Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-221). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-83). Also available via the Internet.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / Substance use is a worldwide health concern that has received significant attention as it is often related to deleterious outcomes. Various treatment programmes have been made available to assist people and their families who misuse substances, to aid rehabilitation and equip people with the necessary tools with the aim of preventing possible relapse. The Western Cape Province has been identified as experiencing the highest increase of substance use, with Cape Town being disproportionately affected. Substance use treatment and prevention programmes are therefore an increasingly important means of addressing substance use and related harms. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of individuals in relation to the treatment they received at a treatment facility in the Cape Town area. As such, the researcher made use of the phenomenological approach as a theoretical framework as it aims to describe the lived experiences of individuals in relation to a particular phenomenon. Furthermore, a qualitative methodological framework was utilised to explore the experiences of individuals who received substance use treatment. Ten participants were purposively selected from an outpatient substance use treatment facility in Cape Town. Focus group discussions were used to collect data and the data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings suggest that there were various reasons participants sought treatment. This includes the challenges they experienced in both their personal and occupational lives as well as the realization of the negative effects substance use had on them physiologically. Findings also revealed that the environmental setting individuals were in fostered their treatment; the various aspects of the programme provided by the treatment facility had a significant contribution to their recovery and improved relationships with others; receiving support from family and friends were important in service providers treatment retention as well as individuals ability to identify the changes within themselves since receiving treatment. Overall, results indicate that the treatment programme helped participants in their recovery and enhanced personal relationships, self-perception as well as personal and occupational growth. Findings suggest that there are various reasons as to why people seek treatment and although this may differ, the treatment modality they were provided with contributed substantially to their recovery. Furthermore, this study will contribute to the literature and understanding the ways in which treatment fosters recovery, personal growth and relationships.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

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

The occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in surface waters has become a growing concern within the last decade although the first mention of human PPCPs in the environment goes back to late 1970s. Pharmaceuticals include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and veterinary drugs. Personal care products include products such as lotions, fragrances, and soaps. In addition to traditional personal care products, the term PPCPs has been adopted to represent a wide variety of chemicals used in consumer products including plasticizers and fire retardants. Wastewater effluents are thought to be the main source of PPCPs in surface waters since most pharmaceuticals and personal care products eventually are disposed of, directly or indirectly, into domestic sewage systems that are not specifically designed to treat them. This thesis research examined the occurrence and removal of ten PPCPs in three Utah wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the State of Utah. The ten PPCPs (caffeine, acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, carbamazepine, estrone, progesterone, gemfibrozil, 4-n-nonylphenol, and bis(2- ethylhexyl) phthalate) were selected for this study based on their chemical properties, environmental concern due to their widespread use, frequent detection in natural water, wastewater, and biosolids, and potential risk to the environmental and human health. The selected treatment technologies, represented by Brigham, Hyrum, and Spanish Fork WWTPs, were oxidation ditches, membrane bioreactors, and trickling filters. Influent, effluent and biosolids samples were collected in May, July, and August of 2011. The highest influent concentrations were measured for caffeine (3.9 – 15.4 μg/L) and acetaminophen (7.4 – 71.5 μg/L). Sulfamethoxazole, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, and carbamazepine were measured in the effluent of all three WWTPs. Removal efficiencies calculated from differences between influent and effluent concentrations were caffeine (>80%), acetaminophen (>99%), and sulfamethoxazole (>60%). Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, carbamazepine, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were not consistently found above the method limits of quantitation (LOQs). The effluent concentrations of the measured PPCPs were below the levels of concern suggested by available toxicity data.

Work object – Vyžuona river, which has 26 km lenght, is left affluent of Šventoji river, belongs to subbasin of Šventoji river and runs from northeast to southwest of Lithuania. Work aim – identify water quality and bounded with it live organisms of Vyžuona river. Work tasks – analyse physical-chemical water parameters of Vyžuona river, identify varietal composition of organisms, define and evaluate contamination of river objects. Work results – After the reasearch was made there was defined that Vyžuona river in Utena town (1 km from Krašuona river and Vieša river junction) belongs to average contaminated rivers category measuring by parameters of water quality: common nitrogen quantity 1.9 times exceeds permissible quotas, 68.6 % of common nitrogen is composed of nitrate nitrogen, BDS7 quantity 2,7 times exceeds the LDK, concentration of phosphates 2.3 times exceeded permissible quotas. Krašuona river and Vieša river runs trough private houses section, which has no central sewer and that is the reason why mentioned rivers are bearing domestic contaminants into Vyžuona river. According to 2004-2006 data below the outlet from drain mechanism of UAB „Utenos vandenys“ refinement system there was found concentration of phosphorus which averagely 1,75 times, common nitrogen 1,1 times and BDS7 1,7 times less in comparison with river part in centre of Utena town above UAB „Utenos vandenys“. That may be explained by UAB „Utenos vandeys“ affect, which drains large amount of enough... [to full text]

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-75).

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited / Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. / Healthcare costs throughout the United States are on the rise, drawing increased scrutiny from government officials and Congress. The cost of pharmacy operations and pharmaceuticals is growing at a rate that is alarmingly higher than that of the total cost of military healthcare itself. Recent congressional legislation has essentially given the Department of Defense the ultimatum to cut costs for beneficiaries wherever possible, or risk having benefits arbitrarily cut by Congress. In the face of this possibility, cutting costs through better business practices must be explored, particularly within the area of pharmacy operations. This project explores the potential cost savings that can be realized by implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology in the pharmacy operations of the DoD Medical Treatment Facilities (MTF). This research proves that implementing Lean Six Sigma methodology will improve military pharmacy operations, often at little cost, while realizing significant savings and increased customer satisfaction.