Abstract:
Substance abuse is a significant challenge facing the World and in particular South Africa. In
this study, various Western and African traditional perspectives were considered to gain an
understanding of the substance abuse problem among adolescents. The study was conducted
in one of the rural villages of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in the North West
Province of South Africa. Participants included 24 African male and female adolescents
between 13 and 19 years of age, as well as 2 parents and 9 professionals. The 9 professionals
are educators, a social worker, a clinical psychologist, a mental health worker, a traditional
leader and a traditional healer, between 37 to 53 years of age. A qualitative, explorative
research design was employed. Data sources included individual face-to-face interviews,
focus group discussions, and a document review. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse
data. The findings were based on the perceptions of participants and revealed that adolescents
are socially entrapped to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, glue,
nyaope, and segonyamahlo. Reasons for their use of substances included individual, family,
and environmental factors. The findings revealed the severe impact of substance abuse on
adolescents and their families. There was evidence of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels
of substance abuse prevention programmes targeting adolescents and other community
members. In addition, stakeholders such as parents, peers, professionals, traditional leaders,
traditional healers, government, and non-government organisations were recommended to
implement substance abuse prevention programmes to address the substance abuse problem
among adolescents. Furthermore, the study highlighted efforts made to reflect on the
implemented substance abuse prevention programmes.
