- Title
- Evaluating the contributions of selected drug rehabilitation centres in Gauteng : towards ameliorating the drug problem in South Africa
- Creator
- Makuyana, Abigail
- Subject
- Rehabilitation centers -- South Africa -- Gauteng Substance abuse -- Rehabilitation Addicts -- Rehabilitation
- Date Issued
- 2017
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Doctoral
- Type
- PhD
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8876
- Identifier
- vital:33703
- Description
- This study aimed at evaluating the contributions of two (2) selected rehabilitation centres to the goal of ameliorating the substance abuse problem in Gauteng. The study utilized a methodological triangulation approach for data collection, but with greater emphasis on qualitative methods. The study collected its qualitative data from four focus groups conducted with 32 participants and six key informants who were subjected to in-depth interviews. The quantitative aspect of the study made use of a mini-survey in which one hundred (100) questionnaires were distributed amongst the primary caregivers of recovering drug and substance abusers. The major findings of the study pointed out that rehabilitation centres were unequivocally contributing to the goal of ameliorating substance abuse in Gauteng and, by extension, South Africa. Among some of the outstanding contributions of the rehabilitation centres was the provision of a non-judgmental and supportive therapeutic environment for clients to recover. It was also observed that rehabilitation centres were acting as character reformatories for substance abusers, and, thus, aiding their easy reintegration back into their families, societies and work places. The study also found out that the selected rehabilitation centres were providing ample admission periods and competent counselling services for their clients to navigate their way to recovery. The study unearthed new trends in the substance abuse landscape of Gauteng. Firstly, it was established that more educated people were falling into substance abuse usage. Secondly, the drugs which were rendering users more amenable to rehabilitation were noted to be highly potent. The high potency was noted to be responsible for extreme difficulties in withdrawal and rehabilitation. This was, therefore, noted to accentuate the imperativeness of the role and contributions of rehabilitation centres in helping drug users to achieve recovery in an environment that was supportive, nurturing and safe. It is, therefore, on the basis of these fundamental findings that this study concluded that the contributions of rehabilitation centres were not only important in the fight against drug and substance abuse, but were also a necessary precondition in this endeavour. Conversely, it was established that the contributions of the rehabilitation centres were being thwarted by exorbitant and extortionate treatment fees charged by the rehabilitation centres. More so, rehabilitation centres faced the dire challenge of poor visibility due to the poor marketing of services, as well as their location in affluent or remote areas which are mainly accessible only through private transport. This means that some people, especially the rural and the urban poor, were not equitably benefiting from the services of the rehabilitation centres. The study observed that women, girls and children in general were largely excluded from benefiting from the services of the rehabilitation centres. The research closed off by recommending to rehabilitation centres that they ought to address administrative gaps such as embracing and practising social, linguistic, dietary and gender sensitivity in their programmes to ensure that they remain relevant to their clients while also reflecting the diversity in South Africa. Recommendations were also made to the government to intervene and moderate the pricing of substance abuse treatment services, by making them reflect the country’s socioeconomic inequalities.
- Format
- 292 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
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UFH Department of Social Work & Social Development
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Abigail Makuyana 200909479 Finale Phd Thesis.pdf | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |