Perceptions of substance abuse in urban slums
With the existing socio-demographic challenges in urban slums, adolescents become more vulnerable to substance abuse because of the availability and accessibility of drugs in their community. To showcase the vulnerability of elder adolescents (15 to 19 years old) from substance abuse, this photo narrative book illustrates evidence on the lived realities of adolescents in urban slums through pictures and real-life case stories. The primary data collection of 30 adolescents helped identify the five unique stories from 3 different urban slums in Dhaka. Adolescents talked about their experiences and perceptions regarding substance abuse and how adolescents become substance abusers in the urban slum context.
© Nazmul Hassan Shanji
The photo narrative book also discussed the key findings of the study, such as identifying external factors influencing substance abuse – poverty, lack of recreation and play, lack of employment opportunities, lack of parental supervision, the prevalence of local gangs, and influence of ‘boro bhai’ and lack of safety and justice.
Access book here
© Nazmul Hassan Shanji
