Residential addiction agencies are confronted by government with the expectation of collecting retention data. Retention as a statistic is being used to measure treatment effectiveness. The use of retention statistics to measure treatment effectiveness creates tension for managers and staff. This research will explore the use of retention statistics within the organization and the tension it creates for manager and frontline staff. The collection of retention data has shaped policies and practices that are "number-centered" versus "client-centered." Previous literature on retention statistics and personal interviews were methods utilized to gather data. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

THIS STUDY EXAMINES SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN SOUTH AFRICA WHICH POSES MAJOR CHALLENGES IN THE AREAS OF ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND AFTER-CARE. THIS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON A NUMBER OF POLICIES DEALING DIRECTLY WITH RESOURCES, BUDGETS, NORMS AND STANDARDS OF / FOR SERVICE DELIVERY. THIS STUDY FOCUSSES ON THE AGENCIES AND THE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE BOTH ARE CRUCIAL IN THE INTERVENTION, PLANNING OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING POLICY. THIS RESEARCH INVESTIGATED THE TYPES OF TREATMENT AVAILABLE, THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM, ITS FUNCTIONS, AREAS OF NEED AND CONCERNS REGARDING THE CURRENT POLICIES. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE SERVICE DELIVERY ORGANISATIONS REVEALED, DEDICATION BUT ALSO A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE DEBATED UPON. FEW AGENCIES CHANGED OR USED MORE UP TO DATE INTERVENTION MODELS, WHICH GIVES THE CLIENT FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND ALLOWED HIM/HER TO BE THE MAJOR CHANGE AGENT IN HISIHER BEHAVIOUR CHANGES. A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE LEADS TO INAPPROPRIATE TREATMENT PLANS WHICH IN MANY INSTANCES LEADS TO THE RELAPSE RATES REMAINING HIGH. A STUDY OF THE MULTI DISCIPLINARY AND INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENTAL, NON-GOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT CENTRES WAS CONDUCTED TO ASSESS THEIR KNOWLEDGE BASE AND ISSUES THEY FACED. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE DUAL DIAGNOSED CLIENTS, WHO HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE NET BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRAINING THEORY AND PRACTICE 0N THE PART OF THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT THE GAP BETWEEN POLICY AND PRACTICE NEEDS TO BE MORE INTEGRATED TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED DRUG FREE INDIVIDUALS. AGENCIES DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE ENERGY TO DEAL WITH AND IMPLEMENT NEW AND OTHER POLICY CHANGES. THIS RESULTS BECAUSE OF OVERLOAD, LACK OF FUNDS AND LACK OF HUMAN RESOURCES. THROUGH THE LITERATURE STUDY A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION IS RESEARCHED TO MEET THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSER AND ALSO THE TEAM /INDIVIDUALS WHO PLAN THE TREATMENT. A LARGE NUMBER OF MODELS ARE DISCUSSED SO THAT THE PLANNING TEAM CAN CHOOSE APPROPRIATE ONES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CLIENTS. ANOTHER AREA OF ASSESSMENT WAS THE INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS OPINIONS ON TREATMENT TIME FRAMES AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES. THIS THESIS RESEARCHED EVERY COMPONENT TREATMENT PROGRAMMES AND STRATEGIES AND SHOULD BE USED AS A REFERENCE AND TRAINING GUIDE BY ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE FIELD OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND GLOBALLY. OF SPECIAL EMPHASIS WOULD BE THE UNDERSTANDING OF DUAL DIAGNOSIS AND THE PROVISION OF A SUITABLE TREATMENT PROGRAMME. THE INVESTIGATION INTO SOCIAL POLICIES PROVIDES FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS FO SUBSTANCE ABUSERS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WORLD WIDE. / Thesis (Ph.D)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

Thèse (M.Ps.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, programme en extension de l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2006. / "Mémoire présenté à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en psychologie offerte à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi en vertu d'un protocole d'entente avec l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières." Comprend des réf. bibliogr. : f. [213]-232. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF.

Evaluating the psychofortology of adults recovering from a substance-use disorder has been identified as a research priority in South Africa. This is in line with calls from researchers in diverse fields of psychology for more attention to the resilience, strengths, resources and capacities of people. This study therefore aimed to explore and describe the coping resources, sense of coherence, happiness and satisfaction with life of adults recovering from a substance-use disorder within the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The sample consisted of 99 voluntary participants from various managed recovery centres within the Nelson Mandela Metropole. Participants were given a package of questionnaires to complete under the supervision of the researcher. The assessment consisted of a biographical questionnaire and four standardized paper and pencil measures namely; the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), the Affectometer 2 (AFM-2) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). A quantitative, non-experimental exploratory-descriptive research method was used. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Key findings include the following: Results on the CRI revealed low average mean scores on both the Coping Resources Inventory and within all the five subscales. Results of the SOC-29 revealed a high average mean score for sense of coherence. Results of the AFM-2 revealed that more positive affect than negative affect is present, resulting in happiness. Results of the SWLS revealed an average level of satisfaction with life, with most participants’ reporting neutral levels of satisfaction with life. There were significant positive correlations between the coping resources, sense of coherence, happiness and satisfaction with life of the sample. This implies that these constructs can be categorized under the subdiscipline of psychofortology. Overall, these findings emphasized the need for more research into adults recovering from a substance-use disorder.

Since the Narcotic Addiction Foundation of British Columbia opened its doors in 1958 it has been successful in contacting a large number of drug addicts in the Vancouver area. There has, however, been some concern expressed by the agency treatment staff over the high ratio of patients who discontinue treatment after the first few contacts. The authors of this exploratory study have undertaken the task of determining some of the factors which might influence the drug addict's continued treatment involvement at the Narcotic Addiction Foundation. This study sets the base for a projected three year study of the stated problem. The study was divided into two phases. The first is the retrospective study which utilizes the Paulus Study (55) conducted in 1964. Though pursued for different reasons, this study provides a convenient, and suitable sample of 105 addicts (50 male and 55 female) for the present research. The immediate aim of this retrospective study is to identify certain factors which are discernible at the time the addict presents himself for treatment and to relate them to the addict's subsequent treatment involvement. The second phase, a longitudinal study, will utilize the specific factors which emerge from the retrospective study as being significantly related to the addict's continued treatment involvement. The longitudinal study, to further prove the validity of each factor, has been projected to cover a twelve month period from the time the addict first presents himself for treatment. The results of the study point out some of the difficulties and areas of concern regarding the treatment of the drug addict and some recommendations pertaining to follow-up studies of this kind. While the drug addict exhibits some characteristics similar to clients of any agency, he is unique in many ways. The factors discerned in this study clarify some of this uniqueness and, it is hoped, (using the significant factors brought out,) that they will eventually lead to better prognostication of the addict's future success for continued treatment involvement. It should prove to be especially helpful to the staff of the Narcotic Addiction Foundation and other agencies geared to treating the drug addict in guiding changes in the treatment program and organization. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

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.

Forgiveness is argued to be highly relevant to problematic substance use, yet supportive empirical evidence is lacking. Findings are presented from a longitudinal study exploring the relationship between religiousness and spirituality (RS) variables and alcohol use disorders. We examined forgiveness of self (ForSelf), of others (ForOthers), and by God (ByGod), hypothesizing positive relationships with RS and negative relationships with alcohol use and consequences, at both baseline (N = 157) and six-month follow-up (N = 126). ForSelf scores were significantly lower than ForOthers and ByGod scores, and ForOthers scores increased modestly over time. ByGod was most consistently associated with other RS variables. ForSelf and ForOthers were associated with alcohol-related variables at both time points, and baseline ForSelf and ForOthers were associated with fewer drinking consequences at follow-up, but not after controlling for other pertinent variables. ForSelf may be most difficult to achieve and thus most important to recovery, thereby preventing full recovery and fostering relapses.

This investigation attempts to identify factors which influence whether or not someone is likely to drop out of a chemical dependency treatment program. Dropping out is defined as someone who leaves treatment against medical advice. The subjects were patients from a private, non-profit, medically based, residential program. Nine demographic characteristics were abstracted from the charts on file for the patients at the treatment center. Two groups of 45 patients each were selected from the inpatient population. One group, the Completed Treatment group, comprised patients who had completed the 28 day program. The second group, the AMA Discharge group, comprised patients who dropped out of treatment within the first 4 to 10 days. The demographic characteristics analyzed were gender, number of drugs used by the patient, drug preference, method of admission, treatment history, marital success, social status, dependents living at home, and education.

No description available.

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 1992. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-62).