Drug abuse amongst adolescent learners in a previously disadvantaged township in two Gauteng secondary schools

This study explores drug abuse amongst adolescent learners in a previously disadvantaged township in two Gauteng secondary schools. It employed an inductive research approach with a phenomenological research paradigm. Furthermore, a qualitative research approach was implemented utilizing interviews and document analysis as data collection methods. In addition, Life Orientation (LO) teachers and adolescent learners in two Gauteng secondary schools, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), were purposefully selected to participate in the study. Moreover, an inductive content analysis using open coding and axial coding was applied to decode data collected during the interview process. Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-Ecosystem was used to strengthen the arguments of this study. The findings indicated that drug abuse amongst adolescent learners is a major forecaster in drug abuse amongst adolescent learners. Furthermore, it was found that marijuana is the most used drug amongst adolescent learners. Marijuana is also disguised in muffins called “space muffins.” It is mixed in a muffin batter and baked as muffins. It also came to light that it is better for adolescent learners to eat space muffins than smoke it to still their hunger. Adolescent learners who are tested positively for drug use are sent to NGOs centers for rehabilitation. However, there are no qualified teachers employed at the NGOs to ensure that their education continues uninterrupted when they are sent there for rehabilitation. This causes them to have a huge academic backlog when they return to school after their rehabilitation program. Some adolescent learners also relapse after the rehabilitation program had been completed. They then return to the same neighborhood where their drug addiction started and result in relapses.