Thesis (M. A. (Criminology and Criminal Justice)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The rise of crime committed by young offenders in South Africa has become a major concern (Pelser 2008:1). The Mentz community – a small township situated in GaMamabolo - likewise experiences high levels of crime and violence, much of which is committed by young, unemployed offenders. Although the findings in this research are not necessarily applicable to other places in South Africa, it is the researcher’s opinion that the situation in Mentz Village is representative of many other places in this country, especially in rural areas. This study investigated crime among the youth in Mentz Village and focused on factors that contribute to crime among the youth. Qualitative methodology had been employed in this study and case studies, together with semi-structured interviews, were used to obtain information. Keywords: Youth crime, Mentz Village, unemployment, fatherlessness, quiting school, alcohol and drug abuse, police corruption, peer influence, Self confessed criminals.

This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age of onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age of onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Heroin use and dependency is a growing concern within South Africa, individuals face difficulty in remaining abstinent from the use of heroin due to constant relapse. The opioid antagonist known as the naltrexone pellet implant offers an alternative form of aid to relapse prevention in the recovery and abstinence from heroin dependency. This qualitative study explored the subjective experiences and perceptions of heroin dependent individuals, that made use of the naltrexone pellet implant. This study was rooted in the interpretive, qualitative paradigm where a phenomenological research design was used. Participants were selected using a purposive, snowball sampling technique and four individuals who had made use of the naltrexone pellet implant for the aid in heroin dependency for a minimum of three-months were interviewed. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to extract recurrent themes across participants. The findings suggested that the use of the naltrexone pellet implant was beneficial in the aid for relapse prevention from heroin use. Furthermore, the exploration of difficulties that were faced in remaining abstinent, the attempt to make use of the naltrexone pellet implant and the physical and psychological aspects regarding the use of this alternative method of remaining abstinent were explored in this study. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology (Research Consultation))

PhDPH / Department of Public Health / Substance use/abuse is a persistent public health problem in tertiary institutions around South Africa. Alcohol and illegal drugs are the most commonly-used substances by youths in tertiary institutions, including student nurses at the Limpopo College of Nursing (LCN). This study sought to develop a model to prevent substance use/abuse by student nurses at the LCN, South Africa. A convergent parallel mixed-method was used to collect and interpret the data. A phenomenological research approach was utilized for gathering data from the lecturers, student affairs officers and student nurses in the qualitative design which was explorative and descriptive in nature. The population comprised of student nurses, lecturers and student affairs officials who were purposefully selected. Data were collected through unstructured in-depth interviews and analyzed through Tesch’s open-coding steps for qualitative empirical research to develop themes and categories. Data generated the following themes: The Consequences of Socialization Factors on the Incidence of Substance Use/Abuse by Student Nurses and The Effect of Environmental Factors on the Incidence of Substance Use/Abuse by Student Nurses. Within each theme, sub-themes emerged. Trustworthiness of the collected data were ensured. A quantitative design was employed to collect data from all student nurses in five campuses of LCN. A stratified sampling technique was used to select respondents and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. A total of 445 questionnaires were collected. Quantitative data were analyzed numerically and through descriptive and correlation statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The results showed that substance use/abuse is more prevalent among students of the age group of between 21 and 24 years that represented the majority in LCN. Data were analyzed independently for which a convergent analytic approach was used to merge the data sets. Validity and reliability were ensured. Ethical considerations were adhered to. The overall findings highlighted that substance use/abuse by the student nurses was widespread. Various factors, including behavioural, environmental and student earning stipend, have contributed to the problem. The concept “prevention” was analyzed using Walker & Avant’s (2014) steps. The results of both the empirical study and concept analysis formed the basis for model development. The framework of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1963) was used to develop a model. The developed model was validated by the group using a close-ended checklist, analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. The model was in accordance with the legislative provisions of the LCN lease agreement, Higher Education Act as well as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, 2003). / NRF

This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressiVe symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomotogy and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age at onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results / Educational Studies / M.Ed.

The history of heroin use disorder intervention has been characterised by fads and fashions. Some of the treatments that have been used have been, at best ineffective, and at worst harmful, and occasionally even dangerous. It is a sad reflection upon the field that practices and procedures for the treatment of heroin use disorders can so easily be introduced and applied without (or even contrary to) evidence. In South Africa, the field of heroin use disorder intervention has been `in transition' since the outbreak of the heroin epidemic. Yet despite growing evidence of an association between heroin dependents use of supplementary intervention services (such as psychosocial and pharmacological/medical care) and intervention outcomes, and the fact that international emerging standards for substance use disorder intervention have called upon treatment intervention providers to enhance traditional substance use disorder services with services that address clients' psychological and social needs, heroin use disorder intervention programmes in South Africa generally fail to meet these research-based intervention standards. Much of what is currently delivered as intervention is based upon current best guesses of how to combine some science-based (for example, cognitive-behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapies) and self-help (12-step programmes) approaches into optimal intervention protocols. As progression is made in the twenty-first century, scientific information is now beginning to be used to guide the evolution and delivery of heroin use disorder care internationally. Regrettably, a scarcity of heroin use disorder intervention research is noted in South Africa. The present study delved into the insights of ten heroin use disorder specialists, and synthesised the findings with the results of a previous study undertaken by the author relating to forty long-term voluntarily abstinent heroin dependents. In terms of theory and practice, findings of the study suggest that the field is less in transition now than it was in 1995. It is an imperative that law-enforcement action be followed by an integrated programme of psychological, social and pharmacological outreach. These programmes will have to be expanded to address new demands and will need to include specialised skills training. Many interventions and procedures have begun to be integrated routinely into clinical practice. / Psychology / (D. Phil. (Psychology))

Heroin dependence, which is escalating within South Africa, has become a symbol of the social disorder of the times - associated with materialism, poverty, crime, the problems of a society in transition, the disadvantaged, and the inner cities. However, that is not to say that all those who misuse heroin develop a problem or become dependent. In reality, only a small minority of heroin users develop a dependence, but for those who do it can result in unpleasant and potentially terrifying experiences/consequences, that can often be extremely difficult to escape from. That is not to say that recovery from dependence to heroin is not possible. Indeed, contrary to the beliefs of many people, the reality is that many people do eventually recover. Despite the vast sums of money devoted to treatment intervention of heroin dependants in the South Africa and worldwide, the processes by which recovery occur remain fairly unclear. Moreover, relatively little is known about the contribution of interventions and processes in facilitating such recovery. The statistical and content analysis of the data revealed that one of the most important factors identified in allowing successful behaviour modification and promoting recovery was psychosocial and pharmacological intervention, which seemed to produce a range of positive effects that facilitated natural healing processes. However, a range of other factors alongside intervention were also important in promoting behaviour modification. This study has provided important information, from forty recovering heroin dependants themselves, on the many factors that are important in achieving abstinence, in allowing recovery to be maintained in the longer term, and in potentially allowing an eventual exit from heroin dependence. A number of difficulties encountered in intervention were also identified. The statistical findings of the study support the `maturing out' hypothesis of heroin dependence (c² = 16.841; r = 0.001; df = 3). Ethnicity, highest level of education, employment status, marital status, biological parents' marital status or whether biological parents were deceased or not did not relate to any of the identified behavioural indices associated with heroin dependence recovery. A framework for the development of a contextual heroin dependence recovery model is also discussed. / Psychology / (M.A.(Psychology))

In South Africa, substance use, abuse and dependency is twice the world norm. To address this trend, the continuum of care guides legislative prescriptions for the treatment of a substance use disorder. This study aimed to address the lack of a description of the utilisation thereof in literature and recent research findings. A qualitative approach was followed and purposive sampling was employed to collect data from both service providers and users of services. Tesch’s framework for qualitative data analysis (Creswell, 2014:218) was used to identify themes, sub-themes and categories, while the data was compared with existing literature on the identified themes. The trustworthiness of the findings was enhanced by the verification of the data through aspects of credibility/authenticity, transformability, dependability and conformability (Schurink, Fouché and de Vos, 2011:397). Informed consent, confidentiality , non-compensation, debriefing of participants, and the management of information were considered to ensure ethical practice. / Social Work / M.A.(S.S.)

The history of heroin use disorder intervention has been characterised by fads and fashions. Some of the treatments that have been used have been, at best ineffective, and at worst harmful, and occasionally even dangerous. It is a sad reflection upon the field that practices and procedures for the treatment of heroin use disorders can so easily be introduced and applied without (or even contrary to) evidence. In South Africa, the field of heroin use disorder intervention has been `in transition' since the outbreak of the heroin epidemic. Yet despite growing evidence of an association between heroin dependents use of supplementary intervention services (such as psychosocial and pharmacological/medical care) and intervention outcomes, and the fact that international emerging standards for substance use disorder intervention have called upon treatment intervention providers to enhance traditional substance use disorder services with services that address clients' psychological and social needs, heroin use disorder intervention programmes in South Africa generally fail to meet these research-based intervention standards. Much of what is currently delivered as intervention is based upon current best guesses of how to combine some science-based (for example, cognitive-behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapies) and self-help (12-step programmes) approaches into optimal intervention protocols. As progression is made in the twenty-first century, scientific information is now beginning to be used to guide the evolution and delivery of heroin use disorder care internationally. Regrettably, a scarcity of heroin use disorder intervention research is noted in South Africa. The present study delved into the insights of ten heroin use disorder specialists, and synthesised the findings with the results of a previous study undertaken by the author relating to forty long-term voluntarily abstinent heroin dependents. In terms of theory and practice, findings of the study suggest that the field is less in transition now than it was in 1995. It is an imperative that law-enforcement action be followed by an integrated programme of psychological, social and pharmacological outreach. These programmes will have to be expanded to address new demands and will need to include specialised skills training. Many interventions and procedures have begun to be integrated routinely into clinical practice. / Psychology / (D. Phil. (Psychology))