Infants of mothers who have received narcotics on a continuous basis during pregnancy are born physically dependent. Drug withdrawal, one of many detrimental effects, is initially the most apparent. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) was originally described as a generalized disorder characterized by signs of central nervous system hyperirritability, gastrointestinal dysfunction, respiratory distress, and a host of vague autonomic manifestations. Recent studies have suggested that these same signs follow withdrawal from other addicting drugs as well. Feeding problems are the most common and important concomitants of neonatal withdrawal, because sucking function is uncoordinated, ineffectual and poorly sustained. Previous studies have shown a natural history of recovery of sucking dysfunction during recovery from NAS. A disposable and practical apparatus for monitoring nutritive sucking behaviour was developed, based on a prototype previously described in the literature. A weighted scoring system which encompasses the full spectrum of withdrawal signs was also designed. No significant difference in sucking rate was observed between normal and NAS babies on day 1 (p=0.8). There was a highly significant difference on day 2 (prO.0001), day 3 (p=0.0005), and day 4 (p=0.006). No significant difference in nutrient consumption was observed between normal and NAS babies on day 1 (p=0.9) and day 2 (p=0.8). A significant difference was observed on day 3 (p=0.006) and day 4 (p=0.03). A significant inverse correlation was demonstrated between both sucking rate and nutrient consumption with the classical clinical signs of withdrawal over the first two months of life (r=-0.57, -0.51, respectively). The periodic monitoring of sucking rate of the passively addicted infant provides an objective gauge of the seventy of withdrawal in NAS, eliminating the subjectivity of evaluating changes in clinical signs. Therefore, it is recommended that sucking rate measurements be instituted as a standard guide to the management of withdrawal in these infants. / Medicine, Faculty of / Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of / Graduate

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / The present study investigates a modus operandi for doing therapy with the sedative-hypnotic/opiate drug abuser with borderline or narcissistic tendencies. Definitions of the latter are based on the work by Kernberg and Kohut respectively. Unstable patterns of attachment in infancy and childhood are thought to contribute to a sense of lack or deficit in the drug abuser. This lack or insufricient structuralisation is associated with compulsive dependency on an external obj ect , in this case, the sedative-hypnotic or opiate drug. In order to wean the drug abuser off his drug, it is proposed that, initially, the therapist needs to take over the function of the drug which is to act as a sUbstitute for psychic structure. In other words, the therapist becomes a self-object for the drug abuser until such time as he is sUfficiently structuralised and relatively tree ot the compulsion to drug. The nature of the selt-object' transference and the therapist's role therein are explored in this thesis.

No description available.

The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has intensified in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a fairly new drug on the market known as nyaope which is being abused mostly by the youth in the townships. Nyaope is a drug consisting of heroin, dagga and other elements like rat poison, cleaning detergents and even crushed antiretroviral drugs. Failure to find a solution to drug abuse can lead to economic problems and handicap the social development of the country, as well as threatening the life and health of the people involved. In the South African context, the value of aftercare has been downplayed and there has been relatively little emphasis on aftercare and reintegration services in both research and practice. Therefore, it was the goal of this study to explore and describe the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users' and the significant others' points of view in Hammanskraal. In order to achieve this goal, a qualitative research was adopted to explore and describe the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users' and the significant others' points of view. Due to the nature of the study, the researcher had two sampling groups, namely (1) nyaope users and (2) significant others. The study was guided by a collective case study design. Semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection method for this study and two distinct interview schedules were developed and used for nyaope users and significant others, respectively. The researcher aimed at answering the following two research questions: (1) "Based on the views of nyaope users, what are the aftercare needs of nyaope users in the Hammanskraal community?"; and (2) "Based on the views of significant others, what are the aftercare needs of nyaope users in the Hammanskraal community?" From the raw data, the researcher implemented thematic analysis as stipulated by Braun and Clarke (2006) in analysing the data. The researcher used credibility and triangulation in establishing the trustworthiness of the data analysis. The findings from the two sets of samples were unpacked in three sections, namely, findings from the nyaope users, from significant others and the combined data with the aim of triangulation. The key findings from nyaope users and the significant others are as follows: The key findings from nyaope users were that nyaope use has a negative impact on the physical, psychological, spiritual well-being of the users. Causes of relapse were identified as a lack of support from the government and family members, personal problems that users encounter during the recovery process, going back to the same environment and being coerced to go for treatment. Furthermore, nyaope users indicated that they value the trust of community members that is often lost and can be regained by a change of lifestyles following treatment and getting volunteering opportunities in order to create awareness at local schools. The users indicated that they could achieve total abstinence if they can change the type of lifestyle they were living before, such strategies include going for treatment, adopting a more conducive and healthy lifestyle, get adequate support from their families, attending group sessions following treatment, the implementation of an adequate aftercare programme that could assist in preventing relapse, the creation of employment and spiritual support during and post treatment. The key findings from the significant others were that families are victims of theft due to nyaope users' stealing to sustain their habits. As a result significant others are left with feelings of disappointment and hurt. Nyaope also impacts negatively on family relationships in a manner that there is a lack of communication and ineffective communication among family members. The significant others identified the causes of relapse as a lack of educational programmes in communities, high unemployment rate, a lack of spiritual support, inadequate aftercare programmes and the return to the same community and friends following treatment. Significant others also indicated that nyaope users require volunteering opportunities in communities as a form of reintegration and that nyaope users need to change their lifestyles following treatment in order to regain trust from the community. Significant others recommended that nyaope users require support from family, spiritual support from spiritual leaders and psychosocial support in order for them to maintain total abstinence. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

Background: Drug abuse is a global health problem and it's growing every day. Patients with a drug addiction leap a higher risk at hospitals because of their background history, patients are stigmatized as manipulative, shameful, aggressive and violent. It’s important that Nurses who will be taking care of patients with drug know their role and can see other factors then just what meets the eye. Purpose: The goal is to have nurses with the knowledge and experience to promote health in patients with a drug addiction. Method: This method" were found in two different databases, PsycInfo and PubMed. The eight scientific articles found for the result were examined on the basis of Polit and Beck's nine-step model. Result: It is important that nurses are offered extra training on patients with a drug addiction in order to alleviate the patients suffering. Conclusions: Take each patient as a unique case and give care based on their special need.

Thesis (M.A.(Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / A study investigating third year psychology students’ attitudes towards the use of marijuana at the University of Limpopo was undertaken. The study was quantitative in nature and used a cross sectional survey design. A random sample of 165 third year psychology students was used. The Health Belief-Model was used as a theoretical framework, which guided the study and the reporting of the research results. The self-report questions were made up of several standardised questionnaires. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics namely, frequency tables and figures as they gave a clear overall picture of the data. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine if there were any significant differences between male and female participants in terms of knowledge and attitudes. The results of the study found that overall respondents had negative attitudes toward marijuana use. The study also indicated that there were no gender differences in attitudes toward marijuana use. In terms of the Pearson correlation coefficient a weak positive relationship was found between self-efficacy and attitudes toward marijuana use amongst third year psychology students. The study recommended that workshops are organised to share knowledge about marijuana and its effects.

Bibliography: pages 114-123. / 'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om die redes vir dwelmmisbruik onder jeugdiges na te vors. Dit blyk dat daar nie 'n eenvoudige verklaring is vir die verskynsel nie en dat vele faktore 'n rol speel. Hierdie faktore is verder in wisselwerking met mekaar. Daar word toenemend aandag gegee aan die voorkoms van die probleem onder jeugdiges. SANRA en die geaffilieerde Dwelm Aksie Komitees lewer insette ten opsigte van primere en sekondere voorkoming. Navorsing ten opsigte van die voorkoms van die probleem is nodig op plaaslike, sowel as nasionale vlak. Dwelmmisbruik is 'n verskynsel wat nie oor nag ontwikkel het nie en langtermyn gekoordineerde voorkomingspogings is nodig om dit effektief te bekamp.

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2014. / The current investigation consists of one aim and two objectives. The aim is to evaluate drug abuse prevention programmes for adolescents in secondary schools and the effect that they have on attitudes, knowledge and behaviour. The objectives are to determine the effectiveness of the drug abuse prevention programmes on attitude, knowledge and behaviour on adolescents and the relationship between them. The research methodology was in the form of a quantitative survey. A questionnaire was administered to a group of grades 10 and 11 learners between ages 14 to 25 from four selected schools. Twenty-five year olds were included in the target group as it is not unusual for adult learners to still be at school with minors, especially in rural areas. This may have an influence on adolescents’ attitudes towards drug abuse. It was therefore of utmost importance for them to understand the effects of abusing drugs. Respondents were randomly selected with the help of Life Orientation Educators in each school. Questionnaires were distributed to a sample population of one hundred learners. Ten of these questionnaires were not properly completed and therefore were not included in the final analysis. The results demonstrated that the use of drugs is prevalent in the surveyed schools and respondents were aware of its consequences. The results also demonstrated that a significant number of the respondents had a negative attitude toward the use of drugs, while a small number of respondents did not see any problem in using drugs. It was concluded that the influence on behavioural change in the schools surveyed is not due to formal prevention programmes but to the involvement of parents and peer educators, who are not involved in formal programmes for drug prevention. Furthermore, it was found that in these schools no programmes were available for the education of learners about drug abuse and its consequences. While respondents have shown a positive attitude and behaviour toward drugs and its use, it is important to note that formal drug prevention programmes do not seem to exist in schools and where they are claimed to exist, they refer to life skills programmes and drug awareness programmes.

The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of drug abuse among seniors of Tooele High School, Tooele, Utah, and Logan High School, Logan, Utah. The following sub-problems were investigated as a part of this study. 1. The relationship of the incidence of abuse between males and females. 2. The possible influence a university may have upon a neighboring high school , in reference to drug abuse. The data for the purpose of analysis was obtained from answers to the questions used in the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 47 questions. The number of participants included 201 high school seniors at Logan High and 219 from Tooele. The Logan group registered 102 males and 107 females, while the Tooele group accounted for 112 males and 107 females. Those students that were absent on the day the questionnaire was administered were eliminated from the study. DD-5081 punch cards were obtained and used as a means of collecting descriptive analytical data for this study. The results of the questionnaires were recorded upon ffiM answer sheets and were statistically analyzed by the use of computers. Based on analysis of 420 responses the computer provided specific correlation coefficients by use of the Two Way Independent Chi-Square.

The Office of Programs for Alcohol and Drug Problems is the designated "Single State Authority" for the planning and development of alcohol and drug programs. It is within the State Mental Health Division, and is the interface between the Division, the counties, and the federal government with regard to alcohol and drug programs. The Division's Office of Management Support Services (MSS) is charged with the responsibility of developing an evaluation system for programs. This is being done in regard to the needs of programs and decision-makers concerned with programs. The Program Office is now providing input to MSS largely through this practicum paper, and through the involvement of the author with staff of MSS and the Division's Task Force on Evaluation Systems. The goal of the practicum, and the involvement with MSS, which will continue, is to assist in the development of an evaluation system that will enable the Program Office to better perform the tasks of assessing programs, and planning for this further development. While the subject is beyond the scope of this paper, such an evaluation system would be useful to individuals, organizations, and high level decision-makers outside the Program Office. For an evaluation system to be of use to the Program Office (or the other decision makers involved with alcohol and drug programs), it must provide systematic information regarding the extent to which the alcohol and drug service system and elements within it are able to: Identify the problems of potential clientele; Assign or establish goals which clients may realistically be helped to attain; and Provide treatment or services which enable them to reach their goals. Beyond answering process oriented questions such as these, the system must develop information concerning the impact, on the lives of clients, and on the community, of the services. It must provide this feedback in a way that is usable to programs so they may alter approaches to client problems, to the Program Office, and to the hierarchy of government officials responsible for programs.