Wy. Low et al., THE DRUG-ABUSE PROBLEM IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA - PARENT AND CHILD DIFFERENCES IN KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS, Drug and alcohol dependence, 42(2), 1996, pp. 105-115
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.