Parental abuse and drug addiction: A comparative study between addicts and non-addicts among a sample of males in Benghazi

Abstract

This study investigated the differences in perceived parental abuse between drug addicts and non-addicts in Benghazi, Libya. The primary objective was to examine how various forms of paternal maltreatment, specifically physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, contribute to the vulnerability to substance use disorders. Utilizing a comparative descriptive methodology, the researcher selected a purposive sample of 64 male participants, divided equally into two groups: 32 individuals undergoing treatment for drug addiction at specialized rehabilitation centers and 32 non-addicts from the general community. The groups were matched for age, educational level, and professional status to ensure internal validity. Data were collected using the "Perception of Parental Abuse Scale for Adult Children" (Abdel-Rahman, 2012), which assesses four distinct dimensions of paternal abuse. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups, indicating that the addiction group reported significantly higher levels of perceived parental abuse across all dimensions compared to the control group. These findings suggest that traumatic childhood experiences within the family dynamic, particularly paternal abuse, serve as critical environmental risk factors for developing addictive behaviors later in life. The study emphasizes the urgent need for therapeutic interventions that address early childhood trauma and suggests that preventive programs should focus on improving parenting styles and family support systems to mitigate the risk of drug abuse among youth in the Libyan context.