The experience of teenage addiction to methamphetamine
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Authors
Petersen, Susan
Issue Date
2007
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Psychology
Alternative Title
Abstract
No one denies that the problem of adolescent drug addiction is real. Teen substance abuse is pervasive, and it can and does lead to dependency that undermines potential and destroys lives. Suicide, fatal car accidents and death by overdose are common outcomes of adolescent addiction. Criminal activity is prevalent among teens who are desperate for drugs. Methamphetamine, when it is a teen's drug of choice, wreaks havoc on the user's mood, behavior and body. An addiction to this powerful drug can easily lead to death. This issue is an important one for all sectors of our society.
The reality of teen drug addiction has been examined through the lens of many quantitative researchers, who have contributed to a vast body of information about who uses drugs, how often, with what results; the course of addiction as a disease; and the various treatment options for drug users. We know a great deal about what drugs can do to a young person's life. And yet, we face an increasing number of adolescents who choose to ignore these statistics and embark upon, or continue along, a journey of self-destruction.
It seems that valuable addition to the body of research focused on teen drug addiction would be a project which approaches drug addiction from the addict's perspective. What is it like—mentally, emotionally, physically-- to be a teen addicted to a powerful drug such as methaniphetamine? How does this happen? Where are you, as a person, when you make the choice to use methamphetamine, and to use again?
This study proposes to examine, from the addict's viewpoint, the experience of teen drug addiction. Instead of gathering information around the user, the goal of this project is to gather information directlyfrom the user. This may offer another vantage point from which to consider the subject of teen drug addiction.