RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESSES FOR SUBSTANCE DRUG AMONG TEENAGERS LIVING IN SLUMS: CASE STUDY OF SLUMS IN BANGKOK

Abstract

The aims of this qualitative research are to study risks and risk management processes for substance drug among teenagers living in slums. The key informants were. recovered addicts who used substance during their adolescent years and selected using purposive sampling technique. The interview data was classified, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis and grounded theory. The findings indicated that there are multiple risks, which teenagers in slums experienced. These included trouble in the family, strict school codes, have friends who use substances, living near someone who abuse drugs, health concerns, death from longer term use, Modern communication technology facilitates for buy drugs and Risks after using the drug from trouble with the law enforcements. In addition, risk management processes for substance drug among teenagers living in slums depend greatly on their context and social interactions with others. As a result, they tend to present a different “version” of themselves based on a social context in order to avoid getting into trouble. For example, in family context, they would present themselves as a “good child” and continued to assure everyone that they did not use any drug. In school context, they would take on a role of “good students” and attended every classes while secretly used drug during break. In social context, they would take good care of their bodies to avoid looking like someone who used drug along with forming positive relationships with the authorities. By presenting themselves in these manners, they were able to cover up their drug use and create respected personas among authoritative figures. The suggestions from this study can be used as a database for implementing policies to prevent and solve drug problems among adolescents living in slums. The solutions should focus on the integration of all social institutions to completely end substance and drugs abuse among teenagers.