Social work practice in the rehabilitation of young people with drug abuse problems in Sierra Leone: A qualitative study using tew’s matrix

Abstract

The study explored the social work roles, the challenges they face and their suggestions to improve rehabilitation services with young people addicted to drug abuse in Sierra Leone. The research questions focused on social workers’ roles, the challenges they face in practice, and the improvements they suggest to enhance rehabilitation services. A qualitative, exploratory research design was used, involving semi-structured interviews, using purposive sampling to select 15 social workers from government institutions, NGOs, and CBOs involved in rehabilitation. Thematic inductive analysis was used to identify patterns and themes related to social work with drug abuse rehabilitation. The key findings from this study indicated that social workers perform multiple roles in rehabilitation, including performing comprehensive assessments, developing individual care plans, providing counselling and psychosocial support, promoting client empowerment and participation, providing case management and referrals, and supporting recovery and reintegration into the community. Their practice, however, is affected by many challenges, which include funding limitations, staff shortages, high workloads, policy issues, stigma and discrimination, cultural views on addiction, and little family and local community support. Participants' suggestions to improve their practice include policy changes, decentralisation of rehabilitation centres, increased funding, professional training, greater cooperation between institutions, community-based awareness programs, youth empowerment, and mentorship. In conclusion, the findings suggest that social workers actively contribute to the rehabilitation of young people with drug abuse problems in Sierra Leone, although structural, social, and institutional barriers constrain their practice. However, strengthening policy and development of professional capacity, expansion of rehabilitation services, and the promotion of family and community participation are key to better rehabilitation practices with young people’s sustainable recovery from drug addiction in Sierra Leone.