NCJ Number
179335
Journal
Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment Volume: 1 Issue: 2/3 Dated: 1998 Pages: 137-163
Date Published
1998
Length
27 pages
Annotation
Because substance abuse has devastating effects on the lives of black children and adolescents who are both direct and indirect victims of the problem, this article discusses child and adolescent substance abuse from a psychosocial development perspective within an Africentric paradigm.
Abstract
The authors explore contributing and intervention factors related to substance abuse that impact developmental milestones. They delineate preventive tactics for addressing the problem of substance abuse and examine implications for social work practice. The article builds on Erikson's psychosocial theory as a framework for conceptualizing biological, psychological, and social development factors associated with substance abuse by incorporating the Africentric cultural perspective. Contributing factors to substance abuse among children between 4 and 6 years of age, children between 6 and 12 years of age, and adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age are considered. Intervention factors relevant to childhood substance abuse are discussed. The premise that substance abuse negatively impacts the accomplishment of developmental milestones is supported. 67 references, 2 notes, and 2 tables