Drug use amongst South African youths: Reasons and solutions

Abstract

A literature study of the reasons for drug use amongst South African youths revealed that they are presented in a fragmented manner and not in a holistic way which would facilitate an integrated understanding of this social ill. This article places the key reasons for drug use amongst South African youths, namely the vulnerability of youths, peer pressure, inadequate role modelling by parents and significant others, community tolerance, availability of drugs, underactualisation of metaphysical values, poverty and unemployment, violence and national forces within Bronfenbrenner's ecological system to address this shortcoming. The etiology of drug use amongst South African youths, considered in an integrated perspective, would result in a better understanding thereof and could serve as a permanent basis for addressing the problem of drug use amongst South African youths at any particular period of time. Recommendations based on an integrated perspective of the etiology of this problem are also provided.