The Social and Psychological Background of Young Drug Abusers in Dublin

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Abstract
Summary: A report on 50 adolescent drug abusers seen in Dublin is presented. 84 per cent were male and 80 per cent mere Irish. Their school achievement was poor and 62 per cent displayed frequent mitching in their last school year. This occurred prior to the onset of drug taking. Their work records were also unsatisfactory, jobs being changed frequently while 60 per cent were unemployed for more than one year of an average working life of four years. In 40 per cent of the families one of the parents, usually the father, was dead or absent. The family size was larger than the national average while in 70 per cent, one of the members was using drugs in the course of legitimate treatment or illegally. The majority of the sample began using drugs in their post school‐leasing year. Cannabis and LSD were the two drugs most commonly used. 48 per cent had used drugs intravenously. 46 per cent had used drugs for more than three years. Data obtained from the Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire suggested that this was generally a personality disorder group.

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