“I Know How to Stop Using Drug!” An Exploratory Study of Drug Use Course for Female

• In Event: Cross National Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract

The onset of drug usage among juvenile girls is a severe issue in Taiwan, with increasing numbers of females using substances (Ministry of Justice, 2007-2012). The present study focuses on life experiences that relate to female adolescents’ substance abuse. Specifically, qualitative methods are employed to portray the life experiences that contribute to the terminating period (or starting and stopping) of drug use among female youth. Toward this end, 11 participants who violated the “Narcotics Act” were selected and interviewed in a Juvenile Reform School in Taiwan. The subsequent analyses of the interviews indicate three different types of group of drug experiences among the 11 participants. After their entry into drug usage, all of these women reported working in the escort industry; additionally, they described that using substances was a required skill for their job. Findings suggest individual factors, informal social bonds, significant other’s influence, and turning points away from deviance and negative peers have a significant positive impact in influencing the termination of drug usage. Future research and policy implications are offered for the reader.

Author

• Meng-ru Shih, University of Texas at Dallas