The definition of drug abuse is largely a social one, but in a broad sense the term can be used to refer to the use, "usually by self-administration, of any drug in a manner deviating from the approval medical or social patterns within a given culture" (Dawtry, 1968:14). At some point in time adolescents tend to turn to drug use whether being alcohol, cigarettes or soft/hard drugs to cope with stress and pressures being made either from society, family or peers/colleagues. .
Becoming a chronic drug user involves being stigmatised or labelled in unpleasant terms such as an outcast of society and is usually associated with crime and violence.
Throughout this assignment I will look at external pressures with their risks and resilience such as; society, family, the physical implications and the legal aspects that may influence the drug user.
Social Context.
Societies in general perceive drug abusers as undesirable and a burden. When relating risk and resilience factors towards drug abusers, society can be divided into two categories, peers and school environment. Such a social network includes the mass media, which contributed to create an air of mystery about drugtaking, thus increasing the appeal of drugs as a forbidden fruit. "It's like being layed. Drugs seem dangerous but tempting" (Plant, 1975:78).
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i. Friends and Peers Sub-Culture .
The primary factory is peers and friends. A survey carried out by Plant sates that 90 percent of those interviewed first used drugs because they were curious or because friends encouraged them. This process of socialisation amongst peers with similar values can create pressure to the adolescent or the individual, especially when new "members" look-up to older peers and their influence may cause risks. .
Drug users generally tend to associate themselves within their own sub-culture where they feel safe and understood, thus they tend to associate with other drug addicts.