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Treatment is also viewed as a tool to address an adolescent's use of one substance, whereas prevention programs address the risks of multiple substances (Sussman, 2011). Prevention programs that have provided some evidence of effectiveness include school-based educational programs and family-based programs (Sussman, 2011). Educational programs typically focus on social influences that lead to substance abuse, and work to build personal and social skills to help avoid abuse in social situations (Sussman, 2011). Family involvement in prevention is also effective within compliant families and can complement educational efforts. Programs providing motivation, skills, and enhancing decision making ability show the greatest potential to alter attitudes that influence behavior change, and prevent the use of drugs and alcohol (Sussman, 2011).
There are an estimated 1.4 millions teens with an alcohol or drug problem and only 10% are receiving treatment, compared to 20% of adults (Sussman, 2011). There is a general lack of adolescent treatment research, which hinders the identification of one treatment method to address abuse for all adolescent patients. The four primary treatment methods for adolescents are: the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous; the therapeutic community approach; family therapy; and cognitive behavioral therapy (Sussman, 2011). Sussman advises randomized trials have failed to identify the relative superiority of any one type of treatment for adolescents (2011). Look towards the future, Sussman suggests prevention programs to be introduced to children at a younger age to encourage social and emotional learning while the brain...
Treatment methodologies should be tailored for more specific interventions, and address adolescents with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders (Sussman, 2011).
Adolescent substance abuse is a concerning health problem within the U.S. By the age of 18, the majority of youth have consumed alcohol, and significant percentages of this population have also misused marijuana and illicit drugs. Substance abuse affects the lives of youth, their families, and community resources, as it increases the risk of poor academic performance, job instability, teen pregnancy, acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases, and criminal behavior. Sussman advocates for the use and better availability of prevention and treatment programs directed towards youth. Utilizing prevention methods at an even younger age will help children build the social and emotional skills needed to avoid future substance misuse. Treatment methods should be altered to address co-occurring abuse and mental disorders. Lowering the incidence of adolescent substance abuse relies on effective prevention programming and adequate treatment for individuals already suffering from drug and alcohol abuse.
References
Sussman, S. (2011). Preventing and treating substance abuse among adolescents. The Prevention
Researcher, 18(2), p. 3-7.
Research that the authors report in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy -- a peer-reviewed journal -- shows that adolescents abusing substances cause "stress-related symptoms" in parents (Yuen, et al., 2011, p. 250). The stress parents experience includes: depression, anxiety, fear of danger, guilt, anger, despair as well as grief associated with failure in the parental role" (Yuen, 250). And so prior to bringing parents into
However, in understanding the factors that exist in most substance abuse cases, preemptive solutions to the problem such as education and awareness, as well as early interventions in recently-onset cases can help to curb the issue significantly. Proposed Solutions The key to preventing substance abuse, as proposed by researchers and laymen alike, is awareness and education regarding substance abuse. Beginning in schools, religious organizations, and at home, individuals are better adept
Culture on Substance Use Among Adolescents Cultural values do have a significant impact on most adolescents' attitudes towards drug abuse. It should be noted that what is regarded "illicit" varies from culture to culture. In that regard, therefore, one social group could be appreciative and encourage the use of a substance that is considered illicit in another cultural setting or social grouping. This text concerns itself with the influence culture
Economic deprivation arises from various activities and aspects of the family in attempts to minimize the threats affecting the at-risk youth. Some of the factors affecting the economic deprivation in relation to at-risk youth within the family include rehabilitation fee, treatment fee, and addiction cost thus affecting the overall economic level of the family (McWhirter,2013). This is a problem with the scarce family resources thus the need to adopt
[Shope, Jean T, 2004] Cost of Addictive Behavior (individual and family implications) Asides the fact that drugs and alcohol rehabilitation add billions of dollars to the nations health care costs, the addictive nature of these substances also implies direct costs to the families concerned. Adolescents have to spend hundreds of dollars for buying drinks and drugs and peer pressure would encourage them to engage in culpable actions. Typically, an alcoholic or
Substance Abuse Introduction to the Characteristics and Extent of Alcohol, Tobacco or Other Drug Use. Addiction means physical dependence on a drug, with withdrawal symptoms when its use ceases, and in this sense, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hashish, opiates and amphetamines are all addictive drugs. In addition, these drugs also cause psychological dependency since they enhance a person's sense of pleasure, sociability, sexuality and emotional satisfaction, and also mask pain, low