Abstract

Understanding profiles and experiences of adolescents who start using drugs is crucial in developing effective substance abuse interventions and treatment. Thus, this study was to identify the profiles and experiences of adolescents involvement in substance abuse. In total, 200 adolescents from three juvenile Henry Gurney school in Malaysia took part in this exploratory cross section research design. All of these respondents were positively identified involved with drugs. A set of questionnaires were administered to the respondents in group. Results of the study showed that majority of respondents (49 percent) reported to start using drugs at age of 14-16. Most of respondents (58.5 percent) had been arrested for the first time to undergo a rehabilitation process under the supervision of the Prison Department of Malaysia. In term of drug using pattern, 45.6 percent reported to consistently using drug ever day while almost half (49.5 percent) obtained their drugs from illegal drugs suppliers. The study also identified that cocaine (65 percent) and marijuana drug (54.5 percent) are the most popular drugs used by an adolescents. Findings suggest that rehabilitation and drug prevention programs should take into account regarding the client's background and their drug experience to ensure that drug rehabilitation process can be implemented more effectively to the client of various ages.

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