Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/91158
Title: A professionals’ perception of drug and alcohol abuse amongst minors
Authors: Pace, Alexia (2021)
Keywords: Youth -- Drug use -- Malta
Youth -- Alcohol use -- Malta
Synthetic drugs -- Malta
Drug abuse and crime -- Malta
Juvenile delinquency -- Malta
Police -- Malta
Aġenzija Sedqa
OASI Foundation (Malta)
Issue Date: 2021
Citation: Pace, A. (2021). A professionals’ perception of drug and alcohol abuse amongst minors (Bachelor’s dissertation).
Abstract: Experimentation of drugs and alcohol during teenage years is very common. It is well established that this phenomenon presents a huge problem especially on those young individuals who develop a dependency, shifting on to more harmful substances and causing serious damage to themselves and others. The focus of this research study is on the perceptions that professionals have on the problem of drug abuse and the consumption of alcohol amongst minors. This research study aims to establish how big the problem of substance misuse among minors locally is while determining the reasons why minors use drugs and alcohol. This dissertation aims to find out what substances’ minors tend to go for the most, either traditional or synthetic drugs. Moreover, this research determines whether a link between substance use and crime exists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with various professionals coming from different entities. These entities included the Juvenile Court, Police Drug Squad, Oasi and Sedqa. The data gathered was then analysed qualitatively since this study focuses on the experiences and knowledge of the chosen population, producing more in-depth research. After the conduction of the interviews, these were then transcribed, and the method of thematic analysis was used, and several themes were formed. Firstly, results suggested that every participant perceives the problem of substance misuse amongst minors as problematic and worrying. Secondly, even though some participants mentioned that synthetic drugs are very common to be used by minors, most of the respondents agreed that nowadays traditional drugs are more common to be used by the younger generation. Moreover, findings showed that professionals perceive family and friends as the biggest risk factors for adolescent substance use. The findings also suggest that although not everyone, there’s a high risk that minors who abuse substances may engage in crime later in their life. Lastly, information gathered from this research study found to be consistent with existing research and literature.
Description: B.A. (Hons) Criminology(Melit.)
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/91158
Appears in Collections:Dissertations - FacSoW - 2021
Dissertations - FacSoWCri - 2021

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