The reasons why children in their pre and early teenage years do or do not use illegal drugs

Abstract 

This paper examines the drug-related decisions of a previously under researched group of children; those in their pre-teen and early teenage years. Based on a prospective study of 92 ‘at risk’ children, it explores the reasons which they gave for their use or non-use of illegal drugs. The accounts of those who used drugs on a regular or occasional basis are strongly supportive of the importance of personal choice, emphasising the role of enjoyment and boredom as the main motivating factors. The reasons given for not using drugs included a lack of interest in the activity, fear of the effects of the drug and a concern that drug taking would compromise other valued activities or pursuits. The anticipated reaction of parents, and the extent to which they had internalised parental values on drugs, also appeared to act as an important restraint for some of the children. While there is a vital role for drug education in seeking to influence children's drug-related decisions, the study's conclusions also emphasise the significance of parents in this regard. The fact that the overwhelming majority of the children reported using drugs because they enjoyed them or because they were bored also suggests that the provision of alternative activities should be central to any preventive strategy.

Keywords: Children, Illegal drugs, Decision-making, Boredom, Parents