Gateway Drug Abuse: A Study on Abstinence from Drug Abuse in Adolescents and Rehabilitation Process

• Main Authors: Chen, Yi-Chun, 陳宜君
• Other Authors: Cheng, Jui-Lung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/t6wjz8

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 犯罪防治研究所 === 107 === The purpose of this research is to explore the experience and causes of adolescents’ first moment of drug use and gateway drug use as well as the process of their abstaining from drug abuse and rehabilitation. As a qualitative study, data collection for the thesis was carried out via in-depth individual interviews with five male participants and two female participants undergoing gateway drug use. The findings of the research showed that most situations where adolescents initiate their first access to free and illicit drugs offered by their companions or gang members would occur at a gathering of friends. The main reasons for their first intake of drugs are under influence of psychological factors, family system, working environment comprised of gang members etc. In addition, the repercussions on their gateway drug use are due to negative social networks, increasing acceptance of drug use, insensibility to habit-forming drug and turning to other illicit drugs available. The thought flashes through these drug takers’ mind that they determine to refrain from drugs as they find illicit drugs too expensive to afford or side effects of drug use have brought serious impact on their life. Moreover, the loss of their familial and interpersonal relationship will boost their motivation for abstaining from drugs. The findings of the study indicate that respondents quit taking drugs seeking professional medical assistance and isolating themselves from environments that trigger drug cravings. In the process of abstinence, the factors leading to their failure are as follows: immersed in an unchanged environment, affected by stressful events and re-establishing regular contact with drug-using friends. It turns out that these drug abstainers maintain their abstinence from drug abuse through support from positive strength, close social bond, proactive intervention from government and social welfare organization, and so on. According to the research result, researcher proposes some feasible suggestions regarding policy and practice and future study.