DRUGS ABUSED MOST BY SOCIETY AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ABUSERS

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Drugs in Africa

Njuki (2004:5) maintains that there are so many issues confronting Africa that substance abuse is not looked at as it should be. Both illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse are increasing in Africa. Cannabis, methaqualone, heroin and alcohol are included among the drugs used across the African continent. Moreover, the injection of heroin has caused heightened concern as intravenous drug use assists in the continued spread of HIV/AIDS across Africa (Njuki 2004:5). The United Nations (UN) Program on HIV/AIDS estimates that Africa has some 25,4 million people, more than 60% of its population, living with HIV. People are watching loved ones die, young people are graduating without employment, and there are many who feel no joy, and see no future (Njuki 2004:5).

Republic of Tanzania

The “hardest” drugs used in the Republic of Tanzania are a mixture of heroin, cannabis (marijuana) and mandrax. Of the youth, 89,6% use a mixture of heroin and mandrax, and 82,9%, especially females, use a cannabis/mandrax mixture (WHO/UN-ODCCP 2003:6). The onset of drug abuse tends to take place within family circles and, to a lesser extent, through agencies such as health care services, and social acceptance of drug use is viewed as fashionable and produces enjoyment.

Republic of South Africa

The RSA with its infiltrative borders has become a lucrative market for drug traffickers and the drugs more often associated with developed countries. Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking followed by the smoking of cannabis is often also the route followed by drug abusers. Alcohol consumption has contributed to the prevalence of medical conditions, such as carcinoma of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach and pancreas, cirrhosis of the liver, peripheral neuritis, vitamin deficiency and malnutrition; psychological conditions, such as addiction to other drugs, delirium and dementia; personality deterioration, and psychotic reactions (De Haan 1997:40). Certain social problems that occur in the country are also often attributed to the use of alcohol, such as ordinary crimes, assault, family disorganization, homicide, and suicide.

Drug abuse and the family

The devastating effects of drug abuse on the family are those that pose the greatest threat to the family at large. When one member of the family abuses drugs, every family member suffers because it causes disruption and disharmony within the family. Diamond et al (2001:12) and Preboth (2000:5) state that drug abusers often become so obsessed with the habit that everything going on around them is ignored, including the needs and situations of other family members, leading to a breakdown of the family as an entity. Besides possible criminal behaviour brought into the home by the drug user, the family suffers varying degrees of personal anguish both physically and psychologically (Preboth 2000:8). Family members are affected as they watch the destruction of an individual who is close to them. When younger children see an older person or parent using drugs, they may wrongly believe that it is normal and acceptable to take drugs (Sweetney & Neff 2001:4).

Drug abuse and the school

Drug use is a problem for the school going adolescent because it undermines a student’s academic ability, and performance. In the USA, for example, students who use marijuana regularly are twice as likely to get below-average marks or failing grades, and school dropouts are twice as likely to be frequent drug users. Drugs can disrupt the entire school. When several students in a class abuse drugs, or absent themselves because of drug abuse, the progress of all the students is impeded. In addition, drug use brings into the school environment illegal practices connected to the drug use, namely prostitution, theft, and selling of drugs to others. None of these practices is conducive to the development of a healthy, productive life (COSAD 2001:8).

Table of contents :

• Chapter 1 Orientation to the study
  • 1.1 INTRODUCTION
  • 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
  • 1.3 RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY
  • 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
  • 1.5 AIM OF THE STUDY
  • 1.6 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
  • 1.7 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
    • 1.7.1 Quantitative research
    • 1.7.2 Explorative design
    • 1.7.3 Descriptive design
    • 1.7.4 Cross-sectional research design
  • 1.8 DATA COLLECTION
    • 1.8.1 Population
    • 1.8.2 Sampling
    • 1.8.3 Sample
    • 1.8.4 Data-collection instrument
    • 1.8.5 Questionnaire
  • 1.9 DATA ANALYSIS
  • 1.10 RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY
    • 1.10.1 Reliability
    • 1.10.2 Validity
  • 1.11 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
  • 1.12 LIMITATION
  • 1.13 DEFINITIONS
  • 1.14 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY
  • 1.15 CONCLUSION
• Chapter 2 Literature review
  • 2.1 INTRODUCTION
  • 2.2 DRUG ABUSE AS AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM
    • 2.2.1 Drug abuse in the united States of America
    • 2.2.2. Drugs in Africa
      • 2.2.2.1 Republic of Tanzania
      • 2.2.2.2 Republic of Zambia
      • 2.2.2.3 Republic of South Africa
      • 2.2.2.4 Swaziland
• 2.2 DRUGS ABUSED MOST BY SOCIETY AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ABUSERS
  • 2.3.1 Cigarettes
  • 2.3.2 Tobacco
  • 2.3.3 Alcohol
  • 2.3.4 Marijuana
  • 2.3.5 Glue, paint thinners, aerosols and polish removers
  • 2.3.6 Cocaine
• 2.4 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DRUG ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENTS
  • 2.4.1 Adolescence as a developmental stage
  • 2.4.2 Ineffective parenting
  • 2.4.3 Lack of mutual attachment and nurturing
  • 2.4.4 Factors in the wider environment
  • 2.4.5 Poverty
• 2.5 EFFECT OF DRUG ABUSE ON SOCIETY
  • 2.5.1 Drug abuse and the family
  • 2.5.2 Drug abuse and the school
• 2.6 DEALING WITH DRUG ABUSE
• 2.7 CONCLUSION
• Chapter 3 Research design and methodology
  • 3.1 INTRODUCTION
  • 3.2 GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
  • 3.3 RESEARCH DESIGN
    • 3.3.1 Quantitative
    • 3.3.2 Cross-sectional
    • 3.3.3 Exploratory
    • 3.3.4 Descriptive
  • 3.4 RESEARCH POPULATION
• Chapter 4 Data analysis and findings
  • 4.1 INTRODUCTION
  • 4.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
  • 4.3 DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
    • 4.3.1 Section A: Respondents’ biographic data
    • 3.4.2 Section B: Extent of the drug abuse problem in Msunduza Township
    • 3.4.3 Section C: Respondents’ knowledge on drugs
    • 3.4.4 Section D: Respondents’ drug abuse
    • 3.4.5 Section E: Respondents’ views on prevention and control of drug problem
    • 3.4.6 Section F: Effectivenss of available resources to help drug abusers
  • 4.5 CONCLUSION
• Chapter 5 Conclusions, limitations and recommendations

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DRUG ABUSE IN ADOLESCENTS IN SWAZILAND