Substance Abuse and Social Well-Being of Youth: The Case of Yirgalem Town, Sidama National Regional State.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2024-05-01
Authors
Aklilu Altamo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine substance abuse and social well-being among the
youth in Yirgalem Town. The research employed a cross sectional, descriptive design, and
used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study involved 339 youth involved in
substance abuse and included key informant interviews with six participants. Data were
collected through questionnaires and interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics and thematic analysis. The effects of substance abuse on the social well-being of
youth were significant. The study found that 81.8% of respondents experienced discrimination
or stigma due to substance abusing behavior they involved: A significant proportion
(65.81%) had moderate relationships with their leaders or colleagues, while 72.6% reported
poor relationships with the community. Low social trust was noted in 51.5% of participants,
and 87.6% received low social support. Additionally, 88.5% experienced illnesses such as
stomach ache, typhus, stress, and headaches in the past 30 days due to substance abuse, with
51.5% exhibiting poor behavior or mood and involved in crime act when using substances.
The study also examined various aspects of substance abuse, including practice levels,
reasons for use, and perceptions of its efficts. It found that alcohol (100%), khat (99.7%),
and tobacco/cigarettes (90.6%) were the most commonly abused substances among the
target youth, with a high prevalence of daily consumption. Key factors contributing to
substance abuse initiation were peer pressure (57.5%), the desire for relaxation (77.8%),
stimulation or alertness from substances like khat (73.7%), and stress relief(53.7%). These
findings suggest significant implications for social work, particularly in the areas of
education, policy, practice, andfurther research.
Keywords: Substance, Substance abuse, Social well-being, Youth, Yirgalem.
Description
Keywords
Substance, Substance abuse, Social well-being, Youth, Yirgalem.