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Audit of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities in ... - SA HealthInfo

Audit of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities in ... - SA HealthInfo

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PART 4: DISCUSSION OF KEY FINDINGSWhile substance abuse treatment facilities <strong>in</strong> Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, NorthWest and Northern Cape <strong>of</strong>fer a range <strong>of</strong> services to clients, this audit shows that accessto services varies extensively among facilities. The follow<strong>in</strong>g sections describe theavailability <strong>of</strong> substance abuse treatment, the range <strong>of</strong> services provided, and the extent towhich barriers to enter<strong>in</strong>g, engag<strong>in</strong>g and be<strong>in</strong>g reta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> treatment for clients fromhistorically underserved groups are addressed by treatment facilities. Variations <strong>in</strong> thesecomponents <strong>of</strong> access are discussed <strong>in</strong> the light <strong>of</strong> facility characteristics, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gstaff<strong>in</strong>g resources and the organisational environment; as well as <strong>in</strong> the light <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>imumnorms and standards for treatment facilities. F<strong>in</strong>ally, recommendations are made forimprov<strong>in</strong>g the accessibility and quality <strong>of</strong> treatment services.4.1. AVAILABILITY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICESThis study exam<strong>in</strong>ed the availability <strong>of</strong> substance abuse treatment services (<strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong>treatment capacity), the extent to which available treatment slots are utilised (<strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong>treatment occupancy rates), the demand for treatment services (<strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> wait<strong>in</strong>g lists),and the extent to which available treatment slots are effectively used (<strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> clientretention rates). Availability <strong>of</strong> services is an important variable to exam<strong>in</strong>e as lowavailability may act as a barrier to access<strong>in</strong>g services; even when there are high levels <strong>of</strong>perceived need (Appel et al., 2004).4.1.1. Availability <strong>of</strong> treatment servicesThe availability <strong>of</strong> substance abuse treatment services appears to be greater <strong>in</strong>Mpumalanga, with f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs suggest<strong>in</strong>g that facilities <strong>in</strong> Mpumalanga have moretreatment slots available and treat greater numbers <strong>of</strong> clients than facilities <strong>in</strong> the FreeState, Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape.4.1.2. Utilisation <strong>of</strong> and demand for available treatment slotsWe also exam<strong>in</strong>ed the extent to which available treatment slots are utilised. For theoverall sample, just over half <strong>of</strong> the available treatment slots are occupied on an annualbasis. Although this occupancy rate is relatively high, the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g that a third <strong>of</strong> slotsrema<strong>in</strong> unoccupied is still cause for concern given the high demand for substance abusetreatment services. This demand for treatment services is reflected <strong>in</strong> the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g that 765

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