Gloria Thupayagale-Tshweneagae
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: Am I supporting his addiction: The dilemma of having an adolescent son on drugs
Biography
Biography: Gloria Thupayagale-Tshweneagae
Abstract
Substance uses in urban and peri-urban areas are serious problems among adolescents with negative individual and social consequences. Plenty of information exists in literature on factors leading to drug abuse and consequences of drug abuse for adolescents; very few studies have been done that focus on family support for adolescents after rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to explore how parents and guardians of adolescent sons support their sons one year after rehabilitation. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 10 families who had sons with drug use problems and have been admitted at the rehabilitation centre. Participants were selected by purposive sampling. Thematic analysis based on Burnard (1991; 2004)‘s framework of data analysis was used to identify the themes. Two major themes emerged as associative stigma and approach-avoidance conflict. The study concluded that parents are faced with ambivalent feelings in relation to offering support to their sons. Culturally congruent measures are needed to address drug use and misuse among adolescents. Further studies are needed to explore the use of drugs among adolescents, especially in Africa, where there is a paucity of information