Teen Drug Addiction Group Intervention

Teen Drug Use Group Intervention

The United States has experienced an increase in drug addiction in almost every age group in the recent past. This social work challenge focused on drug addiction among the youth under the topic of Ensure Healthy Development for all youth. Teenagers with co-occurring disorders tend to be dismissed as “bad kids” or “problem kids” instead of getting to the root of the problem. Most of these teens turn to drugs because of the challenges they experience in coping with societal norms. Research into this issue will demonstrate that while initially these teens believe that drugs help them forget about their problems, they end up having an opposite impact. Therefore, it is increasingly important to address teen drug use as a means of dealing with the mental health issues they experience.

Presenting Issue, Rationale, Purpose, and Type of Group

Teen drug abuse and addiction is one of the most serious substance abuse problems in the United States. Drug use and addiction among teenagers is regarded as one of the most serious detrimental risk behaviors that threaten the present and future well-being of young people (Oh, Salas-Wright & Vaughan, 2017). While the deleterious effects of drugs on the well-being of youths is known, the rates of drug use have among teenagers have remained relatively stable in the last few years. Studies have shown that drug use is typically initiated during teenage years. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug by teenagers as 64% of adolescents aged 18 years endorse lifetime use of alcohol. Marijuana and cigarette use follow at 45% and 31% respectively (Gray & Squeglia, 2017). Even though cigarette use among teenagers has declined significantly over the past decade, e-cigarette use has become more prevalent. The increase in marijuana use over the recent past is associated with the changing attitudes toward greater acceptance.

As previously indicated, some teenagers turn to drugs to help cope with the difficulties and challenges brought by various issues they experience. For example, adolescents with co-occurring disorders turn to drugs because of being dismissed as problematic or bad kids. While they believe that drugs would help address their problem, these substances end up having the opposite effect resulting in mental health problems. Substance abuse among teenagers is linked to various mental health and behavioral disorders. Drug use and addition has been found to be a major risk factor for mental health issues and behavioral disorders among teenagers (Winstanley et al., 2012). These issues extend beyond teenage years into adulthood since most of them endorse lifetime substance use. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health (2019), “most adults facing mental health and substance use issues began their initial struggles as teenagers, or even earlier in life. In fact, more than half of mental health symptoms emerge by age 14.” The Born This Way Foundation (2019) reports that 1 in 3 young people lack access to mental health disorders. According to Winstanley et al. (2012), it is estimated that only 11-40% of teenagers in need of mental health and behavioral health treatment receive services.

Rationale for the Study

Recent surveys and studies indicate a strong connection between drug use and mental health issues among teenagers. Therefore, addressing teen drug use at an early age is critical in enhancing their mental health and well-being. Being able to identify and address these mental health issues early on, can significantly change the future of these youths in a positive way, leading to healthier relationships, better quality of life and could make them less likely to use illegal substances. The use of a group format as an intervention for this issue would be suitable since it will provide a framework for these people to express their needs and result in a better understanding of their problems. The group will help meet the socioemotional needs of this population resulting in a better outlook of life, which would reduce the likelihood of substance use and addiction. In this regard, a group format helps to address the root cause of the problem among teenagers that result in drug use and addiction instead of simply dismissing them as problematic or bad kids. A group format is also suitable for this issue since it will enable members to receive empathy from different sources, create helper-therapy, provide social support, encourage the practice of new behaviors, and provide necessary resources.

Purpose of the Group

The purpose of this group is to meet the socioemotional needs of group members and provide interventions for drug use and mental health problems. By the end of the group, members will learn the link between drug use and mental health problems, deal with mental health issues early on, and develop strategies to avoid/lessen drug abuse. In addition, group members will develop strategies to help them cope with societal norms rather than resorting to drug use and addiction.

Types of Groups

Toseland and Rivas (2017) state that group work is a goal-oriented activity with small task and treatment groups that seek to meet the socioemotional needs of group members. For this social work challenge, different small treatment groups will be formulated to help meet the targeted individual and group needs. The formulation of different small treatment groups is essential because of the nature of the issue being addressed. These treatment groups are essential because they will primarily focus on meeting the socioemotional needs of members. Since most group members are teenagers struggling with drug use, the small treatment groups will act as avenues for them to receive support, therapy, education, and growth as they interact.

Therefore, the type of groups that will occur throughout the sessions includes support, educational, and growth groups. Support groups help members to cope with stressful life issues and events, foster members’ coping abilities, strengthen mutual aid, and utilize supportive treatment interventions (Toseland & Rivas, 2017). In this case, the support groups will help provide supportive interventions for dealing with drug use and mental health problems as well as helping them to cope with societal norms and other stressful life events. On the contrary, educational groups focus on helping members learn new information and skills. These groups will occur throughout the sessions to help members learn the dangers of drug use and how it is associated with mental health problems. Using these groups, members will learn how to identify mental health issues early on and how to lessen drug use and addiction. Growth groups focus on promoting self-improvement and the potential of members to live a full and rewarding life. These groups will occur throughout the sessions to enable members become aware of their own thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Members will be challenged to embrace self-improvement strategies for coping with societal norms, developing healthier relationships, and having a better quality of life. Growth groups in these sessions will take place as a values-clarification process for these teenagers to embrace self-improvement measures.

Group Structure

The success of the group in achieving the purpose and desired objectives for each individual requires proper planning. According to Toseland & Rivas (2017), planning for a group entails creating a group work proposal comprising different items including purpose, agency sponsorship, recruitment, composition, orientation, and environment. Such information is critical in determining the structure of the group. An overall structure of the group includes consideration of the qualities, skills, and expertise of group members.

For this social work challenge, the group will comprise 10 members with varied experiences on the issue to be addressed. A membership of 10 group participants is considered small enough to enable it to achieve the purpose and desired outcomes as well as big enough to enable members to have a satisfying experience. Toseland & Rivas (2017) contend that the size of a group has direct impacts on the interactions between members and their satisfaction. Therefore, group membership should be designed in a manner that ensures members will have adequate interactions and satisfying experiences. In most cases, the size of a group is between 5-10 participants to promote close relationships and interactions. This implies that the size of this group will be adequate enough to promote close interactions and relationships.

The group sessions will last between 60-90 minutes and will take place once a week. A meeting that lasts for at least one hour is considered appropriate in terms of allowing members adequate time to carefully discuss relevant matters. In addition, a period of between 60-90 minutes is adequate to enhance productive activity and performance. Any longer meeting could end-up being counterproductive and not suitable for the members. The group sessions will take place once a week for a period of 6 weeks to allow members adequate time to reflect on issues discussed and make necessary changes in their everyday life. In this case, group members will have adequate time to prepare for the next session as they reflect upon and carry out necessary changes based on insights obtained from the sessions.

The group meetings will take place at the local addiction recovery center, which is a suitable location that provides support for addiction recovery to various age groups including adolescents. The local addiction recovery center is a suitable venue for the meetings since it has the necessary resources that could be used and helpful for the group sessions. In addition, this center is easily accessible to the group members, which will minimize transportation needs.

Group Composition

According to Toseland & Rivas (2017), group composition is an important part of planning for group practice. It entails assessing the membership potential, recruitment of members, and determining whether the group will be open-ended or close-ended. The composition of the group is also affected by additional factors like the type of groups that will occur throughout the sessions and members’ needs and interests. These factors should be taken into consideration in order to promote close interactions and relationships and enhance the likelihood of achieving the purpose and desired objectives.

Given the nature of the issue to be addressed, the group will comprise heterogeneous membership. In this case, group members are expected to have diverse experiences of drug use and mental health issues. Additionally, group members will be at different stages of drug use or mental health problems and have diversified needs. The group will comprise both male and female adolescents who struggle with substance abuse and mental health or behavioral health problems. These adolescents are aged between 14 and 19 years. They will be selected based on their experiences in drug use and addiction, behavioral problems, mental health issues, and co-occurring disorders. The group will also include two social workers with experience in dealing with drug abuse and mental health issues. These social workers will play a critical role in creating a suitable group environment for all members and identifying/mobilizing resources for the achievement of the group purpose. In essence, the social workers will be involved in the formation of the group and ensuring the sessions are carried out in a productive manner. Individuals with severe mental health issues will not be selected but referred to specialist treatment centers for their conditions. Members of the group will be individuals with the ability to express their socioemotional needs relating to drug use and mental/behavioral health issues. Group members will be recruited through telephone contacts, interviews, and contacting key individuals and community leaders in the potential members’ network (Toseland & Rivas, 2017).

Participant

Once group members are selected, an orientation will be carried out. Members will be oriented on the purpose of the group, confidentiality issues, and group rules/norms. Toseland & Rivas (2017) state that orienting members entail explaining the purpose of the group, familiarizing them with group procedures, screening them for suitability, and contracting for member goals and group processes. An intake interview, conducted individually will be used as the primary orientation method in which members will be encouraged to share their expectations. Didactic instruction will be utilized as the secondary orientation method. Using didactic instruction, the purpose of the group will be explained as well as issues of confidentiality. Members will be informed of the need to maintain confidentiality of personal information shared during the sessions. Orientation to group rules/norms will involve verbal contracting in which members will agree to the rules of group functioning. During this process, members will be notified of the number of group meetings, their duration, their frequency, and their length.