Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Children of drug addicts Australia'

This research focussed on families in which at least one parent was a long-term cannabis user; I explored family members’ perceptions of the benefits and harms of cannabis use and the strategies parents used to minimise cannabis-related harm to themselves and their children. In depth, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 43 individuals from 13 families, producing a series of family case studies that enabled examination of multiple perspectives within each family. In Study 1, I used an interpretive framework guided by Miles and Huberman’s (1994) thematic content analysis technique to analyse interview data, while study 2 yielded detailed descriptive vignettes that examined how the use of cannabis played out in particular families. Cannabis users have been portrayed as stereotypically lazy, unhealthy, deviant, and criminal. However, this was not the case with the current sample, whose lifestyles revolved around employment and family life. Parents claimed to use cannabis in a responsible way that minimised harm to self and family. Few reported personal experiences of harm and most did not believe that their children had been adversely affected by their use of cannabis. Nonetheless, children’s awareness of parental cannabis use, and access to the parent’s cannabis supply, occurred at a younger age than parents suspected. Parents reported harm reduction strategies that targeted five broad areas: (1) Dosage control; (2) Dependency; (3) Acute risk; (4) Long-term harm; and (5) Harm to children. The current study points to common-sense ways of reducing harm, such as being discreet about cannabis use; using less potent strains; prioritising family and work responsibilities; being careful about where cannabis was obtained; not mixing cannabis with tobacco; and limiting any financial outlay. The harm reduction strategies identified in this research might be helpful in the forensic evaluation, safety planning, and treatment of parental cannabis use. The validity of the current findings was enhanced by having independent data on the same topic from each family member’s point of view, including non-using partners and children, and by including both convergent and divergent data.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- The Institute for Clinical Social Work, 2003.
A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Institute of Clinical Social Work in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Substance abusing women with children are a diverse group, but some of them are among the most disadvantaged individuals in the United States. These women are in dire need of effective treatment modalities in order to sustain sobriety. Using a quantitative research design, this study examines the perception of motivation in the recovery process among African American women with children. Through research surveys these women identify the motivating factors necessary for successful treatment outcomes. Scales were created to measure extrinsic motivators, intrinsic motivators, and barriers to treatment. Factors examined included attendance at twelve step meetings, church attendance, court mandates, family support, assistance from Children's Services Workers, participation in residential and outpatient treatment programs, training in life skills such as assertivenesss, stress management, effective communication, vocational skills, and parenting, and intrinsic spiritual beliefs. The study also examined barriers to treatment such as lack of transporation, child care, employment, housing and money.

This thesis is in the form of a novel titled 'High Spirits' and an exegesis, 'Behind Dry Ink in Set Patterns'. The novel traces the life of an Australian girl from birth to her mid-teens. Rose Sommers is adopted by a couple who have returned from prisoner-of-war camps in Singapore after World War II. Set in the early 1960s, the narrative starts with Rose at thirteen running away from the family farm to Perth. The novel has six flashbacks in the first third to tell the story of how the parents adopted and treated her: her adoptive mother was unbalanced and her adoptive father was a weak man. When she arrives in Perth, the buildings and crowded streets terrify Rose, so she runs straight through to bushland in Kings Park. There she teams up with Bela, a Hungarian refugee-and from there she is on her own. Through periods of great deprivation, including drug addiction and the birth of two children, Rose is in constant battle with the law and bureaucracy. From a religious rebel to a spiritual seeker, from a bikie's moll to a folksinging star, Rose's fortunes fluctuate wildly. She has relationships along the way, but as usual with relationships of those adrift in society, these come to grief. In the end, Rose battles to return to a 'normal' life for the benefit of her child-a scenario so often 'true to life' in contemporary society. The exegesis comprises two independent but supportive essays. The first essay is autobiographical, exploring how I came to write a novel about a teenage girl in the 1960s with a drug problem. The second essay focuses on an exploration of the novel's similarities and differences to YA novels and how such literature can help shape a young person's thinking

Titled "Children of Addicted Parents", the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psycho-educational group intervention for latency age children of alcoholics. The treatment group consisted of eleven children between the ages of eight and twelve, who have lived or who are living with an alcoholic parent or stepparent. Referrals were obtained from elementary school guidance counsellors, Family Service Agencies, Alcohol and Drug Programs and the Ministry of Social Services and Housing. The children and three therapists met one hour a week for nine weeks. The group's dual objectives include educating the children about alcoholism/drug addiction and its effect on the family as well as enhancing the childrens' inherent strengths by teaching strategies to increase self-esteem, problem solving and other coping skills. The program's objectives were carried out through brief lectures, discussion, film, art and therapeutic games. The treatment model has been evaluated using a quasi-experimental design. There was a significant change in the intensity of behaviour problems with a trend for a decrease in the number of problems, as well as a decrease in depression. In addition there was a tendency for an increase in self-esteem.
Arts, Faculty of
Social Work, School of
Graduate

The sibling relationship is unique in that it is relatively egalitarian, ascribed, and can be the longest-lasting across the lifespan. Siblings can act as supports for one another during major life events, both in childhood and adulthood. Siblings can also be a source of significant stress. The literature on family coping indicates that there are significant impacts to family members’ well-being from dealing with stress and strain that result from a family member’s drug use problem. However, researchers have not investigated the impacts on adult siblings despite the importance and uniqueness of sibling relationships. The broad aim of this research was to develop a theory of the adult sibling relationship when one sibling’s drug use impacts significantly on the quality of the relationship. Phenomenological interviews with 25 adults with a sibling with an illicit drug use problem were analysed using grounded theory. A provisional model and theory was developed from the first phase of data analysis which was then consolidated in the second phase. Two case studies were drawn from the pool of participants to illustrate how the model and theory developed here could be applied to assist a forensic evaluator in child protection and family court matters. Several themes related to stress and distress, coping, and support were identified. Adults were more likely to use social support rather than access professional services. Adults were found to experience distress comparable to parents or partners. However, they were likely to feel distress both from direct impacts from their sibling and from witnessing the impact on parents and other family members. Adults who characterised their sibling relationship as warm and close since childhood experienced a cycle of engagement and support of the user followed by detachment and bounded relationships. These adults were particularly influenced to engage in support due to a high sense of obligation to care for their siblings and also experienced difficulty disengaging from their sibling. Adults whose sibling relationships were characterised by high conflict (rivalry) or indifference since childhood felt less obliged to engage in support for their sibling and maintained clear boundaries. Adult siblings reported a belief that siblings have more freedom to detach from a user sibling than parents have freedom to detach from a user child, especially if more vulnerable family members required protection from the user. Forensic evaluators can use the theory as a guiding framework when a sibling is a litigant or witness in child-protection or Family Court matters. The findings also inform clinical practice in terms of the psychological needs of this population, such as issues with adjustment, grief and loss, stress, general coping, and the impact of protracted and disruptive life experiences as a result of having a sibling with an illicit drug use problem.

This study uses a qualitative research design to examine the skills and knowledge that both CPS (Child Protective Service) workers and Foster Care Professionals have regarding AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) issues. It includes information on professionals' perceptions of whether or not more education in this area is needed, and the impact that these AOD issues are having upon the child welfare / foster care systems.

Opioid use disorder impedes dependent parents' abilities to care for their children. In turn, children may languish in unpredictability and persistent chaos. Societal responses to these children are often guided by a belief that unless the drug dependent parent receives treatment, there is little help for the child. While a preponderance of the drug dependence research is adult-centric, a significant body of research demonstrates the importance of not only addressing the immediate well being of the children of drug dependent caregivers but preventing the continuing cycle of drug dependence. The present commentary demonstrates through a brief review of the US history of drug dependence crises and research from the 1980s and 1990s, a range of “tried and true” family, school, and community interventions centered on children. We already know that these children are at high risk of maladjustment and early onset of drug dependence; early intervention is critical; multiple risk factors are likely to occur simultaneously; comprehensive strategies are optimal; and multiple risk-focused strategies are most protective. Where we need now to turn our efforts is on how to effectively implement and disseminate best practices, many of which we learned in the 1980s and 1990s. The greatest opportunity in both changing the nature of the opioid epidemic at scale and influencing rapid translation of existing research findings into policy and practice is not in asking what to do, but in asking how to do the right things well, and quickly.

Using both qualitative and quantitative research designs, this study focused on the knowledge of Children Protective Services (CPS) social workers for identifying Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) risk factors in their clients, and the impact that these AOD issues have on the child welfare system in San Bernardino County, California.

Existem no Brasil aproximadamente 370 mil usuários de cocaína fumada nas capitais nacionais e há cerca de dez anos o uso de crack e/ou cocaína atinge quatro em cada dez adolescentes brasileiros em situação de rua, gerando diversas consequências individuais, familiares e sociais, que fazem deste fenômeno um grave problema de saúde pública. O presente estudo foi realizado em três momentos que se consubstanciaram em um capítulo de livro, um artigo de revisão e um artigo empírico. O capítulo teve como objetivo a contextualização do panorama epidemiológico do consumo de drogas na sociedade brasileira, perpassando por uma caracterização geral do termo e suas especificidades, assim como uma reflexão acerca desse fenômeno à luz da Teoria Social Cognitiva. Discute-se que a noção de reciprocidade triádica que perpassa toda a concepção sociocognitivista, vem contribuindo para uma leitura dinâmica e sistêmica do consumo de drogas, que avança para além de uma compreensão puramente individual, seja biológica ou comportamental. O artigo de revisão de literatura foi sobre o Modelo Transteórico de Mudança (MTT) e o suporte familiar no cuidado ao usuário de crack, auxiliando na discussão sobre as estratégias para o lidar com dependência química. Neste foram analisados trabalhos que discorrem sobre as contribuições do Modelo Transteórico de Mudança no tratamento do comportamento adicto e a importância do entendimento sobre os estágios motivacionais e processos de mudança pelo usuário, família e equipe técnica, exigindo a atenção dos profissionais quanto ao entendimento e tratamento dos comportamentos de risco, demandando por sua vez a reformulação de estratégias de tratamento e cuidado para usuários que se encontram em qualquer estágio. O artigo empírico que se seguiu à revisão, abordou o tema central da dissertação e objetivou investigar a influência da percepção do suporte familiar, da crença de autoeficácia e do estágio motivacional do usuário de crack na adesão ao cuidado oferecido no Programa ATITUDE. Foi um estudo misto que primeiramente investigou 60 usuários de ambos os sexos que estavam acolhidos nas modalidades de assistência: apoio e intensivo. Na segunda fase foram entrevistados cinco participantes de ambos os sexos. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar (IPSF); Escala de Autoeficácia Geral Percebida (AEGP); University of Rhode Island Change Assesment Scale Escala URICA e entrevista semi-estruturada. Pela extração do alpha de Chronbach foram obtidos indicadores insatisfatórios de consistência interna das escalas AEGP e URICA, e elevados para o IPSF. A discussão perpassa pelo perfil singular da amostra, já que muitos dos usuários vivem na rua, com uma multiplicidade de carências de cuidados básicos e que, mesmo apresentando algum nível de escolarização, podem ter experienciado algum nível de incompreensão no sentido do que demandava a atividade em cinco alternativas de escolha, tendendo a se posicionar com certa facilidade quando a temática foi mais concreta, como no caso da família, tendo também essa escala um número de alternativas de escolha menor que as demais. Talvez um quantitativo maior de usuários pudesse diluir essas inconsistências encontradas nas duas primeiras escalas. Por fim, as entrevistas permitiram evidenciar a importância dos vínculos familiares para uma melhor compreensão do fenômeno do uso do crack em sua multiplicidade questionando e propondo um olhar ampliado sobre a família, como importante fonte de apoio aos usuários na continuidade de seu cuidado.
There are approximately 370 thousand users of cocaine smoked in Brazil in the national capitals, and for the last ten years the use of crack and / or cocaine has reached four out of every ten Brazilian adolescents in the street, generating a number of individual, family and social consequences. Of this phenomenon is a serious public health problem. The present study was carried out in three moments that consubstantiated in a chapter of book, a review article and an empirical article. The chapter aimed to contextualize the epidemiological panorama of drug use in Brazilian society, through a general characterization of the term and its specificities, as well as a reflection on this phenomenon in the light of Cognitive Social Theory. It is argued that the notion of triadic reciprocity that permeates the entire sociocognitive conception has been contributing to a dynamic and systemic reading of drug consumption, which goes beyond a purely individual understanding, be it biological or behavioral. The literature review article was about the Transtheoric Model of Change (MTT) and the family support in crack user care, helping to discuss strategies for dealing with chemical dependency. In this paper we analyze the contributions of the Transtheoric Model of Change in the treatment of addicted behavior and the importance of understanding the motivational stages and processes of change by the user, family and technical team, demanding the professionals' attention regarding the understanding and treatment Of risky behaviors, which in turn require the reformulation of treatment and care strategies for users who are at any stage. The empirical article that followed the review, addressed the central theme of the dissertation and aimed to investigate the influence of the perception of family support, the belief of self efficacy and the motivational stage of crack users in adherence to the care offered in the ATITUDE Program. It was a mixed study that first investigated 60 users of both sexes that were hosted in the assistance modalities: support and intensive. In the second phase, five participants of both genders were interviewed. The following instruments were used: Family Support Perception Inventory (IPSF); Perceived General Self-Efficacy Scale (AEGP); University of Rhode Island Change Assesment Scale - URICA scale and semi-structured interview. By extracting the Chronbach alpha, we obtained unsatisfactory indicators of internal consistency of the AEGP and URICA scales, and high for the IPSF. The discussion is based on the unique profile of the sample, since many of the users live on the street, with a multitude of basic care deficits and, even with some level of schooling, may have experienced some level of misunderstanding in the sense of what the activity demanded In five alternatives of choice, tending to position themselves with certain ease when the theme was more concrete, as in the case of the family, also having this scale a number of alternatives of choice smaller than the others. Perhaps a larger number of users could dilute these inconsistencies found on the first two scales. Finally, the interviews allowed to highlight the importance of family ties for a better understanding of the phenomenon of crack use in its multiplicity, questioning and proposing an extended view of the family, as an important source of support to users in the continuity of their care.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between drugs of choice that family members abused and the non-addicted family member's levels of self-disclosure, self-disclosure avoidance, and trust.

O consumo de crack tem se constituído numa problemática de saúde pública pelas diversas consequências individuais, familiares e sociais que provoca. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a relação entre a perspectiva de suporte familiar de usuários de crack, de familiares e de técnicos sociais do Programa ATITUDE, analisando as possíveis implicações dessas percepções na assistência aos usuários e seus familiares. Optou-se por desenvolver a dissertação na modalidade artigos. No primeiro artigo, foi realizada uma revisão narrativa baseada em 23 artigos pesquisados nas bases de dados BVS, Scielo Periódicos e ScienceDirect, no intuito de avaliar as contribuições dos estudos às estratégias públicas de enfrentamento ao crack. Os critérios adotados para a seleção dos artigos foram: 1) artigos sobre "crack e políticas públicas", publicados nos últimos cinco anos e, 2) estudos com a população ou sobre a política pública brasileira. Como resultado foram incluídos nove artigos epidemiológicos, três sobre clinica das drogas, três sobre contextos de uso e violência, sete sobre representação social e mídia e um sobre família. Aspectos como mudança na assistência comunitária, políticas intersetoriais, vigilância e controle epidemiológicos, melhor integração entre os organismos que trabalham para a redução da demanda e aumento de pesquisas clínicas, foram ressaltados como importantes para a proposição de políticas públicas. O segundo artigo vem atender ao objetivo principal do estudo, sendo realizado com 62 participantes. Inicialmente foi aplicado em 46 usuários de crack, vinculados ao Programa ATITUDE, o Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar (ISPF), que apresentou uma elevada consistência interna (α=0,88). Na segunda fase, foi realizada uma entrevista semi-estruturada com oito usuários selecionados entre os 46 iniciais, quatro familiares e 12 técnicos sociais do programa. A média de idade desses usuários foi de 30 anos (DP=6,98), cujo perfil sociodemográfico remete a usuários, em sua maioria: não casados (78,3%), que residiam sozinhos (52,2%), com ensino fundamental incompleto (63%), advindos de famílias sem convivência entre os pais (65,2%) e que responderam ao IPSF com referência à família de origem (87%). Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre morar sozinho e ter uma baixa percepção de suporte familiar (r=0,324; p=0,05). A análise por fator, também evidenciou uma correlação significativa entre o Fator 1 (afetivo-consistente) e tipo de família (r=0,460; p=0,01) e com quem reside (r=0,309; p=0,05). Na etapa qualitativa, foi realizada uma análise de conteúdo temática, revelando-se, em linhas gerais, quatro temáticas principais para usuários e familiares, quais sejam: influência familiar, relacionamento familiar, lidar com problemas e expressão de sentimento. Para os técnicos, foram identificadas outras quatro temáticas: contribuição familiar, atividades terapêuticas, abordagem à família e relato de experiência. A predominância da percepção de um baixo suporte familiar (t (44) = -4,428; p<0,05), evidenciada na análise quantitativa, foi consoante com a fala dos demais participantes durante a entrevista. Em consonância com a literatura, neste estudo também se constatou a predominância do apoio materno e a influência dos pares se sobrepondo à da família na relação dos usuários com o crack. Discute-se, à luz da Teoria Social Cognitiva, a influência que a autoeficácia familiar e a modelação social exercem sobre o consumo de substâncias. Essa reflexão nos revela a importância de se efetivar uma proposição já contemplada na Política Nacional de Assistência Social, que remete a um olhar mais sistêmico sobre a questão do consumo do crack, contemplando tanto as necessidades do usuário como de seus familiares. Acredita-se que os paradigmas poderão ser aprimorados no sentido de favorecer novos modelos de políticas na atenção aos usuários de drogas, em especial de crack.
Crack usage has constituted a public health problem by the various individual, family and social consequences it causes. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between family support perspective of crack users, family and social technicians from the ATTITUDE program, analyzing the possible implications of these perceptions on the assistance for users and their families. We chose to develop the thesis in the format of articles. In the first article, we reviewed narratives based on 23 articles surveyed in the VHL databases Scielo Journals and Science Direct, in order to assess the contributions of these studies to public coping strategies with crack. The criteria adopted for the selection of items were: 1) articles on "crack and public policy," published in the last five years, and 2) studies with the population or on the Brazilian public policy. As a result, it was included nine epidemiological articles, three on clinical drug, three on contexts of use and violence, seven on social representation and media and one about family. Aspects such as change in Community assistance, intersectional policies, surveillance and epidemiological control, better integration between organizations working to reduce demand and increase in clinical research, were highlighted as important in proposing public policies. The second article is an answer to the main objective of the study, being conducted with 62 participants. Initially, it was applied to 46 crack users, linked to the Program ATTITUDE. Inventory of Family Support Perception (ISPF), which showed a high internal consistency (α = 0.88). In the second phase, a semi-structured interview with eight selected users was conducted between the 46 initial four families and 12 social workers program. The average age of these users was 30 years (SD = 6.98), whose socio-demographic profile refers to users, mostly: not married (78.3%), who lived alone (52.2%), with incomplete primary education (63%) coming from families without coexistence between parents (65.2%) who responded to the IPSF with reference to the family of origin (87%). Significant correlations were found between living alone and having a low perception of family support (r = 0.324; p = 0.05). The factor analysis also showed a significant correlation between Factor 1 (affective-consistent), and family (r = 0.460; p = 0.01) and with whom resides (r = 0.309; p = 0.05). In the qualitative stage, a content analysis was performed, revealing themselves, in general, four main themes for users and families, such as: family influence, family relationships, dealing with problems and expression of feelings. For technicians, four other themes were identified: family contribution, therapeutic activities, approach to family and experience report. The predominance of the perception of a low family support (t (44) = -4.428, p <0.05), as evidenced in the quantitative analysis, was consonant with the speech of the other participants during the interview. In line with the literature, this study also found the prevalence of maternal support and peer influence overlapping the familys as observed in the link of users with crack. It is argued in the light of Social Cognitive Theory, the influence family self-efficacy and social modeling have on substance use. This reflection reveals the importance of executing a proposition already included in the National Policy for Social Assistance, which refers to a more systemic view on the issue of crack consumption, covering both user needs and their families. It is believed that the paradigms can be improved in order to encourage new policy models in the care of drug users, especially crack.

Thesis (MA(MW))--University of Stellenbosch,2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An exploratory study was done on prevention programmes of substance abuse by high school learners. This was done in order to: explore the factors leading to substance abuse by high school learners; explore the conditions for successful substance abuse programmes and compare it with existing programmes; and to determine how prevention programmes for high school learners can be used in South-African schools. The motivation for this study emerged as a result of the researcher’s involvement in prevention programmes for adolescents in schools and on farms at the South-African Council for Alcohol and Drug Dependency (SANCA) in the Paarl area. The objective of this study is to provide guidelines to social workers for the effective implementation of substance abuse prevention programmes for high school learners. The literature study confirmed the need for effective prevention programmes and highlighted the focus om the factors which leads to substance abuse. Emphasis is placed on risk and protection factors involved with substance abuse. SANCA in Paarl’s adolescent community’s risk and protective factors was investigated, because of the necessity to identify these factors before a prevention programme can be designed. The universum is the grade 10 learners of six schools in the Paarl area. One learner out of each class represented the sample of 48 respondents. The study was done trough a structured questionnaire. A combination of qualitative and quantitative information, through the use of open and close-ended questions, was gathered. The results of this study confirmed the results of the literature study, namely that the most important factor leading to substance abuse, is peer group influence. However, a combination of strategies and programmes are needed to develope a suitable programme for the specific community. The recommendations focus on four areas. Firstly the conditions are described for an effective prevention programme regarding the role of social workers, the use of assessment, evaluation, models, theories and approaches. Secondly, recommendations are made for techniques and general approaches. The third area gives directions for programme content. The last area recommends a possibility for future research: the process, roles and type of training needed to implement an effective and sustainable support group system in schools, must be tested.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Verkennende studie vir voorkomingsprogramme vir middelmisbruik deur ho¨erskoolleerders is gedoen ten einde: die faktore wat tot middele-misbruik deur ho¨erskoolleerders aanleiding gee, te ondersoek; die voorwaardes vir suksesvolle middele-misbruikvoorkomingsprogramme te verken en met bestaande programme in verband te bring; en te bepaal hoe voorkomingsprogramme aan ho¨erskoolleerders in Suid-Afrikaanse skole benut kan word. Die motivering vir die studie het gespruit uit die navorser se betrokkenheid by die Suid- Afrikaanse Raad vir Alkohol- en Dwelmafhanklikes (SANRA) met die aanbied van voorkomingsprogramme vir adolessente, op plase en in skole in die Paarl-omgwing. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om riglyne vir maatskaplike werkers daar te stel vir die effektiewe implementering van voorkomingsprogramme vir middelmisbruik deur ho¨erskoolleerders. Die literatuurstudie het die behoefte aan effektiewe voorkomingsprogramme bevestig en die faktore wat lei tot middelmisbruik is ook uitgelig. Daar is veral gefokus op die risikoen beskermingsfaktore hierby betrokke. Die studie is ingelei deur ’n ondersoek na die risiko- en beskermingsfaktore wat ’n rol speel in die adolessente gemeenskap van SANRA (Paarl), aangesien dit noodsaaklik is om hierdie faktore te identifiseer voordat ’n voorkomingsprogram ontwerp word. Die universum is graad-10 leerders van ses skole in die gebied. Een leerder uit elke klas het die steekproef, van 48 respondente, verteenwoordig. Die ondersoek is aan die hand van ’n gestruktureerde vraelys gerig. Kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe inligting is deur middel van ’n kombinasie van oop en geslote vrae ingesamel. Die resultate van hierdie ondersoek het die literatuurstudie bevestig, naamlik dat die hoof faktor wat aanleiding gee tot middelmisbruik, portuurgroepinvloede is. ’n Kombinasie van verskeie strategie¨e is nodig om geskikte programme vir spesifieke gemeenskappe te ontwerp. Die aanbevelings fokus op vier areas, naamlik die voorwaardes vir ’n effektiewe voorkomingsprogram rakende die rol van die maatskaplike werker, die gebruik van assessering, evaluering, modelle, teorie¨e en/of benaderings en aanbevelings ten opsigte van tegnieke, programvoorstelle en programinhoud. Die vierde en laaste area maak ’n aanbeveling vir verdere navorsing: ’n Ondersoek na die proses, rol van en tipe opleiding nodig om ’n effektiewe en volhoubare ondersteuningsgroepstelsel in skole te implementeer.

This study examined an important, yet underreported, area of family service agency assessments, the failure to adequately screen for substance abuse issues. A self-report screening instrument was used to accurately determine substance abuse frequency rates, instead of using the current clinician-directed questioning. New agency clients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (self-report) or the control group (clinician-directed) to determine if assessment accuracy improved.

The aim of this master thesis is analysing the accessibility of social services in Pardubicky region and analysing the accessibility of social services in the area around the town of Usti nad Orlici. In the theoretical part of this thesis is the definition of social politics and principles and models of social politics. Next, this thesis describes models of social politics in the selected states of EU- in Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, France and Slovakia. Following of this section follows description of the social politics and system of social services (definition, quality standards and types of the social services) in the Czech Republic. The last section of the theoretical part compares legislations of the social services in the Czech Republic,France and Slovakia. The practical part of this thesis is focused on social services in Pardubicky region. The introduction of the practical part describes the planning of social services in Pardubicky region. The next section analyse the accessibility of social services for different groups in Pardubicky region. More detailed analyses of accessibility of social services in Pardubicky region is focused on area around the town of Usti nad Orlici

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Psychology.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-93). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29563

The proposed research aims to explore and describe the experiences, challenges and coping strategies of fathers, parenting children, abusing illegal substances. The use and abuse of illegal substances became national and global dilemmas. The impact and damage caused when drugs are widely used over time is irreversible, as it influences the lives of users and those of their families, their communities, and the country. This research provides an opportunity for fathers, parenting children, abusing illegal substances to share their experiences and challenges. Data are collected by conducting in-depth and face-toface interviews with the participants. The collected data are analysed by following the eight steps of Tesch in Creswell (2009:186). Data are analysed using Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness of qualitative research for validation. The study endeavours to obtain an understanding of the experiences and challenges encountered by fathers, parenting children, abusing illegal substances and how social workers could assist in addressing this dilemma.
Social Work
M.A. (Social Work)

Western Governments have been obliged to tackle illicit substance abuse by focusing on health issues, this has resulted in preventative policies that direct drug education through schools. As a consequence there are hundreds of drug education programs and the majority are competing for funding under the same auspice. Victoria's response has been to develop a prevention program known as Get Real and phase it into Victorian schools over a three year period.
The three year period ended in 1999 and due to a change of Government the Get Real program has been re-funded for another 12 months, this is despite the fact there have been no formal evaluations conducted about its success or otherwise.
This program has been examined in relation to its own objectives and juxtaposed against two other main programs operating in schools in Australia. The results suggest Get Real is on the road to achieving its objectives which are to provide students with a realistic knowledge hasp about drugs and their effects. However, its broader goal which is to prevent illicit substance abuse cannot be evaluated because there are no studies that show its success or otherwise.
Based on the hypothesis thill drug education programs prevent illicit substance abuse in teenagers, Get Real's curriculum was compared with other similar programs and the research done on these programs suggest drug education programs do not successfully prevent illicit substance abuse.
The best Get Real and other programs can hope to achieve, is to provide realistic information and develop children's social skills and empower them with the knowledge and self esteem to make their own decisions. And to know that they alone are responsible for their choices and the consequences that follow from these choices.

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing)
In local communities, young people use different substances for reasons known to them alone. This research study is about young people who are aged between 18 and 30 years, who smoke cannabis and are mentally ill. Mostly the parents of these young people, as well as other members of the family, the neighbours and the community at large experience many challenges resulting from cannabis smoking. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the experiences of parents living with mental health care users smoking cannabis and to issue guidelines for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner to facilitate the mental health of parents living with mental health care users smoking cannabis in the context under study. A qualitative research design that was exploratory, descriptive and contextual was followed to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. Purposive sampling was used for sample selection based on inclusion criteria. The number of participants selected for this study was guided by data saturation. The total number of participants selected for this study was seven. The data collection methods used were phenomenological interviews, observation and field notes. In the phenomenological interview, the participant was asked: “How is it for you living with a mental health care user smoking cannabis?” The phenomenological interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. The researcher and an independent coder analysed the transcribed phenomenological interviews and field notes. The researcher used Tesch’s method of data analysis (Creswell, 2007:157) in analysing the data. The measures to ensure trustworthiness in this study include credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability and authenticity. The seven ethical principles of competence of the researcher, right to self-determination, right to privacy, right to autonomy and confidentiality, right to protection from exploitation and obtaining informed consent guided this study ...

The abuse of substances by South African young people has led to the development of specialised residential treatment programmes. This qualitative and phenomenological study sought to explore child and youth care interventions which contributes towards children’s recovery from substance abuse/dependency. Data was collected through purposive sampling, with face -to -face interviews with a broad interview guide and it’s analysis was influenced by Patton and Creswell’s eight steps for qualitative data analysis and interpretation. The study confirmed the involvement of South African child and youth care workers in substance abuse programmes for young people. Specific interventions such as an existence of a therapeutic relationship between child and youth care workers, the use of the relationship as a model for other relationships, the availability and presence of the child and youth care worker, the adolescent development programme and young people’s involvement in their individual development programme that contributed to recovery from substance dependency were identified.
Social Work
M. Tech. (Child and Youth Care)