Adolescent cough medicine abuse in Hong Kong: Implications for the design of positive youth development programs in Hong Kong
Author(s)
Author(s)
Shek, D. T. L.
Date Issued
2007
Publisher
Freund Publishing House Ltd.
Related Publication(s)
Positive youth development: Development of a pioneering program in a Chinese context
Start page
25
End page
36
Abstract
This chapter examines the phenomenon of adolescent cough medicine abuse in Hong Kong. Quantitative data obtained from questionnaire survey with 225 adolescents showed that there were personal, peer, family and community factors influencing adolescent cough medicine abuse. Part 2 of the study obtained qualitative data from focus group interviews with cough medicine abusers (N = 8), their family members (N = 5) and service providers (N = 6). The accounts of the participants revealed that the primary factors accounting for adolescent cough for medicine abuse were social pressure (peer and environmental influences), family (difficult relationships or harmful incidents), availability (ease of access), and ignorance (unaware of the consequence of cough medicine use and belief that cough medicine was non-addictive). The present findings provide useful pointers for the developments of the positive youth development program supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club charities Trust.
SFU Affiliated Publication
No