Adolescent Substance Misuse Prevention Conceptual Framework (ASMPCF)

Abstract

Drug and substance misuse among adolescents is a critical public health challenge in Phakalane, Botswana, requiring contextual understanding for effective intervention. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the patterns and predictors of drug and substance misuse among urban adolescents, guided by the Social-Ecological Model (SEM). The purpose of the study was to use the findings to develop a preventive conceptual framework to curb adolescent substance misuse and reduce its impact. The study employed a descriptive phenomenological design to capture the lived experiences of 36 adolescents. A Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological data analysis was used. The findings revealed three core patterns of misuse: early adolescent initiation, with boys starting earlier and using for longer durations; substance choice patterns, showing gender-differentiated repertoires (boys using cocaine, girls excluding it), and usage frequency patterns, involving high frequency use escalating during social events. Key predictors were identified across SEM levels: peer pressure, home availability, lack of parental attention, parental or sibling substance use, parental divorce, and excessive discretionary spending money. The study demonstrated how universal risk factors manifested in Botswana’s specific socio-cultural context, where economic and familial dynamics created unique risk configurations. Findings highlighted the necessity for multi-level prevention strategies that address individual, interpersonal, and community-level factors.