Adolescents' perspectives on addiction: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this qualitative project was to ascertain the adolescents' perspectives regarding health and addiction. 41 adolescents from Tehran [22 males, 19 females] between 11 and 19 years of age were evaluated by way of open and semi-structured interviews. These subjects were selected by sampling based on the project objectives. The interviews with the subjects were tape-recorded, then transcribed, and finally content analyzed. 87% of subjects under the study claimed friendships and connections with cohorts and 15% declared family as the reasons for the prevalence of addiction. Other reasons of the adolescents were being relieved of problems and being carefree, feeling superior and powerful, compensating for social restrictions, unemployment and lack of recreations, oppositional tendencies, and curiosity. Considering adolescents as builders of the future and also pervasiveness of addiction problem, attaining information is indispensable regarding the perspectives of this vulnerable group vis-a-vis the relation between the concept of health with addiction. This can be useful in cultural, health, and social program planning as well as need and priority assessments