The link between drug use and HIV/AIDS among young people in ...

5. Discussion/Recommendations
The study seems to highlight four major factors or themes relevant to the topic under discussion.
These being:
Risky Behavior
• Alcohol is not perceived as an unhealthy or dangerous substance due to the fact that it is
generally accepted and consumed within the society. Alcohol is also viewed as a beverage for
every social activity and is generally the beverage of choice for enjoyment and festivities.
• Young persons seem not to be aware of or accept the negative effects of marijuana and
generally perceive marijuana as a good herb or ‘tree of life’. It appears to be the belief that
marijuana has medicinal value and improves learning ability.
• In terms of the effects of drugs on the body, alcohol is associated with delinquent/violent
behavior while marijuana is perceived as creating tranquility and relaxation. Thus, marijuana is
the drug of choice to relieve stress among the youth.
• Stress is one of the most often identified factors for drug use. Parents are constantly blamed for
youth engaging in this activity. Therefore the problem of drug use is predominantly perceived
as arising out of home and parental issues.
• It appears that peer pressure has a very strong effect on the behavior of young people. The
study reveals that young people relate to fear of embarrassment from being teased for not being
sexually active, for not using drugs, and for not being fashionable, even to the point that young
people would put themselves in harms way and go against their values and morals to avoid
such embarrassments.
• The idea of young persons engaging in risky behavior to follow a crowd and to fit in brings
forcefully to the fore the beginning of major problems particularly given every indication that
negative peer pressure has a tremendously significant role in young people’s lives and decision
making processes.
• There appears to be a general loss of values and morals which has destroyed the fabric of
society – the family – and thus creates further problems such as teenage pregnancy and drug
use. The age of parenthood has become younger and such young parents lacked adequate
parenting skills. There appears to be little or no bonding between parent and child, which
further results in a lack of expression of love and concern. Young parents are unable to provide
adequate guidance and support for their teenage children experiencing the stages of puberty
and adolescence, these being both difficult and significant periods for young people.
• There appears to be pressure amongst young people not only to use drugs or engage in sexual
behavior but also to maintain a particular level in current fashion. Similarly, pressure appears
to be a learnt practice by young people through adult influence. The view was expressed that
adult use and pressure their children to acquire material wealth to facilitate them to ‘keep up
with the Jones’ (their neighbors).
• The findings of the study further demonstrates very clearly that, due to all these pressures,
young people engaged in various risky behaviors to assure their position in groups and in
society, to fit in, and to be socially accepted; again, there was expression of a strong sense to
belong.
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