Category: Teenage Drug Abuse

Many students face numerous threats, including drug misuse, struggle, and medical issues. Responding to these risks sedates before they become progressively genuine issues can be extreme. One of the motivations behind managing drug misuse is to urge the general population to comprehend the issues of medication misuse and to stop its begin. Drug abuse has dangerous results in our families, colleges, and communities. The use of all illegal drugs and the inappropriate use of licit drugs is considered drug abuse. Students who try these drugs put their life and health at danger.

Making healthy choices it is important for teens and we should help stop teen drug abuse by talking to them about the bad effects of doing these drugs. Giving awareness about drug abuse can be very important and essential to help them. Drug abuse can affect students brains, healths, and relationships and all student should be aware of how these drugs are dangerous. This awareness can help them understand the possible damage that could happen or the damage that has already occurred. According to a scholarly journal article, “The non-medical use of prescription stimulants represents a high-risk behavior that should be monitored further and intervention efforts are needed to curb this form of drug use” (Non-medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students). Drug abuse education is all the necessary information about what treatment needs and required to make everybody involved in the potential outcome. Teaching people about drug and alcohol abuse and how to avoid, stop, or get help for drug use disorders, and this can start at a young age is the main focus of drug abuse education. When parents educated their kids that when education started, and in schools, we need to create a program about drug abuse awareness and all the potential dangers. For all students, drug abuse education should be incorporated into the school curriculum as well.

The parents who want to learn and understand about drug abuse(they can share the information with their kids) can attend classes, club meetings, and research data online in order to learn deeper about the topic and become educated regarding drug abuse for their kids. Drug abuse education is important for kids, teens, and adults alike; there are many misunderstandings about generally used legal and banned drugs, such as alcohol and marijuana. Ensuring that children are educated about drugs can help to stop them from using drugs, mainly ones that are made to seem harmless, but are in fact quite addictive or dangerous to the body. Helping adults understand the outcomes of drug use can anticipate an issue from developing and can furnish the data they can impart to their kids to anticipate later issues.

Having knowledge is power and with accurate information about the subject, parents will be more likely to make a fact-based and educated choice. When educating people, all drugs should be treated, regardless of the power or perceived risk of hurt. While pills, cocaine, and methamphetamine are seen as “strong drugs,” and therefore have serious consequences, “secondary drugs,” for instance marijuana and alcohol can still be addictive and are usually damaged. Individuals of any age ought to know about the harm that all medications and liquor can possibly do to the body, brain. Knowledge and awareness can change people perspective about drug use and help any student to avoid using these drugs. When students know and be aware of the damage and risks of cigarette and marijuana, there less chance to get addicted and the usage will decrease among all students.

In contrast, banning the drugs and avoiding selling them it is not a good way to decrease the drug use among student because there are many students with anxiety and ADHD problem that need to use medication such as Adderall and marijuana to prevent this issue. So, banning all forms of these drugs and limit student is not a good method to avoid drug abuse such as alcohol and marijuana. They are already in school and student may know so they have to be aware of the damages to don’t let any drug destroy the body and mind of our student. However, high school and college students are more at risk of drug abuse and they are on target. Moreover, a “survey found that 44% of high school students know a classmate who sells drugs at school, and 60% say that drugs are available on campus. Marijuana was the most-sold on school grounds, students said, as well as prescription drugs, cocaine, and ecstasy” (Carl Azuz – CNN). So, Instead of banning these drugs or limit the children’s, we have to give them the knowledge and be aware of the consequences of these drugs so they can have the knowledge they need to make the best, healthiest decisions.

Educational institutions portray an important role in furnishing students with a bright future.But the question arises,“Is the future of students secure in educational institutions which are at a higher risk of drug abuse?” Drugs cripple the future of students thoroughly. The percentage of students suffering from this heinous act is increasing day by day. Drug abuse in educational institutions has become a world wide issue.Private institutions are more susceptible to drug abuse as comared to government sectors.According to a survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse,almost 17% students in American high schools are using legal drugs.About 6% studnts in high schools of Egypt are becoming obsessive of this abhorrent act.Similarly, In US 37% of college students are addicted to illicit use of drugs.According to a report in UK, two out of five students in universities are accustomed to drugs.The rate of drug abuse in Canada,Iran,Toronto,Brazil and Italy is also alarming.Where the whole world is confronting this grave issue,Pakistan is also not exempted from this curse. In whole country out of 9 million drug addicts 2 million are in between age of 15-25.Almost 50% students are addicted in schools and universities of Islamabad and Lahore.Pakistan and the whole world is endeavouring to venture out from this drug abyss.Every year,United Nations International day against drugs and illicit use of subsance abuse is ceremonialized on June 26.United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime(UNDOC)decides a theme every year to consolidate its enterprises and educational institutions against drug trafficking to counteract the deleterious effects of drug abuse.In 2019,the slogan of this International day was’Health for Justice,Justice for Health’.This slogan stands in for,the effectual comeback to this worldwide drug issue calls for proper organizations and institutions to combat criminal injustice and health implications imparted to students and young generation.Health is one side and justice is the flip side of the same coin.United Nations predates satisfactory after effects of such exertions because what a country and a nation needs is the economic progression and a secure future of students who are the future of a sovereign state.So,effective proceedings should be there to impede drug abuse among students in colleges and universities.

Almost in every institution of a country a substantial proportion of students is using drugs either soft, hard or psychoactive.In Toronto,about 6447 students are addicted to soft drugs in grades 7,8,11 and 13.Soft drugs like Chhaliya,weed,Pan,Hashish,gutka are common in high schools and thus every student is falling for their usage easily.And its beyond doubt,if school students are using these drugs,college and university students are also not absolved of this felony. These light drugs bring students into being for hard drugs like Heroin,Opium,Cocaine,Crystal meth,ectasy,Marijuana,reefer etc.These drugs are as poisonous as Cyanide and I call these drugs “slow cyanide” as they gradually put an end to a person’s life ,thus assassinating a number of lives,dreams,aspirations ambitions and hopes affiliated with student’s kin,friends,teachers and the students themselves.As a whole,drugs numb the future of students with almost no chances of revival.

Drug abuse in schools is becoming the most pandemic situation.As per report of Senior Anti-Narcotics Officer,drug abuse rate is more startling in elite schools.According to a research conducted by Center on Addiction,about 50% of teens take admission in high schools where legal drugs are being traded in and are easily available in grounds,canteens and from seniors.The age at which students are enrolled at schools is very sensitive and more susceptible to misdeeds as well as swift learning.But it depends on the environment of schools laid out for students.If there are promising rules and regulations regarding drug resistance then there are shallow chances for students to fall for drug abuse.

Colleges are also tempted to drug use at a high proportion worldwide.In this combative high society,every one wants to fit in a particular situation. So do the college students as they experience a totally new environment in colleges. They encounter a sense of freedom and independence which was not there for them in schools.And this may be the very reason of students being coaxed According to an interim report of Harvard School of Public Health,about 47% college students have tried marijuana,weed and reefer(cannabis cigarette used as psychoactive drug)at least once and 30%of them have confessed using them.But the question arises,”what is the initiative of students which yank them into this peril of drug abyss?”Are students enchanted with drugs by themselves or being dragged by some extraneous factors.The answer to this lies in the question itself,as both factors take account of this fact.There is a significant number of drug dealers including some students in educational institutions who provide students with hashish,cocaine and marijuana.Marijuana also called as weed or cannabis when sold is in powdered form and is used as a mind altering drug.The National center on Addiction and Drug Abuse found in a report,12.7%of college students use it at least once.It can be eaten by mixing it in cup cakes,coffee,cookies etc.Thus,it is easily accessible in colleges and universities or at peddlers outside the universities.

Alcohol is the most regular drug abused almost in every institution .If a drug is more easy to access,students are more liable to its addiction.Parties and concerts are common in colleges and universities and drugs are also there for the purpose of jollity.Some students originally come across with alcohol and many other drugs in these parties and gradually fall prey to hard drugs.

Bringe drinking is the upshot of alcohol abuse.Bringe drinking is the abuse of 4 drinks of alcohol or beer by woman and 5 drinks for man within 2 hours.Sometimes bringe drinking causes immediate death for students who have never encountered alcohol before.According to National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University,anually 1700 students directly die from alcohol poisoning. Greek system students are 26% more at risk of bringe drinking.

Drug abuse in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad is increasing briskly and this is ascribed to the conributory laxity of ministry of education and federal police.They are baffeling the whole nation and the institutions of which they are authorised in a way that they are concerned about the future and lives of students,but in actuality they have nothing to do with this deed of convenant.All these charade personalities are there just for double-dealing.Although some praise-worthy people are there in but they are just equal to not being in. Because a person with knowledge and know-how but not in power or sovereignty is bootless.

Abstract

Maldives has been categorized as Paradise in the world. Beyond the waving palm trees, sandy beaches and crystal clear water there is this ugly horrible problem of drug abuse among. Maldives being hundred percentage Muslim community drugs and alcohol is strictly prohibited. It’s against Muslim religion to use any kinds of drugs which diverts the normal brain function of a human being. However, drugs are now widely and increasingly used and abused in the Maldives. Drug addiction has been a curse for the teenagers in Maldives. Teenagers and youth have turned their life into a deadly disastrous addiction which not only threatens the society but the religion and the economy as well. Drug abuse by teenagers is highly increasing day by day which is extreme problem. We are dire need to understand the reasons why these deadly drugs are being used among our children. This study will be conducted to identify the causes of this alarming tendency among teenagers in Maldives. This study is very much significant for the betterment of the society because many parents are unaware of the severity of the issue that a nation of adolescents and teens are facing. This research will be based on a survey and the respondent (i.e. teenagers in Maldives) will be selected using snowball techniques from selected spots in Maldives. This study will help us to know the present scenario of drug addiction among teenagers Maldives and suggest the way to eliminate this dangerous situation.

Introduction

Introduction of the topic:

Drug abuse is a burning issue in Maldives. Every year a large number of peoples are affected by drugs. Drug abuse among teenagers in Maldives is highly increasing day by day. Drug abuse being a serious criminal offence in Maldives it thus leads to many other criminal activities as well. Teen drug abuse can lead to huge problems for our youth, starting from problems with normal brain development to severe damage to personal relationships. As a developing country drug abuse directly influences the economic and social aspects of a country. Its very alarming that recently teenagers who are abusing drugs and committing criminal activities are addicts who can go to any extent to get it. So its utmost important of identify the causes behind the addiction of these drugs. This research project will provide with the possible causes of teenagers abusing. In addition it will focus on the present scenario of drug abuse among teenagers in Maldives.

Problem Statement:

The importance of understanding the reasons behind abusing drugs is extremely important to invent strategies to prevent drug abuse among teenagers. Since the teenagers are abusing drugs due to various reasons, the Muslim society of Maldives is very concerned about this problem. If this disastrous problem cannot be removed from our society, then our future generation will be fully collapsed and finally our society will be dropped at the edge of destruction. Many countries are identifying the causes behind drug abuses among different age groups within their country. However, there has been no such research done in Maldives highlighting the causes and impacts of drug abuses among teenagers. The fact that there is no known study in the region that has ever sought to address the problem of drug abuse among teenagers in Maldives is a justification why this research is important. In this study it will identify the causes of drug abuse and impacts of it in the society. More specifically, the following research question will be addressed:

1. What is the rate of drug abuse by teenagers in Maldives?
2. What are the typical socio-economic factors behind drug abuse?
3. What are the impacts of drug abuse to the society?

How to prevent drug abuse among teenagers and what resources and treatment are available to drug abusers?

Objectives:

The long term goal of the research is to identify the causes of drug abuse among teenagers and to suggest relative measures to prevent the abusing of drugs. The objective of current study is to provide regulatory authorities, parents and the society comprehensive ideas about the reasons behind teenagers involving in drugs and to make them understand the impact of these measures. Particularly, the study has the following sub-objectives:

1. To know the present status of drug abuse by teenagers in Maldives.
2. To identify their socio-economic condition.
3. To investigate strategies for prevention of drug abuse among teenagers in Maldives.
4. To recommend how the problem can be uprooted.

The result of this study will be valuable to parents as well as regulatory authorities in identifying the causes and preventive measures among teenagers in the Maldives.

Research Hypothesis:

The Hypothesis taken on this research are converted by forming a simple hypothesis.

Operational Definition of Terms:

• Drug abuse – Drug abuse is the non- medical use of drugs that destroys health and productive life of an individual.
• Drug Addiction – substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
• Drug dependency – A physical and or a psychological need for a mood- altering substance.
• Drug- Is any substance that, when absorbed in to the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function.
• Teenagers – a person aged between 13 and 19 years.

Literature Review

A large number of articles have been written about the causes of drug abuse. Some of them were about specific group such as why large number of youth is involved in this destruction. As (Alireza Didarloo, 2012) research on identifying high risk behavior among students in Zahen University stated there are major two factors of drug abuse which are individual and family factors. Individual factors are more precisely categorized as factors such as emotional stress, loneliness and anxiety etc. This literature review shows that past studies on drug abuse were for specific group of people carried on different geographical locations. As (Adyb, 2014) have addressed on the consequences of drug abuse as the biggest obstacle in social development of Maldives. It was also included that drug abuse among youth was mainly because of lack of employment opportunities, over population on the tiny islands etc. On the basis of literature by (Spooner, 1999) factors which leads to abusing of drugs were summarized as lack of socializing, poor family relationships, emotional and psychological problems. A research by an educational journal (Most students think taking illegal, 2018) identified reasons for school students take drugs and concluded most of them feel pressurized by their peers, emotional problems as such difficulties with exams. The research was mainly focus on the problems which arises after abusing drugs such as mental issues and emotional issues. There were also researches on prevention (Roe & Becker, 2005) for drug prevention on vulnerable young people for finding the evaluations on drug abuse. A research on analysis of a high school drug education text by (Tupper, 2008) shows importance of drug education to school students. Another survey (Crime, 2003) was conducted on schools for surveying drug abuse. There were also researches by different countries to assess the increasing rate and causes of drug abuse see (Sharma, 2017) which was specifically focus on Punjab. (Rathod, 2017) Was a regional research focus for Indian young generations for abusing a specific type of drug.

Methodology:

Study location:

Drug Court, National Drug Agency, Half Way House in Hulhumale’, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in K.Himmafushi, Treatment centers in Addu and Fuvahmulah. Participants will be selected randomly from each location.

Subjects or Participants:

For this study teenagers who have used drugs once or more will be the respondent. To conduct this study snow ball sampling will be used. There are more than 1000 teenagers in Maldives who have used drugs once or more according to the drug court of Maldives statistics 2018. The theoretical population of this study will be among these 1000 teenagers. However, the reachable population of this study will be 500 from all of the study location. Finally, the sampling frame of this study will be 500 teenagers including 50 female and 480 male. This selection will be purely done by the basis of random sampling among the drug abused teenagers in Maldives.

Instruments:

In this study the research survey method will be used to get the data from the respondents. The primary data will be collected through questionnaire which will be including 8-15 questions. The first 5 questions will be open minded questions and will be structured in a proper way to gain the data collections. Questionnaires will be potential to large number of people and will be easy to accumulate data.

Method:

The research method use in this study will be qualitative method approach for gathering data and simplifying the data from the respondents. This method will help to gain data from facts events and reality (Creswell, 2010). The data will be gathered by discussing questionnaires with in depth interviews.

Procedure:

The selection of data will be started with the identification of number of males and females drug abusers among teenagers in Maldives. The respondents will be asked for consent and approval prior to giving the questionnaires. The respondents will be provided assurance on confidentiality. The questionnaires will then be distributed to the respondents within a time limit to complete. If any respondent stops answering in a midway of the survey the form will go to the rejection box. For simplicity answers will be structured in open ended answers for the participants who feel reluctant to fill. Verbal reasoning questions will be distributed to more willingly accepting kind of teenagers who are willing to provide their thoughts.

Data Analysis:

Once all the required data’s are collected using questionnaires all the information obtained will be organized and arranged in relation to the relevant search question accordingly. The data’s then will be organized and analyses by computer using statistical software SPSS. Deductive approach will be used to analyze the data.

Expected Results:

If the study is carried according to the procedures and after analyzing the data it is expected that the causes of drug abuse amongst teenagers will be as follows:

• Peer pressure
• Availability of drugs
• Family disputes
• Teenage curiosity
• Stress at home
• Emotional stress

Budget:

• Research assistant’s fees
• Food and travel costs
• Questionnaire forms
• Appointment costs
• Accommodation and stay costs

Time frame:

• Selection of interviewers 1 week
• Designing the questionnaire 1 week
• Conducting interview 3 week
• Analyzing the data 4 week
• Drafting the report 2 week
• Writing the final report 3 weeks

Limitations of the Study:

• Limitations of the study on the causes of drug abuse amongst teenagers are this consists of respondent who are not so well matured and as such respondents might be afraid to provide information because of the fear of getting victimized.
• The time frame for conducting this research is limited due to shortage of time.
• There might be bias due to small sample size of the research.

Significance of the Study:

• These findings will enable to get the information on the causes of drug abuse among teenagers in Maldives.
• The findings will therefore help regulatory bodies such as National Drug Agency to understand the causes of drug abuse amongst teenagers in Maldives.
• The study will also be beneficial for educational authorities and government to educate young children and youth about the causes and educate them for the preventions as well.

1. https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/drug-court-ushering-new-era-in-maldives-drug-battle-36537
2. http://origin.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/atlas_report/profiles/maldives.pdf
3. Spooner, C. (1999). Causes and correlates of adolescent drug abuse and implications for treatment. Drug & Alcohol Review, 18(4), 453–475. https://doi.org/10.1080/09595239996329
4. Most students think taking illegal drugs causes problems. (2018). Education Journal, (344), 14–15. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=130259892&site=ehost-live
5. Roe, S., & Becker, J. (2005). Drug prevention with vulnerable young people: A review. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, 12(2), 85–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/0968763042000322639
6. Tupper, K. (2008). Drugs, discourses and education: a critical discourse analysis of a high school drug education text. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 29(2), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596300801966864
7. Sharma, B., Arora, A., Singh, K., Singh, H., & Kaur, P. (2017). Drug abuse: Uncovering the burden in rural Punjab. Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care, 6(3), 558–562. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.222037
8. Rathod, A. L., Sahota, S. S., & Garg, R. K. (2017). Mephedrone — an emerging drug of abuse in India. Current Science (00113891), 112(11), 2212–2218. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v112/i11/2212-2218
9. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2003). Conducting School Surveys on Drug Abuse. New York: United Nations Publications. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=117875&site=ehost-live

Like most parents, you only want the best for your children. You want them to be successful and happy. So it can be very disheartening for a parent to learn that their teen has an alcohol or substance abuse problem.

Recent economic and technological advancements have unfortunately made it easier for teens to access drugs. There are new versions of Opioids getting sold on the internet that do not require buyers to provide an id. Research has shown that ease of access is a significant predictor of future substance abuse, especially in teenagers.

Reports indicate that up to 30% of high school seniors had consumed alcohol in the past month. Access to drugs and alcohol can have a significant impact on your teen’s future. It can affect their performance in school, damage the brain, and cause a lifelong addiction problem.

Experts say that parents need to ensure that they get treatment for their children as soon as possible. They need to close the gap between the time they detect the problem and take them to a luxury drug and alcohol rehab for treatment. Here are a few steps to take if you suspect your loved one has an alcohol or drug problem.

Parents usually understand their children well enough to detect when there is a problem. However, they often decide to wait or simply dismiss their gut feelings. Even seemingly minor changes in behavior like being withdrawn can be a sign that something is not right. Some of the common signs of substance abuse are.

Signs of addiction:

• Grooming
• A significant drop in academic performance
• Loss of interest in activities they were previously interested in
• Missing classes and skipping school
• Isolation and deterioration of relationships with friends and family
• Sudden changes in behavior such as anger outbursts
• Changes in Eating and sleeping patterns

If you see any of these signs and suspect that your loved one is using drugs, don’t confront them yet. It is best to collect the evidence to avoid counter accusation when you finally confront them. Even though it may seem nosy to look for these signs, remember it is for their well-being.

When you finally confront your loved one, you expect anger especially on that first occasion. It is likely that your teen will try to avoid the conversation altogether. You may also be called a hypocrite and they may point out that you used alcohol, tobacco or drugs when you were younger.

However, do not be tempted to respond in anger. This will only escalate the issue and is unlikely to lead to any meaningful resolution. So avoid getting dragged into a shouting match. If the conversation gets too heated you can raise it later.

You can set rules to discourage the use of alcohol and drugs. It is important that you make it clear from the onset what the consequences of disregarding the rules will be. Avoid setting rules with consequences you cannot affect.

If a teenager’s life has been taken over by addiction, the good news is that there are treatment protocols that can help them reclaim their lives. One of the most effective treatment options is family therapy. It is one of the evidence-based strategies that have proven to be particularly effective with teenagers struggling with addiction.

Family therapy encourages the family to come together and discuss the addiction problem. These sessions are overseen by a qualified professional working at a rehabilitation facility. It provides an environment for the family to tackle their problems in a more constructive manner.

Professionals at luxury drug and alcohol rehabs will also educate the family on the triggers and enablers that are contributing to the problem. During these sessions, the family can discuss issues such as finances and past mistakes. This allows for a fresh start once the rehabilitation and recovery process is complete.

Other evidence-based interventions that are beneficial for teens are: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Seeks to break the negative chains of thought. It is effective for anxiety and depression; two common factors that often increase the risk of substance abuse.

Dual Diagnosis: Your child could have an underlying mental health issue such as bipolar syndrome. Mental health problems can trigger a substance abuse problem as they seek to medicate. It, therefore, needs to be addressed if the substance abuse treatment is to be effective.

Alternative Therapies: Luxury drug and alcohol rehabs are increasingly incorporating alternative therapies such as meditation, art therapy, and adventure therapy. Alternatives such as adventure therapy are suitable for teens who may not be suited by a conventional program.

Substance abuse and alcoholism are complex problems. As a parent, it is best to be firm but avoid being too judgmental as that could push them deeper into substance abuse. Most importantly it is an illness that ought to be addressed by professionals and programs that are based on scientific research.

Every year thousands of Year 12 students get ready for schoolies week to celebrate graduating, in addition each year thousands of schoolies face serious health risk with studies showing that up to 58% of young people reported blacking out, 41% reported being injured, 40% reported having unprotected sex, 39% reported illicit drug use, 16% reported passing out drunk, 10% reported being involved in a fight and 7% reported driving after drinking at schoolies week (DEP, 2014). Excessive alcohol and drug consumption and experiences of related harms from alcohol and drugs are common among young people who are attending schoolies week. Each year the consumption of alcohol for underage young people attending schoolies is significantly dropping as the rise of taking illicit drugs is rising with more and more schoolies preferring to take MDMA or caps. Due to these increasingly worrying, statistics young students need to start being educated on the dangers of drug consumption and the effects they can have.

Define the Issue

With thousands of school leavers flocking to party cities for schoolies around 80% of them are under the age of 18 which in result leads to them being restricted to streets, beaches and hotel room to party which can increase the danger levels as they aren’t in a safe and secure environment. The use of illicit drugs has become increasingly high with dangerous risk-taking behavior and substance abuse being some of the leading causes of injury and death (young people, 2004). With poor education of the dangers of substance abuse and how to safely use equipment or take small quantities, a study showed that 4.4% admitted to injecting a drug and an even more overwhelming majority stated that they shared a needle or syringe with someone else (unknown, 2013). Australia has seen a 12.7% increase in the use of MDMA between 2015 and 2016, with reports stating that the MDMA pills are containing one of the highest doses that they have ever contained with the pills being dangerously high in concentration and purity (Bishop, 2017).

Current Action Area

Schoolies has always been the center of attention when it comes to young school leavers celebrating with both concerns and excitement on the particular week for school leavers to celebrate graduating high school. There are many concerns for schoolies and the safety of the young adults with underage drinking, no parental supervision and substance abuse, due to these increasing concerns there have been a number of originations trying their best to help reduce the risk of drug abuse, for instance, the alcohol and drug foundation is trying to spread awareness of the dangers and risk that could possibly occur during schoolies and also has a reminder of what the laws are if your caught with drugs and how depending on the amount you have you can be arrest and get a criminal record which will ruin possible future opportunities (ADF, 2018). Government foundations like the Department of Health Organisation also try and spread awareness to both the school leavers attending schoolies, but also the parents, by high lighting what they can do to stay safe and smart and what the parents can be doing to prepare their child and try and ensure their safety as well as they can (DEP, 2018). Although nothing can be done to stop all school leaver from underage drinking and substance abuse, we can reduce the risks and consumption by spreading awareness and educating them on the dangers.

Recommendation

Shalom College needs to start taking immediate action that will be significantly effective towards the issue of school leavers (schoolies) to ensure that the graduating Year 12 students are as safe as they can be and are fully educated and aware of the dangers and risks that schoolies holds if you’re not smart and safe this will create a supportive environment by offering students education that could protect them from factors that can threaten good health (WHO, 1986). To do this Shalom College needs to start educating students of the dangers from a young age preferably year 9 till 12, by having a mandatory class that everyone has to take that occurs at least once a week. By doing this it will give students 4 years to get well educated on schoolies and the risks and danger that may occur if you’re not safe and could reduce their risk-taking behaviors. Through the years the method should change for each grade for year 11 and 12 they should hear the stories of people who have been affected negatively from schoolies from alcohol, drugs, rape etc. or get someone who lost a family member/friend from risk-taking at schoolies, by doing this it will make a large impact on the students as they will realize that it does happen and how it can affect others. Studies have shown that educating young students on drugs is beneficial as it can stop or delay the use, preventing or delaying use at a young age is crucial as it predicts problems and dependence later in life. If the Shalom College community can make the effort to do this for years 9-12 it is likely to be effective and reduce use, short- and long-term harms.

Consequently, due to poor education each year more and more school leavers are taking part in risk-taking behaviors with 80% of school leavers celebrating in Gold Coast are under the age of 18 which means there restricted to hotels beaches and the streets for partying with easy access to drugs and are vulnerable (Wolfe, 2018). With students not being educated on the dangers of drugs and especially unsafe and smart drug use and the dangers of certain amounts you take or the consequences of sharing a needle or syringe, several students are left at risk of the unknown dangers. A study found that a total of 4.4% admitted to injecting a drug and an overwhelming majority of them shared a need or a syringe with someone else.

Conclusion

With the increasingly worrying issue of drug abuse in schoolies, and the poor education that both students and parents have in regards to the dangers of not only schoolies week and underage drinking, but also substance abuse.

Introduction

The two big problems that are faced by Cape Town teachers are truancy and drug abuse. The learner’s irregular attendance is an issue that is seriously affecting the overall success of large urban school district. For the purpose of this study truancy will be defined as a consecutive illegal absence from school or class. Learners are giving teachers a hard time when it comes to attendance, some are leaving their homes telling their parents they are going to school but they never arrive, some are going to school but are absent in the classroom and school girls who are affected by unwanted pregnancy are staying at home to avoid being harassed by their peers and bullying may sometimes lead to the use of substance abuse. Learners who are drug abusers get without difficulty tempted because of having the right of entry to tablets, alcohol and firearm which makes them very violent. Pelser (2008) believes communities have been regulated with the aid of homes, schools and the instantaneous environment which they live at. In other instances the availability of drugs is near the school or within the school premises from other learners

Background

Many teachers apprehend that truancy and drug abuse amidst pupils are considerable obstacles to the success of educational objective. Learners who take drugs do them at any given chance, whether it’s in the morning before school starts or during their school break. School Program is a complete federal strategy financed by the U.S Department of Education which was made to enhance applications that stop the use of drug abuse and violence around the state colleges. The purpose of this research is to develop a solution that can be proposed to the nation in an effort to decrease truancy and drug abuse. The objective is to identify how teachers feel about truancy and drug abuse as they are directly involved in learners lives and how much time they are willing to offer in an effort to decrease or eliminate this problems altogether.

Problem statement

Learners are skipping school, which disrupts their learning process and directly affecting other learners who attend school well, the teachers and curriculum also suffer due to this. Learners’ absenteeism interrupts the progression of their curriculum. Sometimes this learners are present but they are not listening or understanding what the teacher is saying because they are under the influence of drugs. Their bodies are there but their minds seem to be on another planet.

Learners who are substance abusers do not seem to care about anything or anybody else. It’s all about their drugs and they can’t help it because they are addicted. Their parents suffer because they steal money or stuff in the house to sell them so that they can get money for the ‘fix’. Teachers and other learners who do not use drugs also suffer because of the behavior of drug users in the classroom, they don’t listen nor participate in school work and they disrupt teachers while they are busy teaching.

Research method

The methodology that I’m using is qualitative research, this approach is more explanatory and it can be used to properly acknowledge how character subjectively perceive and offer that potential to their social fact, it is used to improve consciousness.

Data gathering

• In-depth interview

An in-depth interview is a loosely structured interview. It allows freedom for both the interviewer and interviewee to explore additional points and change direction.

• Direct observation

Watching interactions and processes as they occur, example observing the teacher assisting the police to analyze learners who are involved in truancy and gang violence.

• Case study

The learners came with different ideas about the research, their different backgrounds and qualities they showed assembled together to make a versatile case.

• Focus groups

Learners’ uncommon beliefs, opinions and perception pushed the project towards a more informative positive side.

Sampling procedure

A sample of learners from a specific school in Cape Town will be chosen to take part in the case study. This approach will be employed to inquire all aspects of truancy and drug abuse in urban schools.

Involvement of participants

Police

The police play an important role to the community at large, they help with crime prevention and reprimanding people who break the law, their part in this motion is to combat gangs and offer a safe environment for learner to learn freely, without discomfort.

Parents

It is every parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children go to school and check for any foul behavior in case their children have started using drugs. Parents should also lead by example and stop exposing drugs, alcohol and violent behavior to children.

Principal

The principal’s role is to check learners who frequently absent from school and advise them to come to school regularly. He or she should work with the police and allow them to regularly come to school to check for drugs and weapons.

Teachers

Teachers work with the principal and parents, inform them about learner’s absenteeism and general behavior in the classroom.

Learners

Learners must abide by the rules of the school and honor their parents, teachers, the principal and the police. Learners should also learn self-respect and take good care of their health.

Data analysis

Results were analyzed through observations and interviews, they revealed that the root of these problems are within the community, the environment that learners live in needs to be re-structured.

Recommendations

Dysfunctional families

It is recommended that the families of affected learners should be given an opportunity to visit therapists and other organizations that are equipped to deal with such matters, to help check the root of the problems. Talk about their issues and get solutions.

Poverty

The parents can try and look for organizations that can help them with skills and knowledge so that they can go to work or open their small businesses. This way they can earn some income or profit from standing up and doing things themselves.

Gangs

The police should work together with the community to identify these gangsters, those who are doing damages to properties, raping, hijacking and killing people should be arrested.

Reducing juvenile offenses

There are many organizations equipped to help these young people to move their mindsets from gangsterism to future leaders. Some of the organizations are Big Brother Movement, Father A Nation and Brothers for Life.

Increasing school attendance

Sports and games should be available and indigenous at schools to keep learners busy with positive things and encourage them to want to go school.