele, een-tot-een, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. ‘n Onderhoudskedule, wat gebaseer is op die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie, is gebruik. Die kriteria vir deelname aan die studie en groep het ingesluit dat deelnemers ten minste vyf sessies van ‘n ondersteuningsgroep moes bywoon en ook ‘n pleegouer wees van ‘n FASV kind. Die resultate van hierdie studie het meestal die bevindinge uit die literatuurstudie bevestig en het getoon dat ondersteuningsgroepe ‘n belangrike rol speel in ondersteuning aan nie-biologiese versorgers, wat dikwels onvoorbereid is op die werklike problematiek van die versorging van ‘n kind met FASV. Aanbevelings word gerig aan die maatskaplikewerk-professie in Suid-Afrika, ten einde ondersteuningsgroepe en ander metodes van dienslewering te bied, ter ondersteuning aan die versorgers van FASV kinders. Voorstelle vir verdere navorsing word ook gemaak sodat daar ‘n ondersteuningsnetwerk opgebou kan word vir die versorgers van ‘n FASV kind ten einde aan hulle unieke versorgingsbehoeftes te voorsien.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Alcohol is the substance that people throughout the world abuse most often. South Africa has one of the highest alcohol use level with more than 30% of the population struggling with alcohol-related problems (Telesure, 2010; Nevid et al., 2008: 297; Pisa et al., 2010:4). Statistics showed that approximately 17,5 million South Africans are affected by alcohol, but many more South Africans’ lives are completely disrupted through constant, direct daily contact with the individual abusing alcohol like a parent or life partner (Telesure, 2010). Due to this, alcohol dependency is classified as a family illness in the medical circles and by society. Alcohol dependency can tear families apart and disrupt family dynamics and –processes including rules, rituals, routines, communication, social life, finances, homeostasis and family roles (Stepping Stones, 2013). Alcohol dependency has a great impact on the functioning and existence of a family and to restore the damage alcohol dependency creates in a family, the family should play an important role in the rehabilitation process of the alcohol dependent. This study, therefore, had the goal to determine the role of a social worker in a rehabilitation centre for alcohol dependents from an ecological perspective. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research was used in this study. Furthermore, an exploratory and descriptive research design was used during the research because the available literature showed a lack of information concerning the role of the social worker in a rehabilitation centre for alcohol dependents. A purposeful sample, namely probability sampling, was used to identify participants. The researcher could, therefore, choose participants who qualified for inclusion. The data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire during 23 individual interviews. An overview of the participants’ beliefs and opinions concerning the subject of the study was gained. The questionnaire consisted of open- and closed questions and was based on information obtained from the literature study. Data from the semi-structured questionnaire was processed and analysed and the results of this empirical study were used as basis for the conclusion and recommendations made in this study. The main findings showed that there is a need for family counselling during a rehabilitation programme for alcohol dependents since there is a definite lack of involvement of the family during the rehabilitation process for alcohol dependents. Further findings showed that rehabilitation programmes mainly provide individual counselling to alcohol dependents and minimal focus and attention is given to the family and after care services. The most important recommendation of this study is that social workers should use the ecological perspective when providing services to alcohol dependents. This perspective can ensure that the necessary services are delivered to effectively address alcohol dependents during a rehabilitation process. Recommendations also showed that social workers should involve the family more during a rehabilitation programme since the support of a family plays an important role during the rehabilitation process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwyd is alkohol die middel wat deur die meeste misbruik word en Suid-Afrika het een van die hoogste alkohol inname syfers, met meer as 30% van die bevolking wat sukkel met alkohol-verwante probleme (Telesure, 2010; Nevid et al., 2008: 297; Pisa et al., 2010:4). Statistiek dui daarop dat sowat 17,5 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners deur die inname van alkohol geaffekteer word, maar baie meer Suid-Afrikaners se lewens word egter totaal ontwrig weens konstante, direkte daaglikse kontak met die individu wat alkohol misbruik soos byvoorbeeld ’n ouer of lewensmaat (Telesure, 2010). Weens hierdie spesifieke rede word alkohol-afhanklikheid in mediese kringe en in die samelewing as ’n gesinsiekte geklassifiseer. Alkohol-afhanklikheid kan gesinne uitmekaar skeur en veroorsaak dat die gesinsdinamika en –prosesse, soos byvoorbeeld die reëls, rituele, roetines, kommunikasie, sosiale lewe, finansies, homeostase en gesinsrolle, totaal ontwrig word (Stepping Stones, 2013). Alkohol-afhanklikheid het sodoende ’n geweldige impak op die funksionering en voortbestaan van ’n gesin, en om die skade wat alkohol-afhanklikheid in ’n gesin veroorsaak te herstel, behoort die gesin ’n belangrike rol te speel in die rehabilitasieproses van die alkohol-afhanklike. Hierdie studie het daarom ten doel gehad om die rol van ’n maatskaplike werker in ’n rehabilitaisiesentrum vir alkohol-afhanklikes vanuit ’n ekologiese perspektief te bepaal. ’n Kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenaderings is in hierdie studie benut. Verder is daar tydens hierdie ondersoek ’n verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsonderwerp gebruik, aangesien die beskikbare literatuur ’n gebrek aan inligting rakende die rol van ’n maatskaplike werker in ’n rehabilitasiesentrum vir alkohol-afhanklikes toon. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ’n doelbewuste steekproefmetode, naamlik die nie-waarskynlikheidsteekproef, om deelnemers te identifiseer. Die navorser kon dus die deelnemers kies wat aan die kriteria vir insluiting voldoen. Die data is ingevorder deur die gebruik van ’n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys, tydens 23 individuele onderhoude. ’n Geheelbeeld van die deelnemers se oortuigings en menings aangaande die onderwerp van die studie is verkry. Die samestelling van die vraelys bestaan uit oop- en geslote vrae en berus op inligting wat uit die literatuurstudie verkry is. Data van die semi-gestruktureerde vraelyste is verwerk en geanaliseer en die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek is as basis gebruik vir die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat in hierdie studie gemaak is. Die hoofbevindinge dui op ’n behoefte aan gesinsberading tydens ’n rehabilitasieprogram vir alkohol-afhanklikes aangesien daar ’n definitiewe gebrek aan die betrokkenheid van die gesin tydens ’n rehabilitasieprogram vir alkohol-afhanklikes is. Verdere bevindinge dui daarop dat rehabilitasieprogramme grootliks op individuele berading aan die alkohol-afhanklike fokus en minimale aandag word aan die gesin en nasorgdienste gegee. Die belangrikste aanbeveling van hierdie studie is dat maatskaplike werkers die ekologiese perspektief moet gebruik tydens dienste wat aan alkohol-afhanklikes gelewer word. Hierdie perspektief kan verseker dat die nodige dienste gelewer word om alkohol-afhanklikheid tydens ’n rehabilitasieprogram effektief aan te spreek. Aanbevelings dui ook daarop dat maatskaplike werkers die gesin tydens ’n rehabiltiasieprogram meer moet betrek aangesien die ondersteuning van die gesin ’n belangrike rol speel tydens die rehabilitasieproses.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

Excessive ethanol consumption, characteristic of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), is associated with widespread neurodegeneration and cognitive and behavioral impairments that may contribute to the chronic and relapsing nature of alcoholism. Therefore, identifying novel targets that can afford neuroprotection will undoubtedly aid current treatment strategies for AUDs. The cannabinoids have been shown to provide neuroprotection in a variety of preclinical models of neurodegeneration; however minimal data is available regarding the use of cannabinoid-based pharmacotherapies for treating ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. Therefore, the current dissertation examined the overarching hypothesis: the cannabinoids are a therapeutic strategy to afford neuroprotection in the context of ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. Importantly, this overarching hypothesis was approached with translational considerations in mind. Specifically, the use of many cannabinoids in the clinic is hindered due to multiple unfavorable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles, including high first pass metabolism and untoward psychoactivity. Therefore, the studies herein were designed to circumvent these PK/PD obstacles. The first set of studies examined whether transdermal delivery of the phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), could attenuate binge ethanol induced neurodegeneration. Transdermal CBD afforded neuroprotection in the entorhinal cortex and neuroprotection was similar in magnitude as intraperitoneal administration. The second set of studies found that binge ethanol treatment transiently down-regulated the main CNS cannabinoid receptor, CB1R. Interestingly, these changes were not accompanied by alterations in one of the major endogenous ligands, anandamide (AEA), or other related n-acylethanolamides (NAEs). The latter finding is in contrast to other literature reports demonstrating that endocannabinoid content is substantially elevated in response to a CNS insult. Nevertheless, studies were carried out to determine if administration of the AEA and NAE catabolism inhibitor, URB597, could attenuate binge ethanol induced neurodegeneration. URB597 failed to produce neuroprotection in the entorhinal cortex and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. However, additional studies found that URB597 failed to elevate AEA in the entorhinal cortex, and in general the biological activity of URB597 was impaired by ethanol exposure. Therefore, with further drug discovery/development efforts, it may be feasible to optimize such treatment strategies. In conclusion, the studies within the current dissertation demonstrated the feasibility of using some cannabinoid-based agents to prevent ethanol-induced neurodegeneration.

<p> </p><p>We are aware of the fact that elderly people suffering from alcoholism doesn’t stop their be-haviour the day they turn 65. But when they do turn 65, they might become a case for social workers who only handle cases regarding people over 65, and we wanted to find out if they have any experience of working with elderly who have problems related to alcohol. We de-cided that a group interview, a focus group, would be the best method when our purpose was to try discovering their own experiences, so we interviewed seven social workers in the Stockholm area. The interview was based on four main questions: the social workers experi-ences, difficulties in the cases, how to handle the difficulties and how the social workers talk about these cases among themselves. These questions were analysed with the theory of social construction, Bourdieu´s theory of doxa and Goffman´s theory of stigma. The analyse showed that the social workers had experience but that they didn’t want more recourses, they wanted a cooperation with social workers who specializes on clients with alcohol related problems. They currently focus on the individual, not the alcohol issue which we believe might be a problem in the future.</p>

The purpose of this study is four-fold: (1) to test delinquency theories in social settings that vary by their degree of religiousness; (2) to determine whether delinquency causal processes vary according to the nature of religious ecology; (3) to assess whether variation exists in the rates and types of adolescent offenses committed in these settings; and (4) whether these offenses are a response to unique influences in each context. Religious ecology is measured by tapping a dimension of school religious characteristics, including a school's level of religiousness and a school's religious group composition. Adolescent boys who are exposed to the confines of schools that are predominantly irreligious or disproportionately low in orthodoxy are significantly more likely to engage in delinquency than boys from more moral or highly orthodox schools. Experiences in fundamentalist reference groups also protects youngsters against engaging in substance use episodes, including harmful drugs such as cocaine. These patterns are independent of demographic characteristics such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, family size and community size. To account for religious ecological differences in problem behavior, strain and control theories of delinquency are tested. These testing procedures reveal little support for processes advocated by strain theorists. Not only is structural and interactionist induced strain not correlated with delinquency and substance use, but discrepancies between cultural expectations and perceived realization of these goals do not lead to psychosocial frustration and tension, as implied in many strain models. Control models more aptly account for delinquency and substance use variation in various religious climates, but the strength of religious, school, and family effects varies with the type of offense and the measure of religious ecology. If we measure religious ecology by the nature of denominational composition, religiosity has a uniform effect on delinquency. However, religiosity's effect in settings that vary by religious level is to more strongly inhibit chronic offending in secular disorganized communities. Involvement in delinquency and substance use is probabilistically less likely in moral and highly orthodox settings because religion's social expression is stronger, the broken home phenomenon is weaker and potentially harmful school behaviors and attitudes are unrelated to delinquency in these settings.

The overall objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a social group work empowerment programme which is aimed at alcohol dependent elderly people's needs and strengths. The thesis consists of four sections: Section A refers to the problem statement, research objectives and procedures which were followed. Furthermore the limitations of this study, the definition of key words as well as the composition of the research report are discussed. The problem statement can be condensed as follows: o Journals all over the world have been pleading for decades that alcohol dependent clients should be exposed to special developed treatment programmes. Opposed to this, it was found that treatment centres in South Africa use one programme for all their clients, irrespective of age. This entails an unfair and unjust service delivery model. From these findings a need for a specialized treatment programme for alcohol dependant clients was identified. o The strengths perspective has been successfully implemented in various service areas of social work. Unfortunately it has not yet been implemented in a controlled study with alcohol dependent elderly through group work services. The problem statement leads to four research aims. Developmental and Utilization Research (DR & U-model) was used as the overall research model. This model was implemented within a mixed methodological design model. Interviews and experimental research were used as quantitative approaches, although some qualitative data were also reported. A case study, as a qualitative approach, was also used. Literature studies were conducted on the themes of alcoholism, social group work, as well as the strengths perspective. Section B consists of the four articles that form the report about the research outcomes. Each article is a report about a particular sub-project of the research and each has, as a self-contained unit, an own research aim, research method and report. Each of these is linked with the central aim, objectives and content of the umbrella research project. The four articles are: Article 1: Profile of alcohol dependent elderly people A comprehensive profile of alcohol dependent elderly is drafted based on the results of interviews and case studies with 56 aged participants. Various strengths, such as a spouse, of alcohol dependent elderly were identified. On the other hand needs, such as effective communication skills, were also identified. Article 2: The nature and practice of a strengths perspective with alcohol dependent elderly people The history of the strengths perspective is outlined within a South African and international context. From the literature study as well as interviews with the aged participants (N=56) and social work practitioners (N=27) various strengths and qualities group work services with alcohol dependent elderly people. Opposed to this, it was found that although this perspective holds many advantages for the alcohol dependent elderly person, it is presently not practised at registered treatment centres in South Africa that were involved in this investigation. Advantages, disadvantages and principles of this perspective are also discussed. Article 3: A social group work empowerment programme with alcohol dependent elderly people A social group work empowerment programme was developed for alcohol dependent elderly, aimed at their special needs, strengths and challenges. The programme was developed in the spirit of empowerment, a strengths perspective, healing and wholeness, as well as music therapy. Thirteen group meetings, such as communication, conflict management, handling of mild depression, managing of loss, HIV/Aids and the aged person, as well as religion and spirituality in old age, were developed and presented to the client group. Special concerns for group work with the aged, such as to use a loud voice and to speak clearly, were identified from the literature and empirical research, and was taken into account during the programme presentation. Article 4: The effect of a social group work empowerment programme on the social functioning of alcohol dependent elderly people The programme was implemented with eight (N=8) aged participants in an experimental group. Eight (N=8) aged participants was in a comparative group and they received the current group work programme offered by the targeted treatment centre. The shortened Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Nett) and Personal Multi-Screening Inventory (Perspective College) were used as quantitative measuring tools at four occasions with both groups. Added to that, the experimental group completed a self-developed qualitative questionnaire once after intervention. According to the quantitative data neither the empowerment programme, nor the current group work programme improved the social function of the alcohol dependent elderly people The qualitative data showed exactly the opposite findings for the experimental group. In Section C a summary of the findings and conclusions of the full research project is provided. Furthermore some recommendations are provided, followed by a discussion on the contribution of the study. Section D consists of various addenda, such as the interview schedules that were used for data collection purposes. The thesis is concluded with a compound bibliography. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006