Social policy explanation
The chosen social welfare policy entails the provision of free treatment and home for drug addicts. As such, the social policy stands to speed up the recovery process for the drug addicts as part of their rehabilitation process. Therefore, the social welfare policy seeks to spearhead the development of a hospital in which the drug addicts should reside while receiving treatment for free. It is stipulated that reducing the number of drug addicts in Saudi Arabia would reduce crime rates in the country due to the high number of addicted individuals (Medhat, 2013). The social welfare policy would be developed in Saudi Arabia despite the fact that the country has prohibited the use of alcoholic beverages. Social welfare seeks to address post health impacts of some of the most abused drugs in Saudi Arabia, such as amphetamine, heroin, and alcohol. The study is conducted due to the high number of individuals seeking treatment at DARA drug and alcohol rehab in Saudi Arabia (Medhat, 2013). Therefore, the social welfare policy seeks to curb the increase in the number of secondary school students starting to engage in the societal vice. Lately, the trend in the abuse of heroin and cocaine has risen, necessitating the need to set up free treatments for drug addicts as part of social responsibility.
Research
Where did you conduct the research?
I conducted research from online sources exemplifying increased substance abuse in Saudi Arabia. The sources developed an insight into the need to provide free treatment to individuals undergoing rehabilitation from drug abuse. Online sources proved the most available since they provided perceptions held by social workers in providing help to the drug addicts. Besides, I used published reports and studies having a particular reference to the drug addiction in Saudi Arabia. The reports developed an insight the role played by Saudi Arabia’s social work department to address the concerns caused by the high numbers of drug addicts in the country (Medhat, 2013). The reports served as a reliable source of information since they provided community-based protection programs developed by social workers to help drug addicts to recover. Finally, databases were used to obtain information thus developing a first-line strategy in fighting the increased drugs and substance abuse in Saudi Arabia. The databases provided actual data from governmental agencies engaged in joint efforts with social workers to provide free treatment to drug addicts in the country.
What did you find out?
From the research sources, I found out that Saudi Arabia has been faced with a growing problem of drug abuse. As such, the number of drug addicts in the country has risen, thus raising concern over the provision of free treatment and homes for people to be treated. However, drug addicts face stigmatization which scare them from seeking treatment as they undertake the recovery process. Also, I found out that social and cultural restrictions in Saudi Arabia impede individuals from accepting being addicts (Ibrahim et al., 2018). As such, there is need to develop a strong social network system to identify addicts and subjected to the recovery process. The policy was enacted in 2011, with 18 hospitals having been set aside to cater to drug addicts. The policy was enacted due to the country’s dark history of jailing and deporting drug addicts with non-Saudi Arabia’s origin, which as against human rights as stipulated in social work.
What population of people does this social policy affect?
The policy affects the young generation who have indulged in drug and substance abuse in Saudi Arabia. For instance, the policy aims at secondary school students who start engaging in drug abuse. The policy is thus effective since it would curb the societal vice before getting out of control at an early stage. The students are therefore provided with free treatment and housing to help speed up the recovery process. Also, the policy affects the local population due to its vulnerability to drug addiction (Ibrahim et al., 2018). So, the social welfare policy aims at identifying the vulnerable population in the local setting through the development of a sustainable and coordinated program. Finally, the policy targets the already addicted population to offer the needed treatment and private housing to help in their recovery process. Addicts thus form the target population for the policy since they must be helped in their recovery. Thus, facilities need to be developed to treat patients with drug addictions to help achieve an economically sustainable society.
Is this policy responsible for oppressing any particular group?
The policy is not oppressive to any particular group in Saudi Arabia’s society. The social welfare policy is thus committed to helping the vulnerable groups such as the students and addicts. So, the policy is developed in a manner that counsels the target groups through the provision of art therapy to help overcome post addiction effects (Deacon, 2013). Consequently, the policy is protecting the addicted groups from oppression and rejection from the society. Addicts are often faced with stress and lack of personal confidence thus compelling social workers through the policy to offer relapse protection. The provision of free treatment and private housing stands to increase social inclusion as they undergo some of the critical stages in the recovery process (Deacon, 2013). The policy protects the addicts by promoting a zero-tolerance approach to the use of illegal drugs through the application of holistic elements in the treatment process. Therefore, the policy utilizes a mindfulness meditation to protect the social group by treating mental problems developed due to drug abuse.
Movements currently addressing this policy
The Sharia law in Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront to address the concerns of drug addicts seeking treatment. As such, Islamic law has banned the use of alcoholic drinks in the country, but the measure has not been effective in combating the menace. Saudi Arabia is heavily indebted to the use of other drugs such as cocaine, thus increasing the addiction rates. Currently, there are no social movements addressing the policy although other activism activities such as o women empowerment have been carried out over the last decade (Deacon, 2013). However, legislations are being formulated to provide free treatment for the drug addicts seeking treatment. Besides, guidelines have been put by Saudi Arabia’s government to ensure the addicts are provided with private housing during the recovery process. However, the proposals have faced huge setbacks due to the inefficiency of social workers to coordinate the slated activism initiatives.
Roles of the social worker
A social worker might encounter the social policy at the micro-level through individual counseling of individuals seeking treatment. The counselling would be provided at the private housing facilities which the social welfare policy seeks to provide to the drug addicts. As such, at the micro-levels, the social workers would be equipped to protect the vulnerable groups, thus help address mental problems caused by drug addiction. However, at the macro-level of intervention, a social worker encounters the policy through work research and program developments (Map, 2016). For instance, a social worker may encounter the policy while developing a program for a community-based education initiative which provide drug addicts with the necessary information in the rehabilitation process. At this level of intervention, a social worker is involved in policy analysis in governmental organizations seeking to help drug addicts fully recover (Map, 2016).
There are numerous ethical dilemmas and value conflicts that may come into play whenever a social worker encounters the policy both at the micro and macro levels. For instance, the values of a social worker may deviate from the professional code of ethics which governs any activity carried out in social work (Zembylas & McGlynn, 2012). Hence, the social worker may perceive the problem as complicated since it involves high stake problems having irreversible repercussions. Also, a social worker may decide to break confidentiality for the good of their client. As such, social policy is based on the development of disciplines and regulations engaging the worker in ethical dilemma. However, the NASW code of ethics stipulate that social workers should be committed to uphold professional values and act in accordance to ethics (Zembylas & McGlynn, 2012). Also, the code of ethics upholds the need for reliable, ethical judgments based on specific situations.
Reflection
The social welfare policy corresponds to the practicum placement, advocacy project, and social movement since they articulate the need to help the vulnerable populations. For instance, the advocacy project stipulates the need to provide private housing for drug addicts as they undergo the rehabilitation process. Also, the advocacy projects spearheads to provide free treatment thus luring more drug addicts into undertaking the rehabilitation process since it is a noble. The practicum placement also provided an opportunity to familiarize with the roles of a social worker which corresponds to the development of the policy. Moreover, the social movement empowered women since they have for long been apprehended as minors in society (Ibrahim et al., 2018). the social movement provided insight into women’s struggles as they aimed at achieving equality, which in this case represents the drug addicts since they are a vulnerable group.
As a social worker, the policy needs to provide a better quality of life for drug addicts beyond offering private housing and free treatment. The policy needs to provide the addicts with a sustainable source of earning to support themselves beyond the rehabilitation program. Therefore, the treated drug addicts would be engaged in economic development, thus reducing crime rates in Saudi Arabia. Besides, the policy should ensure the drug addicts are involved in constructive economic activities to cushion them societal problems due to drug addiction. As a result, stronger communities would be formed in conjunction with the critical role played by social workers. The policy should, therefore, be focused on ensuring that the drug addicts do not engage in further societal problems.
References
Deacon, B. (2013). Global social policy in the making: The foundations of the social protection floor. Policy Press.
Ibrahim, Y., Hussain, S. M., Alnasser, S., Almohandes, H., & Sarhandi, I. (2018). Patterns and sociodemographic characteristics of substance abuse in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia: a retrospective study at a psychiatric rehabilitation center. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 38(5), 319-325.
Map, S. W. L. (2016). Macro, mezzo, and micro social work.
Medhat, B. (2013). Substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: a review article. Journal of substance use, 18, 450-466.
Zembylas, M., & McGlynn, C. (2012). Discomforting pedagogies: Emotional tensions, ethical dilemmas, and transformative possibilities. British Educational Research Journal, 38(1), 41-59.