Drug abuse workshop held
Occupational therapists from the Ron Smith and Thembalami care centres also attended the workshop.
A workshop addressing drug-related issues was held at the Rand Aid Association’s Wedge Gardens treatment centre on Thursday, June 19.
Occupational therapist lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand, Ms Antonette Owen, gave a presentation titled, Group work with cognitively lower functioning clients.
Occupational therapists from the Ron Smith and Thembalami care centres also attended the workshop.
“Repeated substance abuse causes disruptions in the brain’s frontal cortex, which regulates cognitive activities such as decision-making, response inhibition, planning and memory,” said the Wedge Gardens clinical psychologist Ms Ilse Barnard.
“Addicts therefore lose the ability to weigh up the consequences of their actions. Occupational therapy can be used to positively influence behaviour and skills,” she said.
@Modder_Journo
