The literature review focuses on the typical risk factors for relapse with reference to environmental, inter-and intra-personal and physical risk factors. The focus then shifts to the unique characteristics of young African adults. Risk factors for relapse Campos (2009:773) explains high-risk situations as those situations in which there is an increased desire to use, where the drug of choice may be readily available, or where social pressure to use drugs is increased. Other high-risk situations include particular environments, cognitive patterns, mood states or social situations. As derived from Marlatt's Relapse Prevention Model (Marlatt & Witkiewitz, 2005:1), for a relapse to be prevented, high-risk situations, or risk factors, that precipitate a relapse need to be identified. Environmental risk factors Environmental risk factors that can increase the risk of relapse include increased availability and accessibility of drugs, poverty and unemployment, and encountering people, places and paraphernalia associated with earlier drug use. Bain (2004:2) suggests that the prevalence of drug use by young people escalates as the variety of drugs available increases. Environmental cues play an important role in the process of relapse (Bain, 2004:29). Simply returning to the place where the drug(s) was taken can trigger a relapse even months after abstinence commenced (Bain, 2004:29). Cami and Farrè (2003:975) add that environmental stimuli associated with drug use itself can produce withdrawal and craving in the absence of the drug. For Hyman and Malenka (2001:697) environmental cues elevate the risk of a relapse when addicts encounter people, places or paraphernalia associated with earlier drug use. Poverty and unemployment are also perceived as reasons for drug abuse (Ramlagan, Peltzer & Matseke, 2010:44). Employment opportunities are limited in South Africa and lack of education is also a contributing factor when employment is sought (National
Worldwide the numbers of older people in the population are increasing. Simultaneously the need for treatment programmes increases as more alcohol dependent people are growing into old age. Literature reviews revealed that groupwork programmes offered to older persons are exclusively problem-centred, while strengthsbased scholars suggest that following a strengths perspective may be more effective. The majority of studies tend to evaluate the outcomes of treatment programmes quantitatively. It was also found that South Africa, which adopted a developmental approach towards social welfare, lacks groupwork programmes specifi cally designed for alcohol dependent older persons. This article reports on the outcomes of a strengthsbased groupwork programme for alcohol dependent older persons. The programme is unique in the sense that it is based on a strengths perspective; it is reconcilable with South Africa's welfare approach; and follows a mixed methods research approach in order to evaluate the programme holistically. Eight respondents were randomly selected. The results, collected with a group administered questionnaire, show that the respondents' psychosocial functioning improved, in that: their repertoire of strengths increased and they have achieved, or are on a path towards, ego integrity. This programme is considered to be complementary to current treatment programmes.
Appropriate gerontological social work services are, amongst others, dependent on social workers' knowledge of and attitudes towards older persons. The current cohort of students, known as Generation Z, are global citizens. This study determined and described South African undergraduate social work students' knowledge of and attitudes towards older persons. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with B Social Work students (N = 395) at two universities. Data collection included the three scales of Palmore's First Facts of Aging Quiz in multiple-choice format (1996) and four scales of Fraboni's Scale of Ageism (1990). Age and five categorical factors were considered to determine their simultaneous impact on each of the seven scales/subscales of the two instruments by performing multi-way ANOVA models. An unexpected finding was that the factor 'completed a course in gerontology' did not have any impact on any scale. Year level of study, area of childhood residence and consideration to work exclusively with older persons after graduation simultaneously impacted respondents' 'overall attitude' towards older persons. Two factors (i.e., year level of study and area of childhood residence) mutually impacted respondents' 'overall knowledge' of aging. Recommendations for the training of Generation Z students are offered concerning course content and pedagogical interventions.
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