Young people's existential concerns and club drug abuse

Taken into consideration the limitations of conventional approaches in understanding the problem of young drug abuse, this paper shows how stresses emerging in adolescents' confrontation with the fundamental concerns of existence lead to drug taking behavior. Based on a qualitative study conducted in Hong Kong, this paper suggests that young people take illicit drugs in order to relieve anxiety arising from some existential issues at this life stage, namely struggling with identity confusion, striving for connectedness with the significant others, searching for the meaning of life, as well as striking a balance between freedom and responsibility. It provides a frame of reference for examining the subjective experiences of young people in facing their life struggles and making choices regarding drug taking. It also helps fill the gap of the existing literature on substance abuse and draws implications for intervention, prevention, and research. © 2007 A B Academic Publishers.