School Based Assessment

Candidate Name: Kishana Thompson

Candidate #:

Teacher:

Centre: Happy Grove High

Centre #:

Territory: Jamaica

Year of Submission: 2021

Title: The effects of Substance Abuse

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Table of contents

Pages

Acknowledgement 1

Statement of problem 2

Reason for selecting the area of research 3

Method of Investigation 4

Data collection instrument 5-9

Procedure for data collection 10

Presentation of data 11-14

Analysis and interpretation 15-16

Statements of findings 17

Recommendation and implementation 18

Bibliography 19

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Acknowledgement

I must thank God for giving me strength to start the research and thanks to my family members

for the financial support. Thanks to my teacher for the motivation for doing this work and to

have a better understanding of my work. And thanks to my respondents for their cooperation.

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Statement of problem
Topic: Substance abuse among teenagers in my community of Reach

What are the main factors contributing to substance abuse among teenagers in Reach?

Research questions

1: What are the main factors contributing to alcohol abuse among teenagers?

2: What are the main effects of alcohol abuse among teenagers in the community of Reach?

3:What strategies can be used to reduce the alcohol use among teenagers in my community?

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Reason for choosing the topic

The researcher’s observation of teenagers abusing alcohol in the community of Reach has

influenced an investigation into this topic. In my community use of substances among teenagers,

has become an accepted practice by adults. Many teenagers can be seen regular on the street and

especially at parties drinking alcohol. As a teenager I am often pressured by my peers to

consume and use substances. It is based on these observations and the researcher’s experience

with peer pressure that influence an investigation into the main factors of contributing to

substance abuse. It is the researcher’s intention to also identify what measures can be used to

reduce substance abuse among the teenagers.

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Method of investigation

The method used to collect data is questionnaire.

1. Questionnaire was used because it can be completed at the respondent’s convenience.

2. It saves time as one on one contact is not needed.

3. It gives a better feedback as individuals feel free to express themselves without someone

hovering over them.

4. It is confidential since respondents are not required to write their names.

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Instrument used to collect data

Note to the Respondent

Our names is Kishana Thompson and Trianna Murray. We are 11 grade students at Happy

Grove High. We are presently conducting a research on Substance abuse among teenagers in the

community of Reach and the impact it has on the community.

We would like you to be one of the respondents in this study by completing the attached

questionnaire. We hope you can help us by answering the questions as sincerely and truthfully

as possible. You are not required to write your name. Please rest assured that all your responses

will be kept confidential.

Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,

_______________ _________________

Kishana Thompson & Triana Murray

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Copy of Questionnaire

1: Which sex are you?

Female [ ]

Male []

2: Do you attend school?

Yes [ ]

No [ ]

3: What age group are you?

10-12 [ ]

13-14 [ ]

15-16 [ ]

17-19 [ ]

4: How long have you been a resident in Reach?

Under 1 year [ ]

1-5 years []

6-10 []

Over 10 years [ ]

5: What is the main reason why you use or consume Substances?

Peer pressure []

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Influence by parents [ ]

Wanting to feel high [ ]

To relief stress []

6: At what age did you start taking substances?

Below 10 [ ] Between 10 & 15 [ ] Above 15 years [ ]

7: How often do you use or consume substances?

Very often []

Not so often []

Not often []

8: Do you consider using substances a dangerous practice?

Yes []

No []

Unsure []

9: Where do you use/consume most of your substances?

On the street [ ]

At bars []

At home []

At parties []

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10: How prevalent is use of substances among teenagers in this community?

Very prevalent []

Not so prevalent [ ]

Not prevalent []

Unsure []

11: which is your favorite substance?

Alcohol [ ] Marijuana [ ] Cocaine/Crack [ ] aphrodisiac [ ] other [ ]

12: which gender do you think engage more in substance abuse?

Male []

Female [ ]

Unsure [ ]

13: What measure can be implemented to reduce the level of substance abuse among teenagers in

this community?

Ensure that only persons with license sell substances and only to adults [ ]

Prosecute persons who sell minors substances []

Have seminars to educate teenagers on the danger of substance abuse [ ]

Charge teenagers who are caught abusing substances []

14: How harmful do you consider use of substances to the body?

Very harmful []

Not so harmful [ ]

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Not harmful []

Unsure []

15: What are the main effects of substance abuse among users in the communityl?

Mood swings []

Aggressiveness []

Unruly behaviour []

Poor concentration []

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Procedure for Data collection

The research survey was conducted in the community of Reach. A total number of twenty (20)

questionnaires were administered among teenagers in the community. Among these were fifteen

(15) males and (5) five female, with their age range between twelve and nineteen. The research

sample group was chosen by random sample. This was done by choosing (2) two respondents

from every section of the community. The administration of the questionnaires took the

researcher two days from January 21, to January 22, 2021. The respondents were very

cooperative hence the researchers did not encounter any difficulties.

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Presentations of Data

Figure 1: Are you aware of the harmful effects of substances to the body?

yes
5%

no
95%

Figure 2 shows that 95% of respondents are not aware of the harmfulness of substances on the

body while 5% say they are aware.

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Figure 2: Most common effects of substance abuse among teenagers in Reach community.

60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% To relief stress wanting to feel high Peer pressure parental influence

To relief stress wanting to feel high

Peer pressure Parenntal influence
Figure 2 shows that 50% of respondents use substances to feel high, and 25% each said to relieve

stress or peer pressure. Nobody was influenced by parents

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 Table 1 Measures that can be used to reduce the level of substance abuse among teenagers.

Respondents number percentage

Ensure that only person with license sell alcohol **** 20%

and only to adult

Persecute person who sell minors alcohol. ****** 30%

Have seminars to educate teenagers on the

danger of alcohol abuse. ********** 50%

Charge teenagers who are caught abusing

alcohol. 0%

Key

*= 1 respondent

Table 1: showing respondents strategies that can be used reduce the level of substance abuse

among teenagers.

The table shows that 20% of the respondents felt that it should be ensured that only persons who

are licensed sell substances and only to adults. Another 30% indicated that persons who sell

substances to minors should be prosecuted and another 50% suggested having seminars to

educate teenagers could reduce the level of substance abuse. Nobody was in support of charging

teenagers who were caught in the act.

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 Table 2: Where teenagers abuse substances most often in Reach?

Respondents Number of respondents Percentage %

On the street 1 5%

At the bar 11 10%

At home 11 10%

At parties 11111111111111 75%

Key 1= one respondent

Table:2 showing the respondents views on where they abuse substances mostly in the

community. The table shows substances are mostly used at parties (75%) while 10% is done at

home, another 19% at the bar and 5% on the street.

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Fig 3: Main effect of substance abuse in the community.

45%

40%

35%

30%

25% mood swing

aggressive
20%
unruly behaviour
poor concentration
15%

10%

5%

0%
poor concen- unruly behaviour aggressive mood swings
tration

Figure 3: Bar graph showing respondents views to the main effect of substance abuse.

The figure shows that 40% of the respondents say poor concentration is the main effect followed

by 35% for aggressiveness, 15% for mood swings and 10% for unruly behavior.

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Analysis and interpretation of Data

It is evident from the data presented in figure 2 that wanting to feel high is the most common

cause of substance abuse among teenagers in the community of Reach . This view was shared by

30% 0f the respondents. The researcher believes that the lack of parental control could be one of

the reasons for substance abuse among youths in the community. Table 2 indicates that 75% of

teenagers’ alcohol consumption is done at parties. This suggests that parents are not supervising

their children’s activities or they do not care about what they engage in or the consequences.

On the other hand a number of these teenagers (35%) use substances to relieve stress. It

is surprising that these teenagers would resort to use of substances instead of sharing their

concerns with someone. This also suggests that the family bonding or trust is absent.

The data presented in figure 3 shows that majority of the sample group

( 40%) stated that poor concentration is the main effect of substance abuse. And 35% stated that

aggressive behaviour is the second highest. This is not good for teenagers to be undergoing these

effects at a time when they are preparing for exams to determine their future.

Figure 1 shows that an alarming 95% of the teenagers in the sample are not aware of the

effects of alcohol. It was therefore suggested in the data shown in Table 1 that the largest group,

50% of the respondents indicated having seminars to educate teenagers on the danger of alcohol

abuse in the community of Reach could help to reduce this problem. The data also suggest that

the source of obtaining substances must also be dealt with as 30% of the sample said persons

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who sell minors substances should be persecuted and another 20% felt that individuals should be

licensed and sell only to adults.

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Findings

From the study conducted the researchers found out the following:

1. The main reason for substance abuse among teenagers in reach is wanting to feel high

2. The main effects on substances on the teenagers is poor concentration

3. Teenagers believe that seminars on effects of substance abuse can be useful in

reducing substance abuse

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Recommendation and implementation strategy

Base on the findings the researchers make the following recommendation:

1) The police should persecute the person who is constantly selling minors substances to the

teenagers and they should have stricter laws and penalties.

2) Community groups such as churches should offer more programmes geared at family

time to improve family bonding

3) The government should have education awareness programme on strategies that the

parents can used to reduce level of substance abuse among teenagers.

Implementation strategy

In order to implement recommendation number one, the researchers would do the

following:

Invite the police to organize a Police Youth Club in the area and have special meetings

with the parents to discuss the issues. This club will keep these teenagers engaged in

responsible roles and also provide the police with more presence in the community to be

more vigilant in prosecuting offenders.

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Bibliography

The Daily Gleaner- February 10, 2010

Rampersad Ramsawak and Ralph R. Umraw, 2005, Modules in Social Studies with S.B.A.

Guide and C.X.C. Questions Fourth Edition, Trinidad, Caribbean Educational Publishers.

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