Aftercare to chemically addicted adolescents: An exploration of their needs
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
OASIS
Abstract
Treatment of chemical addiction includes preparation for treatment, formal treatment and
aftercare. The latter appears to be a neglected area in service delivery to chemically addicted
adolescents, contributing to the high relapse potential following treatment. The current
qualitative study aimed at both exploring and describing the aftercare needs of chemically
addicted adolescents. The chemically addicted adolescents included in this study received
in-patient treatment as well as aftercare, but nonetheless experienced a relapse; necessitating
further in-patient treatment. Purposive sampling was implemented to recruit 31 participants
between the ages of 14 and 20 years. The sample size was determined by data saturation. Data
for this exploratory, descriptive and contextual study were collected by means of narrative
inquiry. Tesch’s framework for qualitative data analysis was employed and data verification
was conducted through Guba’s model. The findings illustrated a need to attend to adolescents
intrapersonal and interpersonal as well as environmental needs following treatment. The
results can provide service providers with focus areas to be included in aftercare services to
these adolescents.
Description
Keywords
aftercare, Chemically addicted, Adolescent
Citation
Van der Westhuizen, M. et al. (2013). Aftercare to chemically addicted adolescents: An exploration of their needs. Health SA Gesondheid 18(1): Art. #599, 11 pages.