The drugging patterns and attitudes towards substance abuse in a group of Johannesburg street children.

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology)A substance abuse problem among street children has been acknowledged and treatment has not proved beneficial. The general aim of this study was to investigate their drugging habits and attitudes to drugging and treatment, in order to elucidate reasons for this failure and provide direction for an effective treatment approach. An exploratory study utilizing a non-probability sample (N=16) of male street children, aged 12 to 16, from a Johannesburg shelter, was carried out. An unconventional approach to gathering information was developed, within the framework of one-hour group discussions heId over seven weeks. Questions devised by the researcher were presented as stimuli for group discussion, story telling, and drawings. Data were also collected through a voting procedure. Results confirm regular substance abuse and dependency which merits attention. Maintaining factors were the suppression of emotional ...., low self esteem, and socialmotivators, i.e., to gain confidence and maintain networks. Risks and actual negative effects of substance abuse were vaguely perceived. These findings must be regarded as tentative, due to the small sample. More research, utilizing subjects not living in shelters and those in other shelters, should be done to find out if these findings are replicated . .A suggested treatment modality is group therapy and the changing of group norms, Groups would be conscientising. Specific aims could be formulated hy the group members, but could include general life skills and the development of alternative reinforcing activities. Peer mentoring could be considered.Andrew Chakane 201