This study examined the perceptions of child welfare and family drug court professionals regarding the emerging family drug court program in Riverside County. The following were addressed: what are the strengths of the program, what are challenges or barriers in the program, how do others not involved in the program feel about the program, how the need for the program was recognized, and how child welfare professionals view the future of the program.

This project assesses the need for evaluating the Family Nurturing Program for its effectiveness with the Riverside County Dependency Recovery Drug Court (DRDC) participants and their children.

This study examined the effect of preweanling methyphenidate exposure on later drug reward. We examined the induction, extinction, and reinstatement of morphine induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats that received methylphenidate pretreatment during the preweanling period.

Background: Community pharmacists are a key intervention point in efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of prescription drug abuse and misuse (PDA/M); yet pharmacists' perceptions regarding PDA/M have been explored only briefly in the literature. Objectives: 1) To explore Tennessee community pharmacists' perceptions regarding opioid pain reliever (OPR) prescribing, dispensing and abuse; 2) to explore community pharmacists' self-efficacy beliefs regarding PDA/M-specific communication; and 3) to evaluate perceived barriers to engaging patients in PDA/M-specific communication. Methods: A 55-item survey instrument was developed using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) as a theoretical framework. Questionnaires were mailed to a stratified sample of 2000 licensed Tennessee pharmacists using the Tailored Design Method of survey administration during October and November, 2012. Results: A response rate of 40% was obtained. A majority of pharmacists (87.5%) perceived OPR abuse to be a problem in their practice settings. On average, a little more than half (53%) of prescriptions issued for OPRs were estimated to be for patients with one or more legitimate medical reasons justifying the medication(s). A small fraction of pharmacists (13%) reported having addiction treatment facility information in their practice settings, and only a small percent reported strong self-efficacy beliefs regarding PDA/M patient communication. Job-related time constraints were perceived as the primary barrier to engaging in PDA/M communication. Conclusions: Community pharmacists in Tennessee are aware of PDA/M by patients receiving opioid prescriptions and value their role in communicating with these patients but indicate their ability to do so effectively is hindered by a lack of confidence, training, and time. Further research to identify and test methods for facilitating PDA/M communication by pharmacists is indicated.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Globally, substance use is a significant public health problem around the world. Many schools encounter the challenge of learners using substances in and outside of the school premises. This problem affects the education system because learners who use substances display behaviours that negatively affect the quality of learning and teaching. The study aimed to determine the educators’ knowledge of the factors contributing to substance use among secondary school learners in Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province. A descriptive research design was employed, and the participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected utilising a structured questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 programme. The study findings show substance use as a significant public health problem in schools. Some of the factors identified that contributed to substance use among learners by most educators were low-self-esteem, poor self-control, depression, meagre finances, academic environment, background, peer pressure, accessibility and availability of substances. Based on the findings a number of recommendations were made such as capacitating parents on parenting skills and also on strategies to assist teachers to fight against substance use by students. Instead of the media only displaying lucrative advertisements of alcohol, it must also provide education and awareness about substance use/abuse and its consequences. Further research is necessary to investigate learners’ and parents’ knowledge of the factors contributing to substance use. / NRF

Thesis (M. A. (Criminology and Criminal Justice)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The rise of crime committed by young offenders in South Africa has become a major concern (Pelser 2008:1). The Mentz community – a small township situated in GaMamabolo - likewise experiences high levels of crime and violence, much of which is committed by young, unemployed offenders. Although the findings in this research are not necessarily applicable to other places in South Africa, it is the researcher’s opinion that the situation in Mentz Village is representative of many other places in this country, especially in rural areas. This study investigated crime among the youth in Mentz Village and focused on factors that contribute to crime among the youth. Qualitative methodology had been employed in this study and case studies, together with semi-structured interviews, were used to obtain information. Keywords: Youth crime, Mentz Village, unemployment, fatherlessness, quiting school, alcohol and drug abuse, police corruption, peer influence, Self confessed criminals.

Drug policy and the treatment of drug offenders' is an area that receives much attention worldwide. Because of the authorities' apparent inability to deal with this form of crime, it has universally been deemed necessary to look generally at the punishment of this category of offender and specifically at alternative methods to deal with these perpetrators. An extensive study of drug treatment approaches and models used by various countries merely highlights and emphasises the need for the creation and implementation of a suitable treatment modality for drug offenders. Other countries do not and cannot offer solutions to South Africa's dilemma in the handling of its large offender population. It is for this reason that the researcher has selected workable aspects from various systems in a multidimensional and multidisciplinary management approach to the handling of drug offenders in the South African context. The researcher utilises certain components of the systems theory to describe the manner in which the criminal justice system processes drug offenders. For this purpose, the researcher uses the systems theory as a framework for the application of the drug model that takes place on all levels within the criminal justice system. The researcher aims to use existing drug policy to form the basis of the drug model, and sets structural and procedural guidelines for dealing with this category of offender. The researcher furthermore calls for the implementation of such a model. / Corrections Management / D.Litt. et Phil. (Penology)

A multidimensional approach, using individual, social structural and process and system theories, is applied to examine the role of drugs in child abuse within the dysfunctional family system. By means of a saturation sample seventeen files were selected from Phoenix House and the South African National Council For Drug and Alcohol Abuse. A research schedule was developed and an analysis of the seventeen cases was done. The drug dependent parent is discussed and abuse in the family system are identified. Throughout, the influence of (the) parental drug dependency is illustrated and it is shown how dependency in a parent may influence family functioning and parenting skills. A literature study brought to light aspects in families which contribute to child abuse. Recommendations are made for further research on aspects highlighted by the findings. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

Selbstvergiftung in der Akutmedizin – 2005–2012 Zusammenfassung Ziel. Beschreibung des Trends der akuten Selbstvergiftung in der Notfall- und Intensivmedizin. Methode. Elektronische Akten erwachsener Patienten, die zwischen 2005 und 2012 wegen einer akuten Selbstvergiftung infolge eines Selbstmordversuches (Selbstmordgruppe), einer Berauschung (Intoxikationsgruppe) oder Medikamentenüberdosierung zwecks Schmerzlinderung (Überdosierungsgruppe) in der Notaufnahme des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig eingewiesen worden waren, wurden ausgewertet. Ergebnisse. 3533 Patienten (62,6 % männlich) wurden identifiziert, mit einem Anstieg von 305 Fällen im Jahre 2005 auf 624 in 2012. Die Aufnahmerate bezogen auf die Gesamtaufnahmen stieg von 1,2 % im Jahre 2005 auf 1,9 % im Jahre 2012 an. 31,7 % der Patienten waren < 25 Jahre alt. Die Ursachen der Selbstvergiftung waren Suizidversuch (18,1 %), Intoxikation (76,8 %) und Medikamentenüberdosierung (2,9 %). Bei 80 Fällen war eine genaue Gruppenzuordnung nicht möglich. Während psychotrope Medikamente bei 71,6 % der Suizidversuche angewandt wurden, war Alkoholintoxikation die Ursache bei 80,1 % der Fälle in der Intoxikationsgruppe. Selbstvergiftung mit mindestens zwei Substanzen lag bei 52,0 % der Suizidversuche, 10,3 % der Intoxikationsgruppe und 29,7 % der Gruppe mit Medikamentenüberdosierung vor. Während die Alkoholintoxikation nach wie vor am häufigsten vorkam, gab es eine drastische Zunahme der Intoxikationen mit Cannabinoiden, Crystal Meth und Gamma- Hydroxybuttersäure in den Jahren 2011 und 2012. Eine Aufnahme auf die Intensivstation war bei 16,6 % der Fälle erforderlich. Es gab 22 Todesfälle (0,6 % der gesamten Studienpopulation), von denen 15 aus der Suizidgruppe (2,3 %), vier aus der Intoxikationsgruppe (0,15 %), und drei aus der nicht eindeutig zugeordneten Gruppe (3.8 %) waren. Zusammenfassung. Akute Selbstvergiftung ist ein zunehmendes medizinisches Problem. Psychotrope Medikamente stellen nach wie vor die häufigsten Suizidversuchsmittel dar. Obwohl die Alkoholintoxikation weiterhin am häufigsten vorkommt, nehmen illegale Drogen als notfallmedizinischer Einweisungsgrund zu. / Self-poisoning in the acute care medicine 2005–2012 Abstract Objective. To describe the trend of acute self-poisoning in the emergency and intensive care. Methods. Electronic charts of adults who presented to the emergency department of the University Hospital Leipzig with selfpoisoning following a suicide attempt (suicide group), intoxication (intoxication group), drug overdose for relief of pain or discomfort (drug overdose group) between 2005 and 2012 were analyzed. Results. 3533 adults (62.6 % males) were identified, with the yearly admissions increasing from 305 in 2005 to 624 in 2012. The admission rate in relation to the total emergency department admissions also increased, from 1.2 % in 2005 to 1.9 % in 2012. 31.7 % of the patients were younger than 25 years. The reasons for self-poisoning were suicide attempt (18.1 %), intoxication (76.8 %) and drug overdose (2.9 %). The reason could not be clearly classified in 80 patients. Psychotropic drugs were used in 71.6 % of suicide attempts, while alcohol was the sole cause of intoxication in 80.1 % of cases in the intoxication group. Self-poisoning using at least two substances was observed in 52.0 % of the suicide attempts, 10.3 % of those with intoxication and 29.7 % of those with drug overdose. While alcohol remains the most common cause of intoxication, there was a drastic increase in the consumption of cannabinoids, Crystal Meth and gamma-hydroxybutyrate in the years 2011 and 2012. ICU admission was necessary in 16.6 % of the cases. There were 22 deaths (0.6 % of the study population), of whom 15 were in the suicide group (2.3 %), four (0.15 %) in the intoxication group, and three in the not clearly classified group (3.8 %). Conclusion. Acute self-poisoning is an increasing medical issue. Psychotropic drugs remain the most common means of suicide attempt. Although alcohol intoxication is very frequent, intake of illicit drugs as the cause of emergency admission is increasing.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work