Aftercare to chemically addicted adolescents : practice guidelines from a social work perspective

• Main Author: Van der Westhuizen, Marichen Ann
• Other Authors: De Jager, M. S.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Adolescence; Aftercare services; Addictive chemical substances; Chemical addiction; Intervention research; Practice guidelines; Recovery; Reintegration services; Relapse; Relapse prevention; Social work intervention; Treatment programmes; 362.29180835096873; Teenagers > Substance use > South Africa > Western Cape; Substance abuse > Patients > Counseling of > South Africa > Western Cape; Drug addicts > Services for > South Africa > Western Cape; Drug addicts > Rehabilitation > South Africa > Western Cape
• Online Access: Van der Westhuizen, Marichen Ann (2010) Aftercare to chemically addicted adolescents : practice guidelines from a social work perspective, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4034>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4034

The susceptibility of adolescents to chemical addiction has become a major international concern. Approximately 25% of people in Central Asia and Eastern Europe who inject chemical substances are under the age of 20 years (Youth at the United Nations, 2006), while up to 75% of unintentional injuries among adolescents in America are related to substance abuse (Page & Page, 2003:196). On the national level, approximately 25% of adolescents under the age of 20 are involved in substance abuse (Western Cape Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation Transformation Plan, 2006:13). Focusing on the Western Cape, a report from the South African Epidemiology Network (2007:3) highlights that the youngest patient in in-patient treatment was nine years of age, and among 2 798 persons who received in-patient treatment, 27% were under the age of 20, more than any other age group in treatment. Treatment of adolescent chemical addiction should include preparation for treatment, treatment, and also aftercare services to ensure that the addicted adolescent develops skills to maintain sobriety (Meyer, 2005:292-293). Section Six of the South African Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act (1992) prescribes that chemically addicted persons should have access to professional aftercare services to ensure that treatment is not terminated prematurely. The motivation for this study was based on the fact that, despite this statutory requirement, the Western Cape Drug Forum (2005:3) identified the need for the development of aftercare services in 2005, indicating the lack of focus on aftercare as part of treatment. This concern was confirmed by practitioners in the field of adolescent chemical addiction and findings resulted from previous research regarding relapse experiences of chemically addicted adolescents (Van der Westhuizen, 2007:129-130). === Social Work === D. Phil. (Social Work)