Drug abuse by teenagers is a problem encountered by educators in South African schools. This study focuses on the reasons for, and the consequences of teenage drug abuse in one school in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth. The main aim of this study was to formulate strategies which school managers can use to alleviate the problem of drug abuse among learners. A naturalistic approach was followed to conduct qualitative research. The research design used is a case study. Data-collection techniques consisted of semi-structured and unstructured interviews, observations and questionnaires. Respondents consisted of 150 learners, 5 parents, 10 educators from the school, 2 social workers and 1 auxiliary social worker, 2 priests involved in Youth Ministry, 1 adult involved in running a drug rehabilitation centre, and 1 ex-addict who is involved in arranging drug awareness campaigns and rehabilitation programs. This study found family aspects and family dynamics, personal aspects and the self-concept of the teenager, and societal or environmental aspects to be the main reasons for teenage drug abuse. Drugs have an adverse effect on the community within which the abuse is occurring. It also has a negative effect on the health, psychological state, behaviour and the family of the teenager. Strategies to alleviate the problem emphasise the role which the school can play in terms of drug education for educators, learners and parents; the role of the Government in allocating additional funds for drug education; the role which the church can play in terms of drug education and providing opportunities for positive interactions with peers; and the role which the media can play in influencing the decisions of teenagers.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nmmu/vital:9545 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Jacobs, Lee-Ann |
| Publisher | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Education |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MEd |
| Format | x, 73 leaves, pdf |
| Rights | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
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