The focus of this study is the relevance and effectiveness of the support structures available to high school learners with substance abuse problems. This research was confined to learners in Eersterust, a township situated to the east of Pretoria. Substance abuse, especially among high school learners in South Africa and in Eersterust, has increased in recent years. Substance abuse obviously poses a major barrier to learning. Along with poor academic motivation, this problem seriously interferes with learners’ academic performance and results in lower educational achievement. As an institution, the school is not able to provide support to these learners and so is obliged to link them with support structures such as the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependance (SANCA) and the National Youth Development Outreach (NYDO). / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

by Connie Wong Sau Ying. / Includes questionnaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-81). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.viii / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.ix / CHAPTER / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.1 / Substance Abuse: Definition and Consequences --- p.1 / Prevalence of Substance Abuse Amongst Adolescents in Hong Kong and the States / Antecedents of Substance Abuse --- p.4 / Role of Family --- p.5 / Role of Peer Influences --- p.7 / Individual Difference Variables --- p.8 / A Conceptual Model on Adolescent Substance Use --- p.12 / Purposes of the Research --- p.13 / Chapter 2 --- METHOD --- p.16 / Participants --- p.16 / Measures --- p.22 / Procedure --- p.26 / Chapter 3 --- RESULTS --- p.27 / Internal Consistency of Measures --- p.27 / Mean Prevalence Rates: Proportion of Participants Using Substances --- p.27 / Poly Substance Users --- p.31 / Means Comparison for Drug Use Frequency --- p.32 / Means Comparison for Psychosocial Variables --- p.35 / Intercorrelations Among Psychosocial Variables --- p.37 / Correlations Between Psychosocial Variables and Drug Use Frequency --- p.41 / Multiple Regression Analyses on Drug Use Measures --- p.47 / Distal and Proximal Antecedents of Drug Use: A Structural Model --- p.51 / Chapter 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.64 / REFERENCES --- p.74 / APPENDICES --- p.82 / A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE STUDY --- p.82

The focus of this study is the relevance and effectiveness of the support structures available to high school learners with substance abuse problems. This research was confined to learners in Eersterust, a township situated to the east of Pretoria. Substance abuse, especially among high school learners in South Africa and in Eersterust, has increased in recent years. Substance abuse obviously poses a major barrier to learning. Along with poor academic motivation, this problem seriously interferes with learners’ academic performance and results in lower educational achievement. As an institution, the school is not able to provide support to these learners and so is obliged to link them with support structures such as the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependance (SANCA) and the National Youth Development Outreach (NYDO). / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude, behavioural issues and other contributing factors for alcohol and substance abuse, in order to develop a strategy for alcohol and substance abuse among Ethiopian university students. Method: An explorative, mixed method approach research was used. Data were collected from adolescents at Arbaminch and Wolaita Sodo universities that were purposively selected for this study. Review of literature resulted in the researcher developing questionnaire items for quantitative data (N=738) (Annexure F). Framework: The theory of planned behavior change was applied to guide the study. The theory was applied to enable understanding of behavioural intentions, individual attitudes and subjective norms surrounding performance of a specific behavior. This theory was applied to understand the problem among the student and as a framework for developing the strategy. Research Findings: The study highlighted alcohol and substance abuse among the university students was widespread. Behavioural findings showed that respondents have favorable attitudes but no intention to discontinue the use of alcohol and substances. Various factors including behavioural, environmental and policy issues have contributed to the problem. However, intervention packages and strategies to respond to the growing problem were non-existent or very minimal. Conclusion: Alcohol and substance abuse among university students has become global public health problem. However, university management did not have plans in place to attend to the problem. The researcher envisages that the implementation of these strategies would provide a workable intervention in reducing alcohol and substance abuse among students at the Ethiopian Higher Learning Centres. Recommendations: University management should step in and initiate urgent intervention measures. Adequate coordination among various stakeholders to respond to such a multi-dimensional problem is a necessity. The parliament has to revisit the current alcohol, drug and substance advertisement, circulation and trading related legislations including the use of ‘Khat which is Ethiopia’s unique problem. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)