Service providers’ perceptions of substitute addictions in the Western Cape, South Africa
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Abstract
Globally little is known regarding substance use service providers’ perceptions of substitute behaviours
and this significant gap could hinder service provision and recovery outcomes. Semistructured
focus group discussions (including 22 service providers across five sites) were conducted
in residential treatment facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. Service providers recognised
substances (e.g. cigarettes and caffeine) and behaviours (e.g. gambling, eating, love, sex, shopping,
exercise, and gaming) as potential substitutes. Identified substitute motives included managing
cravings; self-medication; filling the experiential void of the primary substance, and time-spending.
Concurrent behaviours and addictions were believed to be a key mechanism underlying substitution
however, service providers did not uniformly screen for co-occurring behavioural addictions.
Substitute behaviours were primarily considered a pathway to relapse and service providers emphasised
prevention, detection and family education. To suitably intervene, screening for co-occurring
behaviours should be an integral part of the assessment of those presenting for substance use
treatment.
Description
Keywords
Substance use, Self-medication, Gambling, Western Cape, Education, Unemployment
Citation
Sinclair, D. L. et al. (2023). Service providers’ perceptions of substitute addictions in the Western Cape, South Africa. Journal of Drug Issues. 10.1177/00220426231159550