Since most of these addicts are homeless or "run-away" they do not have fixed homes or addresses. They also tend to rely completely on peer comradeship, mostly drug users themselves, for the necessary protection. This high degree of in-group solidarity may expose the drug taker to a variety of diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C that could be transmitted from sexual relationships, sharing of needle, malnutrition etc Such a state of high attitude towards drug use could lead the individual to low commitment to school or work, low self-esteem and poor personality characteristics. Personal hygiene will degenerate and they tend to have low religiosity or no ideologies at all. Their lack of a socio-economic status will make them drift from an odd job to another due to their inconsistencies. Thus they identify themselves within their environment. The drug culture will become their life. Even if they stop using drugs and go through their withdrawal they find it hard to adjust to life without drugs (Stewart, 1987).
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ii. School Environment.
The most dangerous factor that young people face at school is the transition from primary to secondary. This change may create stress and loss of self-esteem on the adolescent due to the fact hat tight relationships with friends and other familiar surroundings are generally lost. Such a drastic change may influence the young person's academic performance, ego and approach to interpersonal relationships. To top it all up family and academic staff call for academic achievement. Thu the adolescent tend to rebel and to foster a negative attitude towards the school and its authoritarian system.
Resiliency factors that can fight such risks are peer warmth, good values and academic achievement. Although friends or peer groups can pressure the individual healthy relationships and strongly connected peer groups are essential for any adolescent to make the transition from the family, to school, to the outside world.