Focus Groups - Substance Abusers

SERVICE
Community Based Services: Substance Abuse

LEGISLATION THAT UNDERPINS THE SERVICE
Prevention and treatment of Drug Dependency Act 1992

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
Social workers render variety of community based prevention and social work services to population between 6 to 64 years on alcohol and drug dependence.

Specialized Service providers within the NGO sector render most of the above services and the Department pays subsidy to the NGOs in accordance with the financing policy.

PURPOSES/AIMS OF THE SERVICE
The aims of this service include;

• To promote a healthy and constructive lifestyle.
• To prevent alcohol and drug abuse and dependence.
• To provide therapeutic treatment to abusers and their families within the community.

THIS PROGRAMME RENDERS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES;

• Information and education.
• Development of social skills.
• Counseling.
• Services in terms of Act 20 of 1992, Act 41 of 1971 and Act 1 of 1971.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Initiation and implementation of appropriate community Projects such as self-help groups.
• Initiation and maintenance of committees and organizations.
• Recruitment, selection and training of volunteers who will be used to implement the programmes.

WHO RENDERS THE SERVICE
Social Workers and other Stakeholders.

QUALIFYING CRITERIA
This service targets;

• High risk groups in the community particularly youths.
• Persons of all ages who abuse alcohol and/or drugs and their families.
• Employees and employers

SERVICE
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers

DEFINITION OF SERVICE
Community Based Services: Treatment Centers for alcohol Abuse.

LEGISLATION THAT DIRECTS THE SERVICE?
Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act 1992

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
Outpatient and in-patient services are rendered to patients who abuse/dependent on alcohol/drugs.

Any person/s who abuse/are dependent on drugs (dependant producing substances) and can benefit from out patient/non-residential treatment In-patient treatment service is provided to; Persons dependent on drugs (dependence producing substances) who will benefit only from treatment in a residential facility.
Persons committed to treatment (registered Rehabilitation) center in terms of Act 20 of 1992, Act 41 of 1971 and Act 1 of 1971.

The in-patient centers provide the following services;

• Multi-disciplinary treatment include; medicine and nursing, social work, psychology, pastoral consultation, occupational therapy, psychiatry, family therapy etc.
• Development of social skills.
• After care.

The out-patient centers provide the following services;

• Information and education.
• Development of social skills.
• Counseling.
• Services in terms of Act 20/1992, Act 41/1971 and Act 1/1971.
• Employees Assistance Programme.
• Initiation and implementation of appropriate community projects such as self-help groups.
• Initiation and maintenance of committees and organizations.

AIMS OF THE SERVICE
The aims of this service include;

• To promote healthy and constructive lifestyle.
• To prevent alcohol and drug abuse dependence.
• To treat abuse and dependence effectively within the community.
• To effectively rehabilitate person/s who abuse/are dependent on (dependence-producing) drugs (Substances) whilst they reside in the community.
• Treatment of families of abusers/dependents affected by drug (and alcohol) related problems.

WHO RENDERS THE SERVICE?
Multi–disciplinary team made of Social Workers, Psychology, Psychiatry, and pastoral consultation, family therapy.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICE?
Any person/s who abuse/are dependent on drugs (dependant producing substances) and can benefit from out patient/non-residential treatment.

SERVICE
Hospice

DEFINITION OF SERVICE
Hospice for terminally ill people

LEGISLATION THAT DIRECTS THE SERVICE
N/A

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
Hospice is a community based non-residential facility that provides a specialized area of holistic care for people who are terminally ill and their families. It is made up of group of people from the community, some are salaried, but the majority is volunteers. Each person in hospice has made a decision to offer their caring skills and time to, people in the community who are not well.

There are day care or social clubs in hospice, which are run by volunteers. The terminally ill people in the community join in these clubs and spend their daytime away from home and most people in this club enjoy the break away from home.

AIMS OF THE SERVICE
The aims of this programme include;

• To establish and control a hospice programme of total care for the dying patient and his family which provides
  • a multi disciplinary, co-ordinated continuum of hospital and community care
  • palliative and supportive care to meet the needs which may arise out of the physical, emotional, spiritual, social and economic stresses associated with the final stages of illness, death and bereavement.
• To promote within the community and all sectors of the Medical services the concept of community care.

Hospice also provides pre-test and post test counseling to HIV/AIDS patients.

WHO RENDERS THE SERVICE?
The hospice care givers are mainly volunteers who are trained in this field. They work with people bereaved, people with cancer during their treatment or with people who are HIV + or AIDS.

Hospice has professional nurses who provides all forms of medical care and counseling services to terminally ill people. They try to dispel myths about HIV and AIDS by giving verbal and written information, educating the family with regard to nursing procedures involving body fluids, disposal of refuse, encouraging regular medical attention and eating and drinking habits.

Hospice programme is not a department of social development programme nationally. This programme has started in the Eastern Cape in 1997 due to the community need. It started with funding of 5 projects; one in Port Elizabeth, one in Grahams town, one in Cradock, One in East London and another one in Mthatha. All of these projects are still operational and presently there are 625 terminally ill people, majority of them are HIV/AIDS infected and affected patients, receiving service from these projects. All the above projects are sponsored and managed by NGOs/CBO's and the department pays a subsidy of R500 per person per month.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE SERVICE?
The service provides a specialized area of holistic care for people who are terminally ill and their families in a residential setting.