Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Drugs are a very real problem in South-Africa. It affects health and is endemic to societal problems. Methamphetamine, popularly called “Tik,” is relatively cheap and easy to come by. Many young people use it and become addicted - with very bad repercussions for their families and society at large. In the Bellville South area most families suffer because of this scourge and are desperately looking for help. Faith communities have no option but to address the problem. The research focuses on the Bellville-South community where numerous families struggle with the scourge, desparately looking for help. As such faith communites are challenged to get involved and address tik-addiction and the related sociao-economic problems. The leadership of the Rhenish Church in Bellville took on the challenge to live up to the needs of families and society and to provide guidance for families. It is realistic to accept that there is no easy quick-fix solution to the problem. A holistic approach is needed. Thus the congregation has to do some real soul-searching and address its being functions, identity and calling in a time like this. How can the church be a safe haven for its members and the suffering community‟s parents and children? The research took an analytical look at the congregation, describing it from different angles. It also made a study of the drug problem, focussing on Tik. From a normative angle it looked at the essence of a missional church and asked how a missional church should address these challenges. It develops a strategy to guide leadership and congregation to support the families affected by the scourge. Eventually a missional ministry should be in place that will reach out in love and care to serve the community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dwelmmisbruik is ‟n geweldige probleem in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie probleem hou nie net gesondheidrisiko‟s in nie, maar veroorsaak ook ernstige en dikwels verwoestende sosiale probleme. Methamphetamine, populêr bekend as Tik, is redelik goedkoop en vrylik beskikbaar. Dit word deur talle jongmense gebruik met die gepaardgaande veelvuldige gevolge en verslawing. Dit affekteer individue, gesinne, en totale gemeenskappe. Hierdie studie fokus op die gemeenskap van Bellville-Suid waar talle gesinne worstel met die euwel en desperaat soek om hulp. Hierdie situasie van tikverslawing en gepaardgaande sosiale uitdagings daag veral die verskillende geloofsgemeenskappe uit om betrokke te raak by die aanspreek van die probleem. Ook die Rynse Kerk Bellville staan midde in die sosiaal-maatskaplik en sosio-ekonomies uitdagings en behoeftes. Die leierskap van die gemeente is soekend om hulself te bekwaam om op „n sinvolle wyse lidmate te begelei in hoe om veral die uitdagings rondom tikverslawing aan te spreek. Aangesien gesinne in besonder deur hierdie verskynsel geraak word, fokus hierdie studie op die behoeftes van gesinne. Die gemeente besef dat daar nie ‟n resep vir so iets is nie en dat die probleem holisties aangepak moet word. Die gemeente word dus verplig om baie ernstig selfondersoek te doen en na sy wese, sy identiteit en roeping te kyk. Hoe kan die gemeente ‟n veilige hawe vir sy lidmate en gemeenskap se ouers en kinders word? Die ondersoek beskryf die Rynse Kerk Bellville asook die probleem van tikverslawing in die families van die gemeente. Hoe sou daar in die lig van „n missionale teologie op die uitdagings gereageer word? ‟n Bedieningsplan word voorgestel om die leierskap en lidmate te bemagtig om ondersteunend betrokke te raak by geaffekteerde families. Die doel hiervan is om ‟n missionale bediening te vestig wat met barmhartigheid en liefde die gemeenskap dien.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing Sciences)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / It is in the parents’ interest to protect their youth and keep them away from substance abuse. It can be particularly disturbing for them to learn that their child abuses substances, or is an addict. When the youth abuses the substance, it is normal for parents to experience feelings of guilt and sadness. They also become angry; they may feel angry towards each other, the world at large or towards their youth. Stress levels can increase when caring for an addicted child. Parents who have youth abusing substances need support. The desire to get the correct and clear information about their child is one of the important needs of parents. They desire information and support about their child’s improvement during hospitalisation and post hospitalisation. The purpose of this study is to develop and implement a support programme for parents of youth abusing substances in selected public hospitals in Limpopo Province. The objectives were to explore and describe the experiences of parents of youth abusing substances; to describe the knowledge and practices of parents of youth abusing substances in caring for youth abusing substance; to identify the support needs of parents of youth abusing substances; to describe a conceptual framework for the development and implementation of a support programme for parents of youth abusing substances; to develop a support programme for parents of youth abusing substances and lastly to implement a support programme for parents of youth abusing substances in selected public hospitals in Limpopo Province. A mixed-method, exploratory sequential research design was used in this study to achieve the study aim. Fourteen participants consented to participate in the qualitative strand of the study while 169 participants consented to take part in the quantitative strand of the study. Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were used to analyse qualitative data, data was analysed in a form of themes and sub-themes. SPSS version 26 was used to analyse quantitative data. Logistic regression and ANOVA test were used to calculate associations, odds ratios and means for knowledge The findings of this study indicate that the parents need support from the nurses which include the following: Knowledge and information sharing regarding substance abuse; Attention with regard to their own wellbeing as parents of youth abusing substances; Capacitation with better strategies and interventions to manage themselves while helping their youth with substance abuse disorders; Support by the nurses to the parents as the relatives of the patients which include debriefing on the patient’s condition, counselling, and referral to the relevant healthcare professionals. To support the parents of youth abusing substances the nurses need to continue with the implementation of the support programme. The Limpopo’s Department of Health may assist in allowing the in-service education for the nurses to support the parents of youth abusing substances. There should also be awareness programmes that are about substance abuse for the parents and the youth / Tirisano faculty in UCLA

Substance abuse amongst children is a major problem in South Africa and world-wide. The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has increased in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a new drug on the market known as “nyaope” being abused mostly by adolescents in the Townships. The negative consequences of substance abuse affect not only individuals who abuse substances but also their parents and significant others. The researcher observed that most literature in the field of substance abuse focuses on the children addressing issues such as causes, effects, psychological impact and others. Very little is documented on parents‟ experiences and coping capabilities as well as the support they need or receive. This further contributed to the researcher‟s purpose of conduct this study to explore parents‟ experience and support needs with regard to their children‟s addiction to nyaope. / MA (Social Work)

Substance abuse amongst children is a major problem in South Africa and world-wide. The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has increased in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a new drug on the market known as “nyaope” being abused mostly by adolescents in the Townships. The negative consequences of substance abuse affect not only individuals who abuse substances but also their parents and significant others. The researcher observed that most literature in the field of substance abuse focuses on the children addressing issues such as causes, effects, psychological impact and others. Very little is documented on parents‟ experiences and coping capabilities as well as the support they need or receive. This further contributed to the researcher‟s purpose of conduct this study to explore parents‟ experience and support needs with regard to their children‟s addiction to nyaope. / MA (Social Work)

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))

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))