Substance use amongst secondary school students in a rural setting in South Africa: Prevalence and possible contributing factors

Abstract

IntroductionThis study determined the prevalence of substance abuse amongst rural secondary school learners in a selected province of South Africa.MethodologyThe study adopted a quantitative approach using a descriptive survey design. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from a total of 338 randomly selected learners, age 14 to 18 years, from 10 secondary schools that make up a rural Vhembedzi circuit in the Limpopo Province. Permission to enter the circuit and the schools was obtained from the circuit manager and parents’ or learners’ informed consent was obtained prior to data collection.ResultsThe majority of the participants (94% male, 98% female) had never used substances. Most of the learners started using substances between the ages 15 to 20 years. The majority of learners who were using substances were male. Of the respondents, all the female (100%) students reported to have stopped substance abuse. The majority (63% male, 50% female) of the learners tried to stop substance abuse but failed. Most of the learners (72% male, 71% female) did not have family members who were substance users. The majority of the students attested that substances can be easily obtained in their communities or villages. The majority (68%) of the leaners knew that substance abuse is dangerous to health.Conclusion and recommendationRural secondary school learners in South Africa have a low prevalence rate of substance abuse. Hence, there is a need for a counselling program in each school to provide support and refer such learners to an appropriate institution for rehabilitation.

Alcohol Consumption Patterns: A Gender Comparative Study Among High School Youth in South Africa

“…Furthermore, male drinkers have an earlier alcohol debut than their female counterparts. These findings confirm what Tshitangano and Tosin, (2016) have found in their study where, 67%, of the male learners started using substances between the ages of 13 to 15 years. A study done by Madu and Matla, (2003) in the Limpopo Province also established that young people's onset of substance use is usually under the age of 16 years.…”

“…Males tend to start using substances at an earlier age in comparison to their female counterparts. Tshitangano and Tosin, (2016) found that 67%, of the male learners started using substances between the ages of 13 and 15 years, whereas the female respondents mostly began substance use between the ages of 16 and 18 years. Additionally, a review of literature by Ramsoomar and Morojele, (2012) shows that 12% of South African youth began using alcohol before the age of 13 years.…”

Parents’ Experiences of Parenting an Adolescent Abusing Substances

“…The focus of the current study is the parent-child subsystem and adolescent substance abuse, because little has been done in this area (Groenewald & Bhana, 2017). There is a large volume of published studies describing the effects of adolescent substance abuse on the wellbeing of individuals, families, societies and communities (Department of Social Development, 2017;Tshitangano & Tosin, 2016;Visser & Routledge, 2007). The emotional and psychological impacts of adolescent substance abuse resulted in social ills developing among families and communities (Department of Social Development, 2017).…”

Substances use and its association with sociodemographic, family and environment-related factors among technical and vocational education and training College Students in Ataye, Ethiopia, 2019.

“…Some of the researchers have shown that the use of drugs by school-going youth does not only decreases their academic performance; but also makes them vulnerable to crime. Furthermore, drug use exposes them to health risks among other numerous problems (5).…”