Gopal, Nirmala Devi.Collings, Steven John.2014-04-222014-04-2220122012Gopal, N.D., & Collings, S.J. 2013. Exploring the Public Psychosocial influences on substance abuse in a sample of South African youth: a qualitative analysis. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 22 (4), pp. 655-662.1433-0237http://hdl.handle.net/10413/10592This study investigated the lived experience of substance abusers in the South African context. Participants were 10 individuals attending a drug treatment centre in Durban, South Africa. Data were collected using open-ended interviews with data being analysed using thematic analysis. Findings suggest that normative social influences and levels of social support play an important role in shaping, maintaining, and determining the trajectory of drug usage.enDrug use.Substance abuse.Peer reviewed journal article