Life, labels, and self-concept: Voicing the experience of inner-city drug-using youth

Most studies on adolescent drug-use focus on youth who have already faced legal sanctions due to their drug-use. The current research is a qualitative study, and was initiated in the community to attain a broader perspective concerning drug-using youth. This study took place in the inner-city of Kansas City, Missouri. Thirty respondents were interviewed whose ages ranged from 14--20 years-old. The study focused on the experience and perceptions these youth had regarding their lives. Specific areas of the youth's lives were explored, including self-concept, illicit drug-use and the labeling of these youth. It was found that self-concept is influenced most greatly by youths' perception regarding familial views. Youth who had been labeled as drug-users had negative self-concepts at a higher rate than their peers. It was also found that youth who felt they played roles within their community were more likely to have positive self-concepts, and to feel good about their life and their future expectations. The findings of this study suggest that community integration programs that allow for a focus on building youth self-confidence and self-esteem could serve as alternatives to correctional treatment.