Adolescent substance abuse and addiction: legal, ethical, and treatment issues

Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction

Substance Use and Addiction

Adolescent substance abuse is a major national public health problem. The current levels of the problem remain high despite the existence of recent leveling-off of the substance use by adolescents. Adolescents who abuse substances consistently and persistently often experience an array of problems such as academic difficulties, health-related problems, criminal activities, and poor-peer relationships. . In addition to these problems, there are influences or negative implications on the concept of family, community, and the entire society under the influence of adolescent substance abuse. The main objective of this research exercise is to discuss the aspect of adolescent substance abuse and addiction in relation to five critical concepts: legal/ethical issues, family, school, characteristics, and valuable treatment of prevention options.

Adolescent Risk Topic: Substance Use and Addiction

Introduction

Adolescent substance abuse is a major national public health problem. The current levels of the problem remain high despite the existence of recent leveling-off of the substance use by adolescents. According to various research studies, adolescent substance abuse normally contributes to the increase in the cases of addiction during adulthood. It is also essential to note that more than 90% of the adult substance users started during very early ages. This makes it an essential aspect to develop and implement an effective approach towards minimization of the social problem affecting the modern society and its relevant entities. Adolescents who abuse substances consistently and persistently often experience an array of problems such as academic difficulties, health-related problems, criminal activities, and poor-peer relationships. In addition to these problems, there are influences or negative implications on the concept of family, community, and entire society under the influence of adolescent substance abuse.

The main objective of this research exercise is to discuss the aspect of adolescent substance abuse and addiction in relation to five critical concepts. The first aspect of the discussion relates to the examination of the legal and ethical issues in relation to adolescent substance abuse and addiction. The second concept is an examination of the individual characteristics of high risk youth. The third concept relates to the evaluation of the family problems with reference to adolescent substance use and addiction. This will be followed by an extensive evaluation of the school issues that might influence the adolescent substance use and addiction. Finally, the research exercise will include prevention, intervention, and treatment options.

Legal and Ethical Issues

There are various ethical issues in relation to the research on the treatment of adolescent substance abuse and addiction. The research of the treatment options raises diverse ethical and legal issues which have never been acknowledged widely. These issues are relevant to the fundamental ethical principles in relation to the execution of the human research. One of the critical issues in relation to this concept is the essential tension between conflicting regulations governing informed consent for research and treatment of the adolescent (Monica & Robert, 2009). The collision between law and ethics generates problems in the clinical work. Special issues for the clinicians are proving to be common in relation to the treatment of adolescent substance users and addicts. There are cases during which adolescents might seek treatment yet are in circumstances that prelude parental consent. These issues affect effective and efficient handling of the case of substance abuse and addiction.

The second relevant issue is the capacity of the adolescent to offer or provide informed consent. It is ideal to note only adults have the obligation and the ability to offer informed consent in relation to the treatment (Kuther & Posada, 2004). In the case of treatment of substance abuse and addiction researchers working with children and adolescents face a special set of ethical issues in relation to informed consent. Federal guidelines indicate that minors have no capacity to offer informed consent for participation in research. This is an indication of the need to integrate guardian permission for the participation of the minors in such research activities. The third critical issue is the potential coercive elements in relation to the research on the substance use treatment. This affects essential treatment in relation to the execution of the substance use treatment research.

The fourth critical issue includes issues in association with confidentiality and release of information. Adolescents and minors have the right to enjoy privacy and autonomy thus affecting the authority of the research in relation to the treatment of substance abuse (Brody & Waldron, 2008). The fifth critical issue is researched vulnerability in relation to the substance use. Some of the aspects of the researches vulnerability include consent conflict, confidentiality, autonomy, and coercive elements in the research on the treatment of the substance abuse among the adolescents. Finally, ethical implications of the distinctions between effectiveness and efficacy research are also issues affecting adolescent substance abuse in the modern society (Karen, 2010).

Family Problems Related to at-risk Youth

There are various family issues or problems in relation to at-risk youths. The main issue is the aspect of disorganization of the family. Some of the families of the at-risk youth suffer from broken influences or implications thus the essence of broken homes (McWhirter, 2013). This usually generates confusion when the parents are also engaged in drugs or alcohol abuse. The family issue or problem of broken structures affects the development and growth of the individuals thus negative implications of the concept of interaction and relationships between parents and their children. The second issue or problem in relation to at-risk youths is the essence of violence within the context of the family (Knudsen, 2009).

At-risk youths have the tendency of generating violent interaction or aggressive attitude towards other family members and structures. This makes it ideal for the families to adopt and integrate effective and efficient approaches towards minimization of such issues or problems that might affect the development and realization of quality interaction. It is also critical to note that the problems of violence in the family relate to drug addiction and neglect. It is ideal for the society and family units to focus on the elimination of stigma and neglect to enhance the management and treatment of the at-risk youths within the family.

Families also suffer from extreme or extensive economic deprivation in relation to the integration of various concepts towards management of the at-risk youths and elimination of the negative effects of the substance abuse and addiction. 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 and integrate effective elements towards minimization or management of the problems affecting the growth and development of the family members in relation to the existing factors.

Another critical family problem or issue relates to the lack of adults and parental role models under the influence massive drug addiction thus affecting the growth and development of the youths within the family unit. It is also essential to note that at-risk youths increases parental criminality and development of family violence attitudes or anti-social behavior. Siblings also develop antisocial behavior hence the generation of ineffective atmosphere for quality development and growth of the youths within the family.

School Issues That May Impact at-risk Youth

There are various implications or influences of the school problems or issues in relation to at-risk youth. The main impact is the concept of low or poor school performance under the influence of the substance abuse and addiction (McWhirter, 2013). Such youths take the majority of their time to focus on the abuse of substance and addiction thus realization of poor performance in the schools. This relates to the reduction in the level of concentration thus inability to perform effectively and efficiently with reference to school work (Rockholz, 2011). The poor performance of the schools has a negative influence in the realization of effective and efficient growth and development of the adolescents thus the need to involve in substance abuse and addiction. Another school issue with the relevant implication in relation to the at-risk youths is essentially of low educational aspirations especially among the female adolescents.

These low educational aspirations among the female at-risk youths lead to extensive engagement in the adolescent substance use and addiction. There is also the essence of the high level of anti-social behavior among the students and relevant teachers within the context of the learning institution. This makes it ideal for the development of violent behavior within the learning institution thus affecting the development and growth of the students or at-risk youths. Another implication is the essence of educational frustration which affects the development and growth of at-risk youths in the context of the learning institutions. These elements of frustration in the education system contribute towards increased involvement in substance abuse and addiction (McWhirter, 2013). This eventually contributes to the deterioration in the health or development of at-risk youths in the context of learning institutions.

Teachers also contribute to the negative implications on at-risk youths through integration of negative labeling during their interactions within the context of the learning institution. This relates to the development of anti-social behavior or interactions thus putting adolescents at risk of substance abuse, addiction, and other negative implications such as engaging in criminal activities. Learning institution should focus on the elimination of such as behavior or interaction by the teachers with the aim of eliminating the risk factors thus an opportunity to facilitate quality and effective development and growth of the students in the schools.

Learning difficulties also have critical influence in relation to the living standard and the essence of at-risk youths. There is a need for the learning institutions to focus on the integration of activities with the aim of promoting easy learning outcomes for effective participation of at-risk youths. This will be vital towards improvement of their living conditions and development with the aim of promoting sufficient interaction and promotion of social behavior among the students (McWhirter, 2013). There are school issues with negative implications on at-risk youths such as lack of role models in the form of teachers, low attachment to school, and poor relationship and interaction between the youths and teachers. It is ideal for the learning institutions to focus on the promotion of effective interaction and efficient systems to facilitate the development and growth of at-risk youths in the modern society. This will promote minimization of antisocial behavior among at-risk youths (Kaminer et al., 2011).

Prevention, Intervention and Treatment Options

There are various prevention, intervention, and treatment options in relation elimination of the adolescent substance abuse and addiction. The first intervention approach is the integration of the concept of family-based therapy (Winters et al., 2011). This approach focuses on the reduction of an adolescent's use or abuse of drugs and related disorders or problem behaviors in association with the substance abuse. This is through addressing mediating family risk factors in the form of family communication, lack of cohesion, and effective solutions to the problems. The main assumption of this approach indicates that the family is the center of therapeutic premise in relation to profound and long lasting influence or implications on the minors and adolescent with reference to their growth and development (Winters et al., 2011). The family-based therapy focuses on the inclusion of the subject (adolescent) and at least one of the parents or relevant guardian.

The second approach is the integration of individual and group therapy approach towards elimination of the adolescent substance abuse and addiction. In accordance with the name, individual therapy focuses on the promotion of one-on-one psychosocial therapeutic sessions with reference to the interaction between patient and therapist. On the other hand, group therapy focuses on the sessions between one or two therapists and a group of patients. These therapies are utilized in adolescent substance use treatment. Despite this aspect, group therapy is vital in the treatment of substance abuse (Winters et al., 2011). Adolescents are grouped together because of similarities in the characteristics of the problems affecting the group. Currently, the implementation of the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective approach towards realization of the goals and objectives of individual and group therapy in relation to management of substance abuse and addiction among adolescents.

The third approach towards the prevention or management of substance abuse among adolescents is the integration of the concept of the twelve-step programs. The programs focus on the incorporation of self-help approach within the context of the reciprocal approach or support (Winters et al., 2011). They relate to the tenets of alcoholics anonymous thus applicable in the case of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. Implementation of this approach indicates that individuals will have the opportunity to support each other's sobriety in relation to quality encouragement of mental and spiritual health through the journey of the twelve-long steps.

The fourth approach is the implementation of therapeutic community with reference to the promotion of self-help principles and experimental knowledge of the recovery community. This treatment is essential towards minimization of the problem affecting the adolescents because of its holistic nature thus inclusion of community as key agents of change, emphasizing mutual self-help, and behavioral consequences. This approach tends to be long-term residential treatment program with the aim of implementing variety techniques such as family therapy, life skills, and 12-step techniques (Borkman, 2008).

There is also an opportunity for integration of the concept of pharmacotherapy. This treatment approach focuses on the medication to address various aspects of addiction thus the inclusion of reduction motives, aversive therapy, substitution therapy, and management of underlying psychiatric disorders. There is still need to execute sufficient research in relation to this approach of treatment of substance abuse and addiction in the adolescent stage.

Conclusion

Adolescent substance abuse and addiction is a common global problem affecting the growth and development of adolescents. Some of the influences of the adolescent substance abuse and addiction include poor performance in schools, adoption of anti-social behavior, violent interactions, and family, communal, and society issues. It is ideal for the society to focus on the minimization of the adolescent substance abuse and addiction thus the ability to eliminate risk factors towards the development and growth of the adolescents. Some of the most effective ways for management include individual/group therapy, family therapy, twelve-step approach, community therapy, and pharmacological approach.