Studiens syfte var att undersöka på vilka sätt socialsekreterare ser på sitt arbete med äldre personer med alkoholmissbruk. Målet med undersökningen var att få en fördjupad förståelse för hur socialsekreterares erfarenheter kan relatera till de insatser och arbetsmetoder vilket socialtjänsten erbjuder äldre personer med alkoholmissbruksproblematik. Metoden som tillämpades var en kvalitativ metod och vi valde att inhämta vårt empiriska material genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Det var 12 respondenter som deltog i undersökningen, 10 socialsekreterare och två enhetschefer inom vuxenavdelningen på respektive socialtjänst. Med användning av tidigare forskning samt begreppen socialsekreterare, äldre personer med alkoholmissbruk, empowerment och samverkan kunde resultatet analyseras. Socialsekreterare arbetar inom olika enheter på socialtjänsten där vuxenenheten är den avdelning vi valt att fokusera på eftersom den omfattar äldre personer med alkoholmissbruk. I arbetet med klienten har de lagar de utgår ifrån och det är främst Socialtjänstlagen (SFS2001:453) och Lag (SFS1988:870) om vård av missbrukare i vissa fall. I ett allt mer åldrande samhälle möter socialsekreterare allt fler individer inom missbruksområdet vilket gör att dessa socialsekreterare behöver kunskap kring de äldres åldrande och livsvillkor. Studiens resultat visade på hur majoriteten av respondenterna betonade hur viktig eftervården var för klientens fortsatta nykterhet, vikten av motiverande samtal som arbetsmetod och en god relation till klienten för att kunna ge utrymme till klientens egen vilja till förändring samt betydelsen av en god samverkan i syfte att kunna ge klienten bästa möjliga hjälp. / The purpose of the study was to investigate the ways in which social welfare secretaries look at their work with elderly people with alcohol abuse. The aim of the survey was to gain a deeper understanding of how social welfare secretaries' experiences can relate to the efforts and working methods, which social services offer elderly people with alcohol abuse problems. The method we used was a qualitative method and we chose to collect our empirical material through semi-structured interviews. There were 12 respondents who participated in the survey, 10 social welfare secretaires and two branch managers in the adult department of the respective social services. Using previous research and the concepts of social welfare secretaries, elderly people with alcohol abuse, empowerment and collaboration, the results could be analyzed. Social welfare secretaries work in different social services units, where the adult unit is the department we have chosen to focus on as it includes elderly people with alcohol abuse. In the work with the client, the laws they are based on are in some cases the Social Services Act (SFS2001: 453) and the Care of abusers (special provisions act) (SFS1988: 870). In an increasingly aging society, social welfare secretaries meet more and more individuals in the area of abuse, which means that these social welfare secretaries need knowledge about the aging and living conditions of the elderly. The study's results showed how the majority of respondents emphasized the importance of aftercare for the client's continued sobriety, the importance of motivating conversations as a working method and a good relationship with the client in order to provide space for the client's own will for change as well as the importance of a good collaboration with the aim of to provide the client with the best possible help.

O objeto deste estudo são as práticas de Atenção Básica (AB) desenvolvidas nos serviços de saúde voltadas para pessoas e grupos sociais que consomem drogas de forma prejudicial. Este objeto foi recortado a partir do referencial teórico da Saúde Coletiva e se conforma na interface entre as políticas públicas voltadas para a população que faz uso prejudicial de drogas e a realidade concreta dos serviços de saúde. O estudo tem por objetivo geral analisar as práticas voltadas para consumidores problemáticos de drogas na AB, a partir do levantamento dessas práticas junto a trabalhadores de uma UBS da região periférica do município de São Paulo. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo, de natureza descritiva e analítica, que se desenvolveu na perspectiva dialético-crítica. A coleta de dados foi realizada a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas e individuais com 10 trabalhadores de uma UBS mista, ou seja, que atua com a Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) e com o modelo tradicional de produção dos serviços de saúde. As práticas desenvolvidas pelos trabalhadores e direcionadas aos usuários de drogas são analisadas a partir da categoria analítica processo de trabalho, que permite analisar os modos e as dificuldades de operacionalização das políticas públicas nos espaços concretos de produção dos serviços de saúde. Os resultados mostram que: 1) os trabalhadores desenvolvem o processo de trabalho, na perspectiva funcionalista da moderna saúde pública, que compreende o consumo de drogas como doença e considera usuários de drogas como desviantes; 2) as práticas existentes são consideradas frágeis e os trabalhadores valorizam muito a formação técnico-clínica, que em suas opiniões proporcionaria melhores respostas para as demandas relacionadas ao uso de drogas; 3) reproduz-se um ciclo infértil de explicação sobre a incapacidade e as sensações de fracasso que tomam conta do discurso de muitos trabalhadores que lidam com demandas relacionadas ao consumo prejudicial de drogas; 4) todo o processo de trabalho parece ficar centrado num único elemento, o trabalhador em si, já que os demais elementos não se encontram estruturados para atender a demanda. Pode-se concluir que as formas como se organizam os processos de trabalho na AB e como se estrutura o processo de produção dos serviços de saúde brasileiro dificulta e/ou impede o acesso da população usuária de drogas à rede de atenção à saúde. A AB carece de elementos estruturais inerentes ao processo de produção em saúde, e da dinamicidade interna aos processos de trabalho, que favoreçam a implementação de práticas voltadas aos indivíduos e grupos sociais que usam drogas de forma prejudicial. Este trabalho contribui com a finalidade do estudo de promover denúncia em relação à fragilidade das práticas desenvolvidas na AB frente às desafiadoras e crescentes demandas relacionadas ao consumo de drogas pela população. / The object of this study was the practices developed at Primary Health Care services focused on individuals and social groups who use drugs in a harmful way. The study object derived from the theoretical framework of collective health and was constructed at the interface between public policies focused on the population that uses harmful drugs and the reality of health services. The aim of the study was to analyze the practices towards drug users at Primary Health Care based on a survey of these practices with workers of a Primary Health Center (PHC) in the outskirts of São Paulo. It is a qualitative, descriptive and analytical research developed within a critical-dialectical approach. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with 10 workers of a PHC, which has two different health care models, namely: the Family Health Strategy and the traditional model of primary health services. The practices developed by workers and directed towards drug users were analyzed from the analytical category of the work process, which allows the analysis of the modes and difficulties to operationalizing public policies as practices that take place in the real spaces of the health production process. Results show that: 1) workers develop the work process within the functionalist perspective of the modern public health, which understands drug consumption as a disease and considers users as deviants; 2) the existing practices are actually considered fragile and the workers greatly value technical and clinical training that in their opinions would provide better responses to the demands related to drug use; 3) a cycle of infertile explanation about the incapacity and the feeling of failure of the workers who deal with demands related to drug use is reproduced; 4) the entire work process seems to be focused on a single element, the workers itself since the other elements seem not to be structured. It may be concluded that the ways the work process is organized in the PHC and how the process of the Brazilian primary health services is structured makes it difficult or constitute a barrier for drug users to access the health care network. The PHC lacks structural elements inherent to the health care process and internal dynamics of the work processes that favor the implementation of practices directed towards individuals and social groups who use drugs in a harmful way. The purpose of the study is to report the fragility of the practices developed at the PHC due to the challenging and increasing demands of drug consumption.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / PURPOSE OR OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that contribute to the relapse of substance abusers post rehabilitation at South African National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence (SANCA) Polokwane. METHOD: A quantitative research method or approach, and a descriptive research design were employed respectively to conduct the study. Data was collected using group-administered questionnaires / surveys amongst substance abusers who relapsed post rehabilitation at the SANCA, and a total number of sixty-one (61) respondents at the centre responded to the questionnaires. FINDINGS: Findings revealed that personal factors that predisposed the relapse of substance abusers post rehabilitation include lack of coping mechanism; less committed and motivated towards staying clean or sober; having a craving for drugs; challenged with too many triggers; lack of believe in themselves; thinking they could deal with their emotions by using drugs; thinking they could be able to control my use; community members still look down on them for using drugs; peer pressure from peer group; easily influenced by others; significant relationship in their lives ending; social group still abusing drugs; finding it difficult to avoid social gathering; lack of financial support; feeling lonely and being bored. Findings also indicated that substance abuser receive sufficient support from their family. On the contrary, however, findings further show that respondents have indicated that they receive poor from their friends, community members, peers and the rehabilitation centre attended. CONCLUSION: The study successfully identified, and discussed diverse causes or factors that contribute or influence relapse amongst substance abusers post rehabilitation at SANCA, as listed above. Furthermore, also assessing the availability of social support systems post rehabilitation.

This study examines the effects of gender and social bonds on the experience of prescription painkiller misuse for men and women. The theoretical framework for the project is Travis Hirschi's social control theory (1969), and the social bond elements of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, which emphasizes the importance of these bonds in creating a "stake in conformity" for the individual, leading to acceptance of social norms and desistence from deviance. This theory, however, is relatively silent with regard to gender differences and was developed to examine delinquency in an all male sample of adolescents. The elements of this theory were used to further test the effects of these social bonds and add to the literature gap on the gendered experience of the misuse of prescription painkillers. Data for this project comes from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual nationally representative, cross-sectional survey. Multivariate logistic regression analyses reveal that, being white, not being married, having less than a high school diploma, a having a job are all significant predictors of increased prescription painkiller misuse. Characteristics associated with a significant decrease in the odds of misusing prescription painkillers are being older, having a college degree, and placing importance on religious/spiritual beliefs. Multivariate logistic regression also reveals that female respondents are less likely to misuse prescription painkillers than are their male counterparts. Interaction effects are operationalized to measure the relationship between gender and the social bond elements of interest. Most of the interaction effects are not statistically significant, but some of the main effects remain significant, which indicates that the main effect has little impact on prescription painkiller misuse for women, but remains significant for men (marriage, education, work status). Significant interaction effects are found for gender (female) x income and gender (female) x religiosity, which indicates that for both men and women, increased income and higher levels of religiosity are significantly associated with decreased odds of prescription painkiller misuse, that the effect is stronger for women and that this difference between men and women is significant. These results provide further insight into the experiences of prescription painkiller misuse for men and women.

Conclusions. The "bridging effect" for HIV transmission is evident. Variables predicting condom use during commercial sex are multidimensional. Integrative programs are hence required. Methadone clinics may offer a platform for offering such services to IDU-FSWs. The performance of the TPB could be enhanced by addition of external variables; its applicability varies according to the wellbeing status of the IDU-FSWs. Future randomized control studies are warranted to design effective evidence-based programs targeting IDU-FSWs. / Introduction. Injecting drug users (IDUs) drive the HIV epidemic in China. Female injecting drug users who are sex workers (IDU-FSWs) is a strategic "bridge population" for HIV transmission from the IDU to non-IDU populations. Background characteristics, health behavioral theories (e.g. the Theory of Planned Behavior, TPB), drug dependence, economic pressure, psychological problems, social support and gender power are potential predictors of condom use during commercial sex among IDU-FSWs. Most of these associations have not been investigated in China or elsewhere, and the TPB has not been applied to HIV-vulnerable populations in China. A knowledge gap exists. / Objectives. This study validated two instruments measuring severity of drug dependence. The prevalence of inconsistent condom use among IDU-FSWs and its associations with the aforementioned variables were investigated. The hypotheses that different blocks of variables would have independent effects on condom use during commercial sex, and the effects of TPB-related variables on condom use would be moderated by some external variables (e.g. severity of drug dependence) were tested. / Results. The Opiate Addiction Severity Inventory-Revised (OASI-R) was fully validated in the Study I. Around 6.8% of IDU-FSWs were HIV positive and respectively 48% and 64% of them practiced needle sharing and unprotected commercial sex (last six months). After adjusting for significant background variables, the five TPB-related variables (AOR=0.43 to 1.92, p<0.001), severity of drug dependence (AOR=1.05, p<0.01), economic pressure (AOR=1.07, p<0.05) and all studied psychosocial variables (e.g. depression, social support and gender power; AOR=0.70 to 1.67, p<0.05) were significantly associated with condom use during commercial sex. / Subjects and methods. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted. In Study I, 178 non-institutionalized drug users were interviewed in Dazhou, Sichuan. In Study II, 281 non-institutionalized IDU-FSWs were interviewed in Dazhou, Sichuan and Hengyang, Hunan, using snowballing method and face-to-face interviews. Statistical methods such as hierarchical and interaction modeling, stratification analysis, ROC method were used in this study. / The final hierarchical model predicting condom use during commercial sex included variables coming from four blocks of independent variables, with ROC area = 94% and sensitivity/specificity = 0.84/0.91. A "Wellbeing Status Index" moderated the associations between some of the TPB-related variables and condom use during commercial sex. / Gu, Jing. / Adviser: Joseph T. F. Lau. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3462. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-246). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Conclusion. The significance of risk perception in predicting behavioral intention, hence actual future behaviors, is therefore evident. Conditional measures need to be used. HIV prevention can employ conditional risk perception approaches. Health behavioral theories can be strengthened by using such conditional measures on risk perceptions. The results add to this new and growing area of risk behavior research. / Introduction. Risk perception, a core element of key health behavioral theories and health interventions, is assumed to motivate people to avoid risk behaviors. Mixed findings however prevail in the literature due to methodological issues. Many of such studies are cross-sectional, using global risk perception measures that do not condition on type of risk behavior or partnership which may affect the level of risk. / Male injecting drug users (IDU) are driving the HIV epidemic in China and bridge HIV transmission to non-IDU female populations; they may be at risk of both unprotected sex and syringe sharing. HIV prevention targeting male IDU is greatly warranted and would benefit from understanding of the relationships between risk perceptions and behaviors, in the context of health behavioral theories such as the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, which had not been applied to studies targeting IDU. / Objectives. This study refined the concepts and measures of HIV-related risk perception, conditioning on different types of behaviors and partners, and extended it to include others-directed risk perceptions. The relationship between such conditional risk perception measures and both prior risk behaviors and behavioral intention to avoid sex-related and drug-related risk behaviors in the future were investigated and were compared to those involving global unconditional risk perception measures. The nature of the aforementioned relationships, being motivational or reflective was investigated. A longitudinal component validated the predictive power of behavioral intention over actual future behaviors. / Results. Almost 90% of the respondents had had unprotected sex though <20% shared syringes with others in the last 6 months. Prior syringe sharing but not unprotected sex in the last 6 months was significantly associated with global unconditional risk perception measures. The picture is totally different when risk perception measures conditioned on type of sex partner and unprotected sex or syringe sharing were used instead of the global measures---higher levels of the conditional risk perception measures were significantly associated with higher levels of behavioral intention for consistent condom use and avoidance of syringe sharing, thus supporting the motivational hypothesis. Conditional others-directed risk perceptions (perceived risk of transmitting HIV to others via unprotected sex and syringe sharing) were also associated with the aforementioned behavioral intentions to avoid risk behaviors. A pilot longitudinal study showed that behavioral intentions strongly predict actual future behaviors. Other HAPA-based variables such as self-efficacy and outcome expectancies had predictive effects on behavioral intentions, independent from those of risk perceptions. / Subjects and methods. A total of 456 sexually active male IDU were recruited from Dazhou, Sichuan and Hengyang, Hunan, via snowball sampling. With informed consent, anonymous face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained and experienced staff of the local CDC in privacy settings. / Tsui, Hi Yi. / Adviser: Joseph Lau. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-04, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-130). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendix in Chinese.

Li, Huizhen. / "March 2008." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-150). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgement --- p.vii / Abbreviations --- p.ix / Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- HIV and AIDS --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- HIV Transmission Routes --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- HIV Related Risk Behaviors --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2 --- HIV Burden --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- HIV Infection in China --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- HIV Infection in Hong Kong --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Methadone Treatment in Hong Kong --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives and Hypothesis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of This Thesis --- p.15 / Literature Review --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- Search Methods --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Formulating Review Questions --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Search Strategy --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2 --- Assessing the Quality of Studies --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3 --- Search Results --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Descriptive Summary --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Critique of Reviewed Articles --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- Implication on Planning of Current Study --- p.37 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Summary of Reviewed Articles --- p.37 / Methods for Exploring Predictors of HIV Risk --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- Data Source --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Data Management in Methadone Clinics --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Source of Data --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Data Transformation --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3 --- Framework for assessing outcome --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Study population in different analyses --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Risk Score --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Independent Variables --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- Generalized Linear Model --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5 --- Logistic Regression Model --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6 --- Multilevel Analyses --- p.55 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Variables --- p.56 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Definition of 'Neighborhood' --- p.56 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Individual Variables --- p.60 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Framework for Analyses --- p.60 / Chapter 3.7 --- Field Study --- p.63 / Results: Community Variation of HIV Risk --- p.65 / Chapter 4.1 --- Demographic Description --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Age distribution --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Gender Distribution --- p.68 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Proportion of New Admission --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2 --- Drug Taking Profile --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Heroin Use --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Injecting Heroin Users --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3 --- HIV related risk behaviors --- p.81 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Injection History --- p.81 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Risky Injection Practices --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Sexual Behaviors --- p.93 / Chapter 4.4 --- Correlation between Demographics and Risk Score --- p.94 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- General Linear Regression Model Coefficient --- p.94 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Risk Predictors in Logistic Regressions --- p.95 / Chapter 4.5 --- Neighborhood Effect --- p.100 / Chapter 4.6 --- On-site Observation --- p.103 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Demographic Variations --- p.103 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Drug Use Variations --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Social Background --- p.105 / Discussion --- p.111 / Chapter 5.1 --- Neighborhood Effect --- p.113 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Variation across Communities --- p.113 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Implication on Social Network of IDUs --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2 --- Decline of Admissions --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Decrease of New Admissions --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Decline of Readmission in 2003 --- p.119 / Chapter 5.3 --- Female IDU Population --- p.121 / Chapter 5.4 --- Limitations --- p.125 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Importance of Individual Level Variables and Community Level Variables --- p.125 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Reliability of Self-reported Data --- p.126 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Duplicates of Readmissions --- p.126 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Definition of Syringe Reuse --- p.127 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Choice of Models --- p.129 / Conclusion and Future Directions --- p.131 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary of Results --- p.133 / Chapter 6.2 --- Implication of results --- p.134 / Chapter 6.3 --- Future Directions --- p.136 / Bibliography --- p.139

Text in Afrikaans / Drug dependent adolescents do not display a clear understanding regarding the value of social work intervention during the process of rehabilation, causing them to not utilize the profession of social work effectively during drug rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore and describe the nature and contribution of social work service delivery to drug dependent adolescents from their own perspective. A qualitative research approach, an explorative research design, and a snowball sampling technique were implemented. The sample consisted of drug dependent adolescents from the Western Cape. Semi-structured interviews were executed determining the participant’s perception of the nature and contribution of social work service delivery. Amongst others, the findings indicate that: • social workers are not sufficiently prepared, trained or committed to render effective, professional services to drug dependent adolescents; • social workers need to continuously revisit their knowledge, skill and attitude regarding this specialised field of service rendering. / Social Work / M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-10, Section: B, page: 6615. Adviser: Michael W. Ross. Includes bibliographical references.

Text in Afrikaans / Drug dependent adolescents do not display a clear understanding regarding the value of social work intervention during the process of rehabilation, causing them to not utilize the profession of social work effectively during drug rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore and describe the nature and contribution of social work service delivery to drug dependent adolescents from their own perspective. A qualitative research approach, an explorative research design, and a snowball sampling technique were implemented. The sample consisted of drug dependent adolescents from the Western Cape. Semi-structured interviews were executed determining the participant’s perception of the nature and contribution of social work service delivery. Amongst others, the findings indicate that: • social workers are not sufficiently prepared, trained or committed to render effective, professional services to drug dependent adolescents; • social workers need to continuously revisit their knowledge, skill and attitude regarding this specialised field of service rendering. / Social Work / M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)