The Problems of Addictive Substance Abuse Among Young Street Singers in Minangkabau Community, West Sumatera

Abstract

Young children work as street singers that have long been developing in Indonesia. They get income from their job for daily needs like food, cigarettes, glue, and even liquor, some of which contain addictive substances. The phenomenon of addictive substance abuse continues to increase and is concern in street singers. Due to many users are school-aged. In this article, the author will explain the relationship between the social structure of the street singer family in the distribution of addictive substances in the matrilineal society and the effects of using addictive substances for. This study uses a qualitative approach, in which the informants search using the snowball technique. The collecting data is done through in-depth interviews and observation. The author identifies two problems with the family structure faced by street singers that are the condition of poverty followed by communal proverty does not exist in matrilineal culture especially street family in urban areas and the weakening of the role or social status of the street singer family for educating and controling. This condition triggers young people who already have income among street singers to abuse addictive substances such as smoking and sniffing glue. These habit are gradually starting to be accepted among street singer families, especially cigarettes. However, it is different from inhaling glue due to its intoxicating effects, and is still considered bad for children.