Drivers of Drugs and Substance Use and Their Effects Among Young People in a Peri-Urban District of Ghana

Abstract Background Drugs and substance use-related effects have become a major issue globally. The energetic youth who contribute meaningfully to national development are the most affected population by this social menace. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and perception of the youth on drugs and substance use-related effects on the lives of drug users. Methods The study used a qualitative approach to explore the drivers of drugs and drugs and substance use among the youth in the Kwabre-East Municipality of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purposive technique was used to select 35 participants based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were gathered through focus group discussions and interviews in the Twi language and audio-recorded. Data were transcribed from Twi to English in a written form. The data were categorized into themes based on similarities and differences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The emerged themes have been presented as main findings, which are supported by quotations from the participants. Results The study identified that substances commonly used by the youth were alcohol, tramadol, gasoline product, glue, and marijuana. Again, it was found that peer influence, poor parental control, and loss of a job (poverty), perceived academic enhancement, and imitation of role models were factors that caused drugs and substance use among the youth. In addition, the following were identified in terms of the effects: mental illness, cardiovascular conditions, family exclusion, insecurity, and stigmatization. Conclusion The initiation and implementation of drug preventive interventions by relevant stakeholders are crucial in preventing the commencement of any undesirable behaviour among the youth as far as drugs and substance use is concerned.

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Drivers of Substance Use and Related Disorders Among Young People in a Peri-urban District of Ghana

10.21203/rs.3.rs-989406/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vida Kasore ◽

Enoch Acheampong ◽

Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah ◽

Mark Owusu ◽

Ampeh Unity Worlanyo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Substance Use ◽

Peer Influence ◽

Role Models ◽

National Development ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Urban District ◽

Written Form ◽

Psychiatric Issue ◽

Perceived Effects

Abstract Background: Substance use-related disorders have become a major psychiatric issue globally. The energetic youth who contribute meaningfully to national development are the most affected population by this social menace. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and perception of the youth on substance use-related disorders and the perceived effects on their lives.Methods: The study used a qualitative approach to explore the perceptions of substance use-related disorders in the Kwabre-East Municipality of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purposive technique was used to select 35 participants based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were gathered through focus group discussions and interviews in the Twi language and audio-recorded. Data were transcribed from Twi to English in a written form. The data were categorized into themes based on similarities and differences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The emerged themes have been presented as main findings, which are supported by quotations from the participants. Results: The study identified that substances commonly abused by the youth were alcohol, tramadol, gasoline product, glue, and marijuana. Again, it was found that peer influence, poor parental control, and loss of a job (poverty), perceived academic enhancement, and imitation of role models were factors that caused substance abuse among the youth. In addition, the following were identified in terms of the effects: mental illness, cardiovascular conditions, family exclusion, insecurity, and stigmatization.Conclusion: The initiation and implementation of drug preventive interventions by relevant stakeholders are crucial in preventing the commencement of any undesirable behaviour among the youth as far as substance abuse is concerned.

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Sort of a nice distance: a qualitative study of the experiences of therapists working with internet-based treatment of problematic substance use

Addiction Science & Clinical Practice ◽

10.1186/s13722-019-0173-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Veronica Ekström ◽

Magnus Johansson

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Drug Users ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Face To Face ◽

Internet Interventions ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Time In Treatment ◽

Written Form ◽

Problematic Substance ◽

Receive Treatment

Abstract Background Internet interventions have been developed and tested for several psychiatric and somatic conditions. Few people with substance use disorders receive treatment and many drug users say that they would prefer getting help from online tools. Internet interventions are effective for reducing alcohol and cannabis use. The aim of the current study is to understand differences between internet-based and face-to-face treatment of problematic substance use. The concept of alliance will be used as a theoretical frame for understanding differences between internet-based treatment and face-to-face treatment, as perceived by therapists. Method The study has a qualitative design and is based on 3 focus group interviews with 12 therapists working with internet-based treatment for alcohol or cannabis use problems within five different programs. Results The analysis revealed five themes in the differences between internet-based and face-to-face treatment: communication, anonymity, time, presence and focus. Treatment online in written and asynchronous form creates something qualitatively different from regular face-to-face meetings between patients and therapists. The written form changes the concept of time in treatment, that is, how time can be used and how it affects the therapist’s presence. The asynchronous (i.e. time delayed) form of communication and the lack of facial expressions and body language require special skills. Conclusions There are important differences between internet-based treatment and face-to-face treatment. Different aspects of the alliance seem to be important in internet-based treatment compared to face-to-face.

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Family-based intervention helps male children of drug users avoid substance use disorders

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e546602010-007 ◽

2009 ◽

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Drug Users ◽

Family Based

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Escaping the past and living in the present: a qualitative exploration of substance use among Syrian male refugees in Germany

Conflict and Health ◽

10.1186/s13031-021-00352-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jutta Lindert ◽

Ulrike Neuendorf ◽

Marta Natan ◽

Ingo Schäfer

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Hybrid Approach ◽

Syrian Refugees ◽

Group Discussions ◽

The Past ◽

Audio Recordings ◽

Psychosocial Difficulties ◽

Professional Treatment ◽

And Coping ◽

Qualitative Exploration

Abstract Background Syrians have been the largest group of refugees in Germany since 2014. Little is known about Syrian refugees` perspectives on substance use. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspective of male refugees from Syria and to foster specific knowledge and understanding of substance use. Methods We applied a qualitative study design. Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed. We used a hybrid approach by integrating inductive and deductive thematic frameworks. Results We identified common themes. Firstly, refugees perceived that substances are widely available and accepted in Germany. Secondly, refugees perceived that rules and norms in Germany differ from rules and norms in the home country and favor availability of substances. Thirdly, substance use is related to the intention to escape the past. Fourthly, substance use is related to living in the present through connecting with others and being part of the community. Finally, mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame. Conclusions Findings support Syrian refugees` perspectives of substance use as a way of both escaping the past and coping with psychosocial difficulties in the present in a socio-ecological understanding. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees` perspectives on substance use.

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Strong and Deadly Futures: Co-Development of a Web-Based Wellbeing and Substance Use Prevention Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Non-Aboriginal Adolescents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042176 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2176

Author(s):

Mieke Snijder ◽

Lexine Stapinski ◽

James Ward ◽

Briana Lees ◽

Cath Chapman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Role Models ◽

Torres Strait Islander ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Substance Use Prevention ◽

Aboriginal Youth ◽

Aboriginal Students ◽

Torres Strait ◽

Randomised Controlled

School-based programs can effectively prevent substance use; however, systematic reviews and consultation with stakeholders identified a need for effective, culturally inclusive programs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Aboriginal) youth. This paper describes the development of Strong & Deadly Futures, a six-lesson, curriculum-aligned wellbeing and substance use prevention program that was designed for, and with, the Aboriginal youth. Formative reviews and consultation recommended that the program (i) combine effective components of mainstream prevention with cultural elements, highlighting Aboriginal cultural strengths; (ii) avoid stigma and celebrates the cultural diversity by catering to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students; and (iii) use digital technology to enhance engagement, implementation and scalability. Guided by an Appreciative Inquiry approach, the program was developed in partnership with an Indigenous Creative Design Agency, and four schools in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Aboriginal (n = 41) and non-Aboriginal students (n = 36) described their role models, positive aspects of their community and reasons to avoid substance use; these formed the basis of an illustrated story which conveyed the key learning outcomes. Feedback from teachers, students and content experts supported the acceptability of the program, which will be evaluated in a subsequent randomised controlled trial.

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Diglossia and Local Identity: Swiss German in the Linguistic Landscape of Kleinbasel

The GLOCAL in Asia 2019 ◽

10.47298/cala2019.7-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Edina Krompák ◽

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Ethnographic Study ◽

Urban Life ◽

Linguistic Landscape ◽

Local Identity ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Swiss German ◽

Written Form

The city of Basel is situated in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, in the geographic triangle of three countries: France, Germany and Switzerland. Everyday urban life is characterised by the presence of Standard German and Swiss German as well as diverse migrant languages. Swiss German is ‘an umbrella term for several Alemannic dialects’ (Stepkowska 2012, 202) which differ from Standard German in terms of phonetics, semantics, lexis, and grammar and has no standard written form. Swiss German is predominantly used in oral forms, and Standard German in written communication. Furthermore, an amalgamation of bilingualism and diglossia (Stepkowska 2012, 208) distinguishes the specific linguistic situation, which indicates amongst other things the high prestige of Swiss German in everyday life. To explore the visibility and vitality of Swiss German in the public display of written language, we examined the linguistic landscape of a superdiverse neighbourhood of Basel, and investigated language power and the story beyond the sign – ‘stories about the cultural, historical, political and social backgrounds of a certain space’ (Blommaert 2013, 41). Our exploration was guided by the question: How do linguistic artefacts – such as official, commercial, and private signs – represent the diglossic situation and the relation between language and identity in Kleinbasel? Based on a longitudinal ethnographic study, a corpus was compiled comprising 300 digital images of written artefacts in Kleinbasel. Participant observation and focus group discussions about particular images were conducted and analysed using grounded theory (Charmaz 2006) and visual ethnography (Pink 2006). In our paper, we focus on signs in Swiss German and focus group discussions on these images. Initial analyses have produced two surprising findings; firstly, the visibility and the perception of Swiss German as a marker of local identity; secondly, the specific context of their display.

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Mandarin Language Students Illocutionary Acts in Japanese Language Learning at the University of Sumatera Utara

Journal Polingua : Scientific Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Education ◽

10.30630/polingua.v10i1.166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 6-11

Author(s):

Taulia Taulia ◽

Laraiba Nasution

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

Speech Acts ◽

Speech Act ◽

Japanese Language ◽

Mandarin Language ◽

Written Form ◽

Recorded Data ◽

Directive Speech Acts ◽

The University ◽

Department Faculty

Speech acts play an essential role in language learning as an aspect that can improve a learner's ability to speak orally. In this research, illocutionary speech-acts were described in the Japanese language learning process for students of the Mandarin Language Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Sumatera Utara. This research is qualitative. The data are speech acts in the lecture process in class, especially in the discussion. The data sources were 40 fourth-semester students of the Mandarin Language Department. The theory used was the Searle speech act theory. Data collection techniques were carried out through observation, recording , and note-taking techniques. Data analysis techniques were carried out applying Miles & Huberman's opinion by condensing data through transcription of recorded data into written form, identifying forms, speech act functions, data presentation, and concluding. As a result, there were forms of illocutionary speech acts, namely directive, expressive, and declarative. Furthermore, the purpose used in class was in directive speech acts which were to order, ask, invite (engage). In other words, in expressive speech-act was praising, and in declarative speech-act was prohibiting. In conclusion, Japanese speech acts in Japanese class occured between lecturers and students and only consisted of several types of speech acts due to students' limited mastery of Japanese.

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Community Participation in the Community Nursery Program in Manokwari Regency, West Papua Province

Energy and Environment Research ◽

10.5539/eer.v10n1p1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Jacob Manusawai ◽

Eva Herlina ◽

Ihwan Tjolli ◽

Rina N. Jowei ◽

Anton S. Sinery

Keyword(s):

Community Participation ◽

Role Models ◽

National Development ◽

Community Leaders ◽

Alternative Formulation ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Technical Knowledge ◽

Financial Benefits ◽

Development Goals ◽

Village Communities

The purpose of this study is to determine and analyze the degree of community participation in the Community Nursery (Kebun Bibit Rakyat-KBR) program in Wasai Village and Arfai I Village, the district of South Manokwari, in the Manokwari Regency. Also this study aims to identify the factors that influence the level of community participation, and then formulates several management efforts to improve community participation in the program. The result found that communities that get involved in the KBR program are community groups of various types of professions, ethnicities and genders. The level of community participation in the KBR program is included in the high category for the whole set of activities in the KBR. However, for activities related to technical knowledge on planting and administration, community participation was still low. The significant factor affects the successful implementation of the KBR program was the direct involvement of community leaders. The support and involvement of community leaders played an important role in motivating the community to actively age in the KBR program. In addition, financial benefits of the program for individuals and village communities became the other determining factor that motivated the community to actively join in the KBR program. The alternative formulation offered in the early preparation of KBR activities was the program socialization. The early information has to be designed more effectively, so that the community is able to understand the procedures for implementing the KBR program, especially activities related to technical knowledge. Moreover, the involvement of other community leaders was a concern for the implementation of the KBR program since they were considered as the role models of social communities. Finally, collaborative programs with multi-stakeholders would be a solution to provide multiple benefits for the community as part of regional and national development goals.

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Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Patterns of Substance Use Disorder in Oman

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal [SQUMJ] ◽

10.18295/squmj.2020.20.04.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. e296-303

Author(s):

Mahmood Z. Al Abri ◽

Mohamed A.H. Farag ◽

Asaad S. Al Mosawi ◽

Salah T. Al Awaidy

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Drug Users ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Opioid Substitution Therapy ◽

Routes Of Administration ◽

Global Challenge ◽

Sociodemographic Determinants ◽

Virus C

Objectives: Substance use disorder is a global challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an updated view of socio-demographic characteristics and patterns of substance use in Oman. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted between 2004 and 2018. Data were retrieved from Oman’s National Drug Addict Registry. The data collected included the socio-demographic characteristics of registered cases, the proportion of various psychoactive substances’ consumption and their routes of administration, the associated sociodemographic determinants as well as comorbid conditions. Results: A total of 6,453 cases were registered during the study’s timeframe. The majority of which were Omani (97.9%), male (98.7%), single (57.9%), unemployed (50.2%), had an education level below university (81.0%) and were adolescents and young adults (77.0%). Opiates were the most common substance used (66.6%) and more than half of the sample were polydrug users (51.0%). Injecting-drug users constituted 53.4% of the total registered cases. The proportion of people with hepatitis virus C, hepatits virus B and HIV among the registered cases were 46.9%, 5.1% and 3.7%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings are in favour of rapidly escalating the introduction of a substance use preventive programme at all school levels as well as making opioid substitution therapy and other harm reduction programmes available in Oman. Keywords: Substance Use Disorders; Intravenous Drug Abuse; Opioid-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Oman.

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