The Risks of Drug Addiction among Young People and the Role of Social Service in Reducing Them: A Field Study Applied to A Random Sample of Students and Their Families in the City of Riyadh

Abstract

This study aims to explore the level of drug addiction, identify the symptoms of youth drug addiction and its risks, and to investigate the role of social service in reducing addiction. The study aims at identifying the factors that lead to drug addiction among youth, and discovering the proposed programs and mechanisms to protect youth from drug addiction and the role of social service contributing to this protection. The sample consists of (115) informants of Saudi families selected randomly. The study has used the social survey method. The study concluded that the most commonly used type of drug is hashish, representing (32.2%), and shabu comes in second rank with a percentage of (27%). The drug abuse is highly used in Saudi society with a percentage of (47.8%). The families’ point of view finds that the most important factor leading to drug addiction among young people is the mixing with bad friends at the top. The weakness of religious conscience comes in second rank. However, coordinating efforts between governmental and private agencies related to combating drugs is one of the most important roles played by the social service to reduce drug addiction among young people. The results clearly found that the most prominent programmes and mechanisms proposed to protect young people from addiction depend on the approval of the sample to organize educational courses for young people to prevent the danger of drugs, then supporting studies related to the field of drug control.