Dining table as a tool to identify early risks of substance use amongst teenagers: a narrative literature review

Abstract

Background: Substance use continues to be a threat to the well-being of teenagers in South Africa. A strong body of literature exposing the pushing factors and impacts of substance use on youth already exists. However, there is still a significant need to tap into familial resources that could be used to timeously identify possible risks of substance use amongst teenagers. The researcher argues that the use of dining tables could be a valuable avenue that offers an opportunity to observe and learn about what teenagers are going through in life. Methods: Underpinned by the symbolic interactionism theory, this paper aims to describe the potential role of dining table in identifying early risks of substance use amongst teenagers. The paper used a narrative literature review methodology, where accredited academic articles, peer-reviewed articles, scholarly books, and reliable academic databases were used to collect and corroborate data. Conclusion: The findings primarily reveal that teenagers gradually become susceptible to substance use, especially when they do not receive attention from the family. As such, the paper calls for parents and caregivers to invest in sharing meals and spend time as a family as this could be a proactive step to prevent substance use amongst teenagers.