The Nature and Effects of Substance Abuse among Adolescents: A Case of Mabelreign, Harare, Zimbabwe

Joseph Muwanzi, Dr. Racheal Mafumbate

Abstract: The study examined the causes, nature and effects of substance abuse among adolescents in Mabelreign Community. It also identified mechanisms and strategies that can be adopted to reduce substance abuse. Methodologically adopted, survey research design, stratified random sampling size of 50 respondents and questionnaires and interview schedule were data gathering tools. The study revealed an increase of substance abuse among adolescents in secondary schools, colleges and universities due to various reasons, but the researcher hypothesized the legal majority age as the core cause which makes it difficult to manage adolescents. Hence, this needs to be revisited since the challenge robbed off golden fortunes. The researcher recommends that parents should be role models at home, work while at educational institutions discipline has to be applied. Legislators should craft laws governing accessibility, use and marketing of substances and emphasizing age restrictions to certain types of drugs. Offenders should be apprehended and given relative charges.

Keywords: adolescents, abuse, nature, effects and substance