Asmare Wedi Sindew, Abate Biruk Beletew, Anmut Asres Tesfa, Abera Mohammed Aragaw, Bekele Sentayehu Oljira, Sendekie Ashenafi Kibret
College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Front Public Health. 2024 Dec 10;12:1487772. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1487772. eCollection 2024.
Substance use among youths is a significant global and local issue. Youth who engage in substance use often experience various psychosocial, health, economic, and other problems. While governmental and non-governmental organizations in North Wollo and Waghimra Zones offer social services, their effectiveness in preventing and controlling substance use remains largely unstudied. This research aims to explore youth substance use prevention techniques and control mechanisms, youth participation, and potential challenges encountered by social service organizations.
A qualitative case study design was employed in North Wollo and Waghimra Zones, Northeast Ethiopia. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. A total of 40 participants were involved, including 10 key informant interviews and 5 focus group discussions (FGDs) of youths (6 participants per group). The data collection instrument included a pre-tested semi-structured in-depth interview, an FGD guide, and an observation checklist. The collected data were analyzed thematically.
Prevention efforts primarily focused on awareness-raising campaigns and advocacy programs. Control mechanisms were predominantly reactive, including measures such as regulating the substance trade, punishing drug dealers, destroying and burning drug paraphernalia, and closing substance trade centers. The study found limited youth involvement in substance use prevention and control initiatives. Several key challenges were identified in the prevention and control of youth substance use: limited government involvement, reliance only on reactive measures, low youth engagement, insufficient intersectoral collaboration, lack of community commitment, gaps in social institutions, absence of planned interventions, the economic role of substances, government ignorance, and the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks for prevention and control.
This study highlights a gap in prevention and control mechanisms, and engagement of youths, non-governmental as well as governmental bodies. This study recommends making evidence-based interventions and installing functional networks among sectors to deal with common issues. This issue also should not be left to a single organization and government agencies, families, religious, and educational institutions should play a leading role in tackling substance use burdens at the grassroots level.
青少年物质使用是一个重大的全球和地方问题。从事物质使用的青少年经常会经历各种心理社会、健康、经济和其他问题。虽然北沃洛和瓦吉姆拉地区的政府和非政府组织提供社会服务，但其在预防和控制物质使用方面的有效性在很大程度上仍未得到研究。本研究旨在探索青少年物质使用预防技术和控制机制、青少年参与情况以及社会服务组织遇到的潜在挑战。
在埃塞俄比亚东北部的北沃洛和瓦吉姆拉地区采用定性案例研究设计。采用目的抽样法招募参与者。共有40名参与者，包括10次关键 informant 访谈和5次青少年焦点小组讨论（每组6名参与者）。数据收集工具包括经过预测试的半结构化深度访谈、焦点小组讨论指南和观察清单。对收集到的数据进行主题分析。
预防工作主要集中在提高认识运动和宣传项目上。控制机制主要是被动反应式的，包括诸如规范物质交易、惩罚毒贩、销毁和焚烧吸毒用具以及关闭物质交易中心等措施。研究发现青少年参与物质使用预防和控制举措的程度有限。在青少年物质使用的预防和控制方面确定了几个关键挑战：政府参与有限、仅依赖被动措施、青少年参与度低、部门间协作不足、社区缺乏承诺、社会机构存在差距、缺乏计划性干预措施、物质的经济作用、政府忽视以及缺乏预防和控制的综合法律框架。
本研究突出了预防和控制机制以及青少年、非政府组织和政府机构参与方面的差距。本研究建议进行基于证据的干预，并在各部门之间建立起功能性网络以处理共同问题。这个问题也不应仅留给单个组织，政府机构、家庭、宗教和教育机构应在基层应对物质使用负担方面发挥主导作用。
