published_or_final_version / abstract / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The focus of this study was to determine if certain personality traits could be detected within a population of substance-abusing adolescents. The Depression (d), Psychopathic Deviant (Pd), Paranoia (Pa), and Hypomania (Ma) scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were utilized as indicators of psychopathological traits for this project. It was found that a significant degree of elevation on these scales was achieved by the subject, when compared to an ideal normative sample. It was concluded that this indicated the presence of certain psychopathological personality traits within this population. The implication that personality differences within this population can be detected could lead to a greater understanding of substance abuse among adolescents, and the potential for more appropriate counseling approaches with such substance abusers.

No description available.

Adolescent drug use motivations were examined from the perspective of Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory (1963; 1968) of human development. The study used an existing data base derived from a sample of about 13,000 Arizona students in grades seven through twelve. Two questions were asked. The first examined the students' self-reported perceptions of drug use/nonuse motivations across the four ego-identity stages of Marcia (1966). The second examined drug use motivational perceptions within the four stages. First, approximately 13,000 Young People Survey (Jones, 1986) respondents were classified into the four ego-identity stages for each of two domains, Interpersonal and Ideological (Grotevant & Adams, 1984), according to rules suggested by Adams (1979). A random sample of approximately 200 of these respondents was then selected for the analyses for each of eight categories: Interpersonal achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion; and Ideological achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion. Subject responses to two survey questions were analyzed for the first research question. One survey question had asked the students why they thought people their age used drugs and alcohol, the second survey question asked students who had not used alcohol why they had not done so. The eight analyses revealed that the reported motivations were significantly different (p < .05) across all four ego-identity stages for both domains. The second research question analyzed responses to the survey question dealing with drug use motivations, and tested whether motivational responses discriminated marijuana users from nonusers within each of the four ego-identity stages. Each analysis produced statistically significant results. For achieved subjects, peers, recreation, and curiosity combined to discriminate marijuana users from nonusers (p < .05). For moratorium subjects, it was peers, recreation, and stress (p < .05). For foreclosed subjects, peers, curiosity, and recreation discriminated between users and nonusers (p < .05); and for diffused subjects, it was peers, boredom, and recreation (p < .05). The study indicates that young people use psychoactive substances for reasons which vary according to their level of ego-identity development (psychosocial maturity). Additionally, the study indicates that adolescent drug use motivations also depend upon their experience with drugs.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This research project will examine, from the social worker's perspective, parental substance abuse and its effects on attachment.

Heroin addicts are often misunderstood and stigmatised. The aim of this investigation was to provide the reader with a description of the life world of heroin addicts who seem unable to recover from their addiction. The phenomenological method was used in order to achieve the aim of this study. Themes which emerged were that heroin traps the addicts in a paradox - creating meaning for them and robbing them of it at the same time. They develop a personal love relationship with the heroin, which turns into an abusive relationship. Recovery holds no guarantees as the addicts experience the process of recovery as a never ending cycle. This study highlights the value of the phenomenological method in describing the life world of the heroin addict undergoing treatment. Recommendations are made which may be of value to the professional working with the heroin addict. / Social Work / M.A.(Social Science (Mental Health))

Heroin addicts are often misunderstood and stigmatised. The aim of this investigation was to provide the reader with a description of the life world of heroin addicts who seem unable to recover from their addiction. The phenomenological method was used in order to achieve the aim of this study. Themes which emerged were that heroin traps the addicts in a paradox - creating meaning for them and robbing them of it at the same time. They develop a personal love relationship with the heroin, which turns into an abusive relationship. Recovery holds no guarantees as the addicts experience the process of recovery as a never ending cycle. This study highlights the value of the phenomenological method in describing the life world of the heroin addict undergoing treatment. Recommendations are made which may be of value to the professional working with the heroin addict. / Social Work / M.A.(Social Science (Mental Health))