Drug abuse: An exploratory study of ecstasy abusers in Singapore

Abstract

This is an exploratory study of Ecstasy abusers in Singapore. It is hypothesised that deficient socialisation, which is the defective transmission of societal norms and values, is brought about by the interaction of several critical psychosocial variables which leads to the development of deviance valency. The Valency Concept is introduced as a bridge between these critical variables and the consequent manifested deviant behaviour of Ecstasy abuse as it describes a state of deviant vulnerability, which when introduced to a deviant culture will lead to deviant behavioural patterns. The findings identified seven variables which are analysed to be critical and the discussion reconciles the contribution of these variables to deficient socialisation. A holistic and integrated approach is taken to manage the adverse impact of the critical variables and recommendations are accordingly proposed in the form of an integrated solution matrix known as the Ecstasy-FREE Model.