The perceptions of adolescent boys regarding the implications of dagga use

Abstract

The use of drugs is as old as human history and for centuries people have been engaged in fruitless attempts to combat drug abuse. Efforts aimed at attaining a drug-free world is a continuous battle that seems to be destined for failure. Dagga is the drug most commonly used globally and locally. The problem with dagga specifically, is that many young people perceive it as a socially acceptable drug and knowledge of accompanying risks is limited. Moreover, intervention strategies do not take these perceptions and myths into account. No recent local research providing an account of adolescents perceptions of dagga was found to exist, yet many intervention strategies and campaigns are launched and large amounts of money are spent on anti-drug campaigns. In order to plan intervention strategies relating to changing policies and adapting intervention strategies, it is necessary to understand the perceptions of adolescents regarding the implications of dagga use. Young people are the future policy makers and by including them in the process, prospective victory in the war against drugs could be attained by adopting a different frame of reference. The person-centred approach was thus chosen as the appropriate theory because it postulates that in order to bring about change, the perceptions and frame of reference of people must be taken into account. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of adolescent boys regarding the implications of dagga use. Purposive sampling was employed to select ten participants between the ages of 16 and 18, who attend a high school in Pretoria. An interview schedule was used to guide the process of data collection through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study suggested that adolescent boys base their knowledge of dagga on experiential learning and modelling by peers rather than information obtained from parents, teachers and other professionals. Dagga use was seen by adolescents as a safe and socially acceptable means to relax and to socialise. Participants viewed dagga use as an isolated occurrence that did not have a significant effect on their micro-, meso-, or exosystems. The participants acknowledged that dagga use had negative effects on the family. However, they believed that the effects are exaggerated because adults have limited knowledge about dagga. The significance of the findings lay in the fact that current interventions and educational campaigns regarding dagga have had little to no effect on adolescents perceptions so far. In order to plan effective intervention strategies, adolescents perceptions must be considered. Young people must also be included in the planning and evaluation of such interventions.