Hong Kong Christian Service - Christian Service News

Issue 33 (October 2001)

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Project City has always been keen on assisting the troubled teenage girls to stay away from drugs. We are particularly concern about the delusions that these girls have in connection to using drugs. In order to gain an understanding of the circumstances under which drugs are being utilized; and to explore all possible venues from our society to help eliminate, with an united effort, the delusions of drug abuse amongst these teens, Project City has successfully interviewed (via questionnaires) 172 teenage girls through social workers who have opportunities to work with drug abused teens.

Results and Analysis

Background Information on the 172 Teenage Girls

71.5% (123 girls) are 16 years or under. Worth noticing is that 17.5% (30 girls) who are between 13 to 14 years old have utilized and abused drugs.
43.7 % (75 girls) are between Form One to Two in Secondary school.
29.1% (50 girls) have quit school, 55.8% (96 girls) are unemployed.
96% (165 girls) are regular smokers.

Drug-abused Teenage Girls' Delusions :-

Delusion # 1 - Drugs Help Maintain Physical Fitness
82% (141 girls) believe dancing under the influence of drug will maintain their stamina and vigor and thus help maintain their fitness level.

Delusion # 2 - "Ice" Enhances Weight Loss
23.3 % (40 girls) admitted to have taken "ice" (ketamine) for the purpose of loosing weight. They generally think that they are overweight when in reality they are borderline malnourished (85% and below normal weight).

Delusion # 3 - Submit to Drug Abused Boyfriend by Taking
Drugs Will Help Keep the Relationship Alive
67.3% (116 girls) use drugs as a result of the influence from their boyfriends. They believe by following their drug abuse pattern, they will have a viable relationships.

Delusion # 4 - Drugs are Instant Uppers
Those who are interviewed think drugs can instantly alter ones' state of emotional level. 70.6% (121 girls) indicate that whenever they are depressed they abuse drugs.

Delusion # 5 - Addiction Can Be Controlled
50% (86 girls) believe they have the ability to control their crave for drugs; therefore, using drugs freely will not affect them.

Factors that Cause the Teenage Girls to believe in the Delusions

67.5% (116 girls) are unsatisfied or tend to be unsatisfied with their appearance; thus, drugs are used as a mean to loose weight for to obtain a slim look.
From the study, 91.2% of the girls have left school or are unemployed. 75% have frequent conflicts at home. 72.2% are incapable or unlikely to be capable of handling negative emotions. Under the circumstance of being lack of the skills in stress management, they are driven to the using of drugs as an escape in dealing with their emotional issues.
Over 60% indicate as long as their boyfriends like to use drugs they will gladly follow. 71.4%(124 girls) think that they do not have or unsure if they have strong conviction against abusing drugs.
Due to the false-confidence in their self-control against drug crave, they are drawn to the delusion of believing in their ability to stay sober.
Almost 30% constantly feel that their lives are troublesome and boring. 65.9% (113 girls) are unsure if life has meaning or they are certain that life has no meaning or purpose.

Project City Recommendations for Drug Abused Teenage Girls

To combat and save young women from such a delusion that drug is an aid for them to reach the false image of beauty by being overly trim, organizations in our society together shall promote a healthy image of beauty.
In the handling of drug abuse teenage girls, special attention should be given to their emotional needs as well as their ability to process and to manage emotions.
To prevent teenage girls from abusing drugs, a certain level of their sense of independence must be cultivated in order that overt reliance on men may be avoided. To positively improve their family relationship and support system while they are out of school or unemployed will give them a safe haven.
We must assist these youngsters to find directions for their lives and to build meaningful goals for their future.