THE PROBLEM OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN THE PERCEPTION OF PARENTS OF ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Substance use disorder is a multidimensional social problem that affects all society and risks of the
problem should be evaluated for adolescents. It is important to conduct preventive trainings in
schools that will increase the awareness of families about the problem. In this study, a research was
conducted to reveal the opinions of the parents of secondary school age adolescents in Ankara
before the seminar for parents on the problem of substance use disorder. In addition to the sociodemographic questionnaire, the “Perception of Substance Addiction Scale” developed by Polat and
Kök (2019) was used in the study, and parents were asked individual conditions and the effect of
the family, environment and society and social sensitivity and institutional sensitivity and struggle.
As a result of the research, although the majority of the participants did not know a person with
substance use disorder in their immediate environment, they considered the substance use disorder
problem as a threat to their children and all the participants stated that training should be organized
for them in schools regarding this problem. It has been reached that parents evaluate that
psychological problems, family, friends and social media have a effect on substance use.
Participants emphasized that the studies carried out in public institutions, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations for the treatment of and fight against substance use should be shared
with the public, and the demands and complaints from the citizens should be taken into account.