Parents' experiences of parenting an adolescent abusing substances

Abstract

Adolescent substance abuse is one of the most significant current discussions in social and public health (Wegner & Flisher, 2009). According to the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU), it has been reported that in South Africa between 17% (Northern Region) and 50% (Central Region) of patients in treatment use alcohol as a primary drug of abuse (Dada & Harker Burnhams, 2017). In relation to adolescent substance abuse, it was found that between 1% (Eastern Cape) and 11% (Western Cape and Northern Region) of patients who were under the age of indicated that alcohol was their primary substance of abuse. The Department of Social Development (2017) reports that youths and their parents appear to be severely affected by the adolescents' use of harmful substances.