Adolescence is a unique and distinct stage of development that involves changes in the physical, psychological and social aspects of adolescents. It is a critical transition into adulthood whereby heightened risk-taking and sensation-seeking takes place, such as substance abuse. In a South African context, this transition sometimes occurs under economic stress, poverty, unemployment, high levels of crime and political instability. This can place adolescents at risk of substance abuse.
To explore and describe the lived experiences of adolescents abusing substances in the Greater Giyani Municipality in the Limpopo province, South Africa.
A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design with a phenomenological approach was used. Data were collected through individual, in-depth, phenomenological interviews and field notes. Thematic coding was utilised to analyse the collected data, and literature was reviewed to support the findings. Moreover, measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical principles were applied throughout the research process.
Five themes were identified: substance abuse behaviour among adolescents, adolescents’ motivation for continuing substance abuse, the effects of substance abuse on the lives of adolescents, factors affecting adolescents’ discontinuation of substance abuse and a need to discontinue substance abuse.
The study concluded that adolescents abusing substances in the Greater Giyani, Limpopo province, experience loss of control, broken relationships, poor academic performance, stigma attached to mental illness and negative emotions. The adolescents foresaw their future as uncertain and without direction. It is recommended that mental healthcare professionals introduce and implement interventions that will assist the adolescents who abuse substances in the Greater Giyani, Limpopo province.
The findings in this study could add knowledge in developing and implementing of strategies for psychiatric nurses to support adolescents abusing substances in the Greater Giyani, Limpopo province.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO
Moen and Hall-Lord (
Radebe (
The use and abuse of substances, especially among the youth, continues to be a serious concern within the international community (Alhyas et al.
Interventions, as reported by Salam et al. (
As the researcher, a professional nurse at the time of this study, engaged in routine activities in a public psychiatric hospital in the Greater Giyani Municipality in Limpopo province, South Africa, she realised that most adolescents admitted to the psychiatric ward had a history of abusing substances. Some adolescents were diagnosed as having substance use disorder (SUD), and others’ substance use was the underlying trigger to mental conditions, such as bipolar mood disorders and schizophrenia. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (
The primary beneficiaries of this study are adolescents abusing substances and psychiatric nurses caring for these adolescents. The findings drawn from this study can contribute to the body of knowledge for the nursing profession regarding the lived experiences of adolescents abusing substances. This will ultimately increase nurses’ understanding (especially psychiatric nurses) of the behaviour adolescents display and enable them to offer necessary care and support. It will also inform policymakers on aspects to include during policy formulation on adolescent substance abuse. It is anticipated that the findings will evoke further research studies around the same subject. There is a need to describe the lived experiences of adolescents abusing substances in the Greater Giyani Municipality so psychiatric nurses can provide support and promote their mental health.
The study’s objective was to explore and describe adolescents’ lived experiences of substance abuse in the Greater Giyani Municipality of the Limpopo province.
A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual (Gray & Grove
The research setting was a public psychiatric hospital in the Greater Giyani Municipality in the Limpopo province, which is situated in the northern part of South Africa. Greater Giyani is a rural area and falls under the Greater Giyani Municipality; it is one of five local municipalities under the Mopani District Municipality. Participants were from various villages around Greater Giyani. The selected public psychiatric hospital has 10 wards with 354 beds; 235 beds were in use at the time of data collection, with an average of 130 adolescents admitted at the hospital. The hospital admits mental healthcare users with different mental health disorders and provides assisted and involuntary inpatient care, treatment and rehabilitation services.
The study’s population was adolescents admitted to this public psychiatric institution. Purposive sampling (Creswell & Creswell
According to Patino and Ferreira (
Data were collected at a public psychiatric hospital in the Greater Giyani Municipality in the Limpopo province. In-depth, individual, phenomenological interviews and field notes (Mavhandu-Mudzusi
Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim, and transcriptions and field notes were analysed through thematic coding, according to the steps suggested by Creswell and Creswell (
The researcher implemented Guba’s model of trustworthiness (Denzin & Lincoln
Approval and permission to conduct the study were obtained from the Faculty of Health Sciences Academic Ethics Committee of the University of Johannesburg (ref. no. REC-01-169-2016); the National Health Research Database in Limpopo province; the Department of Health, Limpopo province; and the institution in which the study was conducted.
Ethical principles that were considered for the study were autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice (Dhai & McQuoid-Mason
Adolescents abusing substances were informed about the study’s aims, the option to participate and the right to withdraw at any time without being penalised (Polit & Beck
In order to ensure the principle of justice, the researcher guaranteed the participant’s right to fair selection and the right to fair treatment. The sampling criteria were utilised as a measure to implement the principle of justice. Polit and Beck (
The participants were male adolescents and were admitted in a public psychiatric hospital in the Greater Giyani. Their ages ranged from 18 to 21 years. Seven of the participants were fluent and comfortable communicating in English, and only one requested to express himself in his own African language, Xitsonga. At the time of the interviews, three participants were in Grade 10, two in Grade 11 and two in Grade 12, and one was in the first year of tertiary education at a college. The participants have been using substances for 3–6 years. All of the participants were living with their parents.
Participants’ demographics.
Participant | Gender | Age (years) | Substance abused | Number of years using the substance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Participant 1 | Male | 18 | Alcohol | 3 |
Participant 2 | Male | 20 | Alcohol, marijuana | 6 |
Participant 3 | Male | 19 | Marijuana, |
5 |
Participant 4 | Male | 18 | Alcohol, glue | 5 |
Participant 5 | Male | 19 | Alcohol, marijuana, |
4 |
Participant 6 | Male | 19 | Alcohol, marijuana | 5 |
Participant 7 | Male | 21 | Glue | 5 |
This section presents participants’ experiences under the following five themes: (1) adolescents’ substance abuse behaviour; (2) adolescents’ motivation for continuing substance abuse; (3) the effects of substance abuse on the lives of adolescents; (4) factors affecting adolescents’ discontinuation of substance abuse and (5) a need to discontinue substance abuse.
The themes are summarised in
Themes of adolescents’ lived experiences of substance abuse.
Themes |
---|
1. Adolescents’ substance abuse behaviour |
2. Adolescents’ motivation for continuing with substance abuse |
3. Effects of substance abuse on the adolescents’ life |
4. Factors affecting adolescents’ discontinuation of substance abuse |
5. A need to discontinue substance abuse |
In all the transcribed interviews, adolescents who abused substances reported they were groomed to pursue activities that eventually led to a habit of substance abuse. In concurrence with the findings, the participants expressed the following:
‘I decided to drink beer and get drunk so that I will not be afraid to ask my mother who my real father was.’ (Participant 5)
Adolescents commented:
‘I decided to make friends with those boys and started smoking and drinking a little bit. I gradually got used to it because I did not want to lose my friends.’ (Participant 2)
‘I tried to imitate what daddy was doing when he was smoking.’ (Participant 8)
‘Now when I am not in hospital like I am at present, I drink almost every day.’ (Participant 4)
Adolescents were also initiated into substance abuse through peer groups and curiosity about the effects of certain substances. Adolescents were eager to explore and learn about new things; they wanted to fit in and not feel isolated by their peers. This is seen in the statements presented below:
‘I put the “stompies” together until I manage to make a big tobacco wrap, which together with boys of my age from the neighbourhoods got to a corner and smoked.’ (Participant 3)
‘My friends who were already smoking and drinking started laughing at me because I was the only person in the group who was not smoking.’ (Participant 5)
‘He said extending his arm that I should have a taste of it [
From the collected data, it is evident that the adolescents were determined to experiment and explore the substances they were exposed to. Participants explained:
‘I wanted to experiment with them myself and I eventually got used to them.’ (Participant 3)
‘Later when he left, I told myself I want to taste it again.’ (Participant 4)
Parents’ modelling and values also seemed to contribute to the adolescents’ substance abuse. One of the adolescents said:
‘I began when my father started buying us liquor during special holidays such as Christmas, Easter, New Year and during ancestral celebrations at home. He used to tell us that he is buying us the beer and want us to enjoy just for the occasion.’ (Participant 8)
Another said:
‘My father is a heavy smoker and he used to smoke in front of me. All along when he was smoking I was wondering how he was doing it when I saw some smoke coming out through his mouth and nostrils. He appeared to be enjoying when he was smoking and I admired him.’ (Participant 5)
Most of the adolescents who participated in the study found the means to acquire the substance they ultimately abused. Participants shared:
‘I accumulated that pocket money until it was more enough to buy beer whenever I felt like drinking.’ (Participant 6)
‘When it comes to a push, I even steal some coins at home to make sure I go to buy some glue.’ (Participant 8)
The above statements reflect a number of factors contribute to the initiation and continued use of substances. These include parental influences, self-medication and peer pressure, among others (Broman
Adolescents were motivated by some internal and external influences to continue abusing substances. They also used substances as a means of addressing emotional and social challenges. Moreover, during the interviews, adolescents appeared afraid of being rejected by their peer group members. The following statements confirm this finding:
‘I need to tell my friends that I don’t want to drink again and say no when they invite me to take rounds with them, but I still feel that they will laugh at me and I might lose them.’ (Participant 1)
‘If I quit smoking my friends will laugh at me saying I am a coward. If I make friendship with non-smokers they will reject me and say I want to teach them my bad behaviour. So, it means I am in the middle. I don’t know where I belong anymore.’ (Participant 8)
It is evident from the above statements that the adolescents had a desire to quit substance abuse but were not ready to lose the relationships they had with their friends. Moreover, the adolescents who abuse substances are also often fearful of being victimised when they withdraw from the group with which they used to smoke or drink.
One participant explained:
‘This time they were a bit harsh and I could see that my life was in danger.’ (Participant 4)
‘If I decide to leave them even if I could, these guys will kill me thinking that I will reveal their secret to the police.’ (Participant 2)
‘
These statements illustrate that adolescent substance abusers wanted to do well, but they could not for fear of being placed in danger, so they continued with the habit.
Challenges, such as feelings of loneliness, decreased energy and the need to numb emotional pain, are experienced, as expressed in the following statements:
‘I sometimes could crave for liquor when I am lonely and during weekends.’ (Participant 8)
‘I drank beer and get drunk and then I would not be afraid of asking my mother who my real father is.’ (Participant 1)
‘In my spare time I used to drink beer telling myself that maybe I will forget.’ (Participant 3)
‘All what I have explained made me frustrated and I started drinking, thinking that it will help me forget all that was happening.’ (Participant 6)
‘What I have discovered is that even if I get drunk, when I’m sober the problems and frustrations remain.’ (Participant 4)
It is indicated in the latter statements that adolescents attempted to deal with depression, pain (physical or emotional) or intense emotions with the help of alcohol and other substances.
The adolescents felt powerless and confused. These are described as follows:
‘I don’t know what to do to solve this problem.’ (Participant 5)
‘I am confused and don’t know what I can do to come out of this mess.’ (Participant 8)
‘This whole thing makes me left in the middle without knowing what to do to come out of this problem.’ (Participant 3)
The adolescents’ willpower to decide what to do in a challenging situation had been markedly affected. The above statements confirm that the adolescents found it difficult to make decisions regarding the challenging situations they encountered. Participants were also affected psychologically and expressed the following reactions:
‘I also feel hopeless as I tried many times to quit drinking, but I am failing.’ (Participant 3)
‘I sometimes feel it was better if I was dead because my whole life is destroyed.’ (Participant 4)
‘I am overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, shame and feel hopeless.’ (Participant 7)
It is evident from the presented statements that the adolescents were emotionally affected and expressed feelings of loss, isolation and being rejected in terms of interpersonal relationships. They explained:
‘My father does not trust me anymore.’ (Participant 2)
‘My girlfriend is also threatening to leave me.’ (Participant 5)
Adolescents’ abuse of substances affects their lives as individuals, their families and the community at large. People in these adolescents’ vicinity are similarly affected in different and unique ways (Lander, Howsare & Byrne
‘My father is deserting me and is blaming my mother for not doing enough to prevent me from doing the drugs.’ (Participant 6)
‘I am not happy if my own sister is afraid of me.’ (Participant 7)
The relationships between adolescents abusing substances and their families and friends were negatively affected, as the latter statements concur.
Several factors that negatively or positively influence adolescents’ ability to discontinue the abuse of substances were identified. These included aspects of addiction, motivation to discontinue and insight into substance abuse. During the interviews, it was noted that the adolescents abusing substances had lost control over their own lives; instead, the substances they abused controlled them.
‘I see myself as a slave of beer and I want it with all my heart to quit drinking.’ (Participant 1)
‘But since I started sniffing glue, I cannot control it. I frequently crave for it and make sure I get it.’ (Participant 4)
‘I am now a slave of drugs and can’t do without them.’ (Participant 7)
Adolescents’ experiences with substance abuse ultimately triggered their motivation to cease the behaviour. The following statements support this finding:
‘I have many things to do than to come and stay here in hospital. I don’t like being in this place. Some people who are here are madder than me, so I don’t feel good staying with them. I will try by all means to avoid being brought here again by doing away with these drug things.’ (Participant 3)
‘I can be very happy if I can be able to leave sniffing glue. I don’t want to come to this place again. It was better if I came because my body was sick, not my mind.’ (Participant 8)
These latter statements confirm the participants did not want to continue their substance abuse behaviour based on their lived experiences. They had the desire to quit.
‘I am addicted to drinking and I am told it is one of the reasons I am admitted in hospital because it has affected my mind. It may be true because now I drink more frequently.’ (Participant 3)
‘It is wrong because I am still underage. I just did it in order to get the truth from my mother and now I realised I used the wrong way.’ (Participant 5)
‘It is a bad habit. It is just that once a person starts using drugs, it is not simple to leave them.’ (Participant 7)
Evidently, the adolescents gained an understanding of the negative effects imposed on them by the abuse of substances and gained insight into the effects of substance abuse on their lives. Their understanding of these effects heightened their level of judgement and decision-making ability.
Most adolescents expressed the need to discontinue substance abuse by cutting off relationships and situations that triggered this behaviour. The adolescents in this study revealed an understanding that their continued avoidance of substances means certain people and places have to be avoided. This finding is reflected in the direct quotes below:
‘I have something in mind. I am just not sure if it is going to work well for me. I was thinking of breaking the friendship with people I used to smoke with. Even if they invite me to go with them, I will not agree. I will tell them straight that I don’t belong to their group anymore.’ (Participant 4)
‘I plan that when my friends invite me to take rounds, I will tell them I am busy with something else. I will try to reduce the number of cigarettes I used to smoke in a day bit by bit. I heard that there are nicotine tablets that can help quench the craving; I will ask my father to get them for me from the chemist.’ (Participant 6)
The adolescents were aware of the benefits linked with quitting substance abuse, especially when they made comparisons with the challenges they encountered as a result of abusing these substances. This led them to a turning point where they realised the need to stop their destructive behaviour (Pettersen et al.
‘I am afraid of those guys. I was planning to leave the group, but I fear that if I do this while studying in the same institution and residing in the same place which they know, I may lose my life.’ (Participant 3)
‘
The adolescents in this study also expressed the same feelings of fear related to the discontinuation act itself.
Multiple challenges were experienced by participants in this study; the challenges include being influenced to abuse substances by the environment they live in, having the motivation to quit but being fearful of losing relationships with peers or, for some, with parents. Adolescents were affected by substance abuse as they wanted a bright future for themselves but were having difficulty quitting. The study findings are discussed below.
In this study, participants shared they were influenced by several factors, which included peer pressure and family modelling the behaviour, such as alcohol use in the home. This is supported by findings from a study by De Witt (
Adolescents in this study reported that they were motivated to continue using substances because of challenges they were facing. Participants reported being rejected by their peers, and they wanted to fit in. To counteract those feelings, individuals might be compelled to continue with undesired behaviours to gain the support of those to whom they are attached (Leary
Findings from the study indicated that adolescents found it difficult to make decisions that impacted their lives; this is supported by Frith (
Emotions are complex psychological processes involving multiple response channels, including physiological systems, facial and vocal expressive tendencies and cognition. These channels influence each other in a process that extends over time (Kassam & Mendes
Participants in this current study had lost control of their lives; they found it difficult to refrain from the substances. It has been determined that adolescents often have difficulty refraining from addictive behaviour despite attempting to do so because of the ‘loss of control’ aspect of addiction (Sussman & Sussman
According to Pettersen et al. (
The adolescents were aware of the benefits linked with quitting substance abuse, especially when they made comparisons with the challenges they encountered as a result of abusing these substances. Pettersen et al. (
In conclusion, the adolescents’ fear of disappointing others, losing social support, peers’ reactions and treatment failures were the main sources of fear surrounding adolescents’ discontinuation of substance abuse (Nebhinani et al.
Some of the adolescents admitted to the psychiatric unit with a history of abusing substances were still quite psychotic when the interviews were conducted. Their lived experience would have added value to the study should they have been stable enough to share. Other participants preferred to express themselves in English, yet they could not find the relevant vocabulary to express their situations accurately. In the process, some important information was missed. Also, since the research context was a short-term psychiatric unit, adolescents would sometimes be discharged before follow-up sessions could be conducted; hence, some information was missed. All the participants were boys, and having girls interviewed on their substance abuse experiences could have been beneficial as input from both genders would have been obtained.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners need to be sensitive when dealing with adolescents with a history of substance abuse. The adolescents must be treated with caution and respect so that they feel accepted. Thus, it is important for psychiatric nurse practitioners to utilise effective communication skills to explore the complexity of the problem and create an environment that encourages adolescents to uncover their real problems. In addition, psychiatric nurse practitioners need to support and assist adolescents in making their own decisions and developing their own insight (Jones, Fitzpatrick & Rogers
The study’s findings indicated that mental health could be promoted by providing mental health education to assist adolescents in dealing with day-to-day life challenges. Nurse educators can promote mental health education in the curriculum to teach learners on substance abuse disorders related to adolescents. Adolescents need support from psychiatric nurses and their parents in order to achieve optimal mental functioning; therefore, the nursing education curriculum should focus on improving mental health education in communities and communication skills. Emphasis needs to be placed on community-based care to highlight adolescents’ needs related to the resources available in the community.
Further studies should be conducted to ensure psychiatric nurses facilitate the mental health of adolescents abusing substances. There is a need for additional studies in the Greater Giyani Municipality in the Limpopo province, exploring the lived experiences of adolescents abusing substances.
The findings indicate that adolescents who abuse substances in the Greater Giyani experience challenges that can have an impact on their body, mind and spirit. In addition, the findings reveal that adolescents using substances need support from family, the community, as well as mental healthcare professionals. It is thus recommended that mental healthcare professionals introduce and implement relevant interventions such as support groups, mental health education, mental health awareness campaigns and rehabilitation services that directly deal with substance abuse, and the implementation thereof needs to be monitored and evaluated.
The authors would like to acknowledge the adolescents who participated in this study and shared their experiences of substance abuse.
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
T.N.R. conducted the research. A.T. wrote the manuscript, finalised and assisted with submission of the manuscript. M.P. and C.P.H.M. are the cosupervisors of the study and edited the manuscript for final submission.
This research received funding from the university’s supervisor grant.
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were analysed in this study.
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the position of the institution.