OBJECTIVE: Substance misuse tends to be higher among adolescents. This study explored the experience of substance misuse during adolescence.
METHOD: This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach. A purposive sampling was adopted to involve 8 former drug users. Data were analyzed using Collaizi's method.
RESULTS: This study generated the following themes: 1) smoking as an initial exposure to substance use; 2) substance use is aimed to explore self-identity; 3) lack of information and education about substance and drug use in the family and community; 4) the quality of family relationships influencing substance misuse, and 5) stigmas related to substance abuse.
CONCLUSIONS: Smoking precedes other substance use among adolescents. To be socially accepted, adolescents tend to take risky decisions. Inadequate knowledge of drugs and poor family relationships can contribute to substance abuse. Nevertheless, inadequate familial or community support to encourage drugs users in rehabilitative programs is also problematic. Moreover, drugs users are often stigmatized and socially isolated even after becoming clean.