The Life Situation of Drug Abusing Women and Men Street youth in Addis Ababa: The Case of Kirkos Sub city

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2009-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The study focused on the risk facfors for drug abuse among street youth and its impacts on the life of drug abusing women and men street youths. It also tried to asses the types of drug used and associated for drug dependency. This topic was chosen as it is currently a growing phenomenon in Ethiopia and the studies on the area are very limited. Qualitative methodology was employed to conduct the study. Data was collectedfrom 14 women and 14 men drug abusing youths who lived in the street through in-depth interview, focus group discussion and observation. Snowball sampling technique was used to select women and men drug abusing street youth. The street youth were mainly came from the parents who have low educational level and economic status and disturbed fclmily. For the street youth, family and peers modeling, disturbed family background, living in the street where drug is available and curiosity for the drug is the major risk factors for drug abuse among women and men street youth. Most of the street youth's reasons to abuse drugs were to forget their disturhed life and to avoid the withdrawal effects of the drug. The availability of drugs and their Fiends ' drug abusing behavior were also their reason to keep their drug taking behavior. The types of drug mainly used by the street youths was cigarettes, khat, marijuana and alcoholic drinks like "tella ", "teje ", and " areke" and also beer and gin. The major challenges experienced by the street youth as a result of drug abuse were physical, psychological, social and economical problems and physical and sexual abuse. However the finding of this study showed that women are the most vulnerable groups in any effect of drug due to their gender. Finally, in line with the above problem, strong law enforcements against drug abuse, media coverage about the issue, training for the abusers and the whole society were given as recommendations. Building rehabilitation center and psychiatrist treatment was also needed to address the issue.

Description

Keywords

Drug Abusing Women

Citation