THE DRUG-ABUSE PROBLEM IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA - PARENT AND CHILD DIFFERENCES IN KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS

A survey was carried out to gather information on knowledge, attitudes and perception of parents and their children in relation to drug abus e matters. Significantly more teenagers knew more of the causes of dru g addiction, as well as places for treatment and rehabilitation. Both teenagers and parents were also aware of reasons why drug addicts find it difficult to change their habits, mainly lacking motivation to sto p taking drugs and that drug addicts do not have the power to control themselves. Teenagers were significantly more aware of effects of nega tive parental attitudes contributing to drug abuse, apart from school factors. Personal experiences before abusing drugs such as knowledge o f pleasurable effects of drugs and where to obtain them has also a rol e to play in leading to drug abuse. There was also agreement that unfu lfilled needs such as 'not being respected or recognised for ones capa bilities' and 'not being loved or treated fairly by parents', were cau ses of drug abuse. Significantly more teenagers knew of the ways of ab using drugs, mainly by injection, smoking and sniffing, and also sourc es of information via the mass media, social clubs, rehabilitation cen tres and schools. However, both the parents and teenagers were relativ ely ignorant of the long term effects of abusing drugs.