Essay about Adolescent Substance Abuse - 641 Words

Adolescent Substance Abuse Adolescent substance abuse continues to be epidemic in American society -- it crosses geographic, economic, gender, racial, and ethnic lines. In addition, more than a decade of national, state, and local prevention efforts have been minimally effective. It is a major problem that continues to escape our control. Nearly 9 out of 10 high school seniors in America report that they have experimented with alcohol. Within this group, 3 out of 10 report alcohol abuse (defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row at least once during the past two weeks). Three out of four teens report a pattern of regular drinking, and more than 100,000 children aged 10 or 11 report that they get drunk once a week.†¦show more content†¦Alcohol experimentation increases from 6 to 17 percent between the fourth and sixth grades In addition to the above pattern of actual use, a time bomb of skepticism and disregard exists in the value system of todays adolescent peer group. Researchers report disbelief among adolescents regarding physiological and psychological dangers associated with substance use. Peer group disapproval of alcohol and other drug use is also decreasing. That is to say, the teens who use and abuse alcohol and other drugs are feeling quite bulletproof. Those peers who are non-users confront abusers less frequently now about both their behaviors and beliefs. The picture painted is not a pretty one. Teens are experimenting with and abusing addictive substances in epidemic proportion, and their primary frame of reference -- other adolescents -- are reinforcing this behavior. The best prevention efforts of schools and communities have not significantly impacted alcohol and other drug use or the belief system that supports continued use for this population. Compounding all of the above is the impact of managed care on treatment opportunities for those teens needing traditional inpatient rehabilitation treatment and reasonable aftercare follow-through. As late as the early 90s, traditional inpatient treatment for substance abuse was 28 days with a significant aftercare component that allowed for involvement of family as well as teen in treatment.Show MoreRelatedThe Dangers Of Adolescent Substance Abuse3001 Words   |  13 PagesAdolescent substance abuse is a big concern in the country today. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. Peer pressure has continued to be one of the leading risk factors. Adolescents substance use increases health problems, dependence on drugs, conduct disorders and other risky behaviors leading generally to poor social consequences. Parental influence plays a great role in what a teenager becomes because teenagers mostly learn by example. The counselor helpsRead MoreThe E ffects Of Substance Abuse Among Adolescents1296 Words   |  6 Pages Substance abuse has become a notable public health threat to today’s adolescents. Substance abuse is associated with an array of behavioral and psychological consequences that can jeopardize the future of the young people. Lifelong dependence is another possible consequence of drug abuse among adolescents. Ultimately, counselors are supposed to come up with effective programs to address addiction issues among the adolescents to prevent them from relying on drugs in future. Counselors rely onRead MoreSubstance Abuse Among Teenagers And Adolescents1703 Words   |  7 PagesAddiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), substance abuse among teenagers and adolescents is transforming into America’s number one public health problem, as numbers of high school and college students abusing drugs and alcohol are on the rise (2011). In a national survey done by CASA at Columbia University, they found that 75 percent of high school students have used an addictive substance. In addition, 46 percent of high school students reported currently using an addictive substance, and approximatelyRead MoreEarly Intervention For Adolescent Substance Abuse1916 Words   |  8 PagesC. E. (2004). Early intervention for adolescent substance abuse: Pretreatment to posttreatment outcomes of a randomized clinical trial comparing multidimensional family therapy and peer group treatment. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 36(1). Abstract. The abstract discusses a randomized clinical trial that has been developed in order to evaluate a family-based therapy and a peer-group therapy used with urban, low-income, and ethnically diverse adolescents between the ages 11-15 that have beenRead MoreAdolescent Group And Adolescents With Substance Abuse3082 Words   |  13 PagesSection One: Adolescent Group The population that I wish to serve is adolescents. I live in a small community where they currently do not offer a group for adolescents regarding substance abuse. The adolescent group will be broken down into two groups on two different nights: male and female. In order to prevent group dropouts, it is best to fit the members of each group in an environment where they will not feel judged, intimated, or embarrassed. By splitting up by gender, the group can focus inRead MoreSubstance Abuse Prevention On Adolescents1451 Words   |  6 PagesSubstance Abuse Prevention in Adolescents Adolescence is the most common period of life in which both recreational and therapeutic drug use is introduced. Coincidentally, brain development and maturity is also at an all time high during this stage of life (2). When initiating the use of a therapeutic drug, the health care provider compares the risk to the benefit. If the benefit outweighs the risk, the drug is generally prescribed effectively. This process allows for the safe and applicable useRead MoreEssay on Adolescent Substance Abuse1656 Words   |  7 PagesHeader: Substance Abuse Adolescent Substance Abuse Dana Sweitzer Liberty University Abstract Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees theirRead MoreSubstance Abuse Treatment For Adolescents Essay832 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Including families in the treatment of substance use in adolescents has been a debate for several years in the addictions world. Some claim that involving families may hinder the client’s ability to improve due to not being honest, fear, and the lack of relationship one may have with their family members, specifically parental figures. Adolescents may not be honest with themselves or family members due to fear of disappointing or fear of punishment. Many providers and policy-makersRead MoreSubstance Abuse and Treatment for Adolescents2174 Words   |  9 Pages. 7 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦.. 8-10 Substance Abuse and Treatment for Adolescents Introduction Substance abuse among adolescents is becoming an increasing concern. There are the obvious health issues associated with substance abuse, but many people do not consider the long term affects of drug and alcohol use. In this paper I will discuss substance abuse among teens, causes, statistics, effects of substance abuse, current treatments, and the importance of developing appropriateRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On Adolescents1651 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopments in the adolescents’ sense of self, including independence and making their own choices. Because of the multitude of decisions to be made during this time, there can be a lot of room for error or misjudgements. One very common bad decision is substance use and abuse. Although drug and alcohol use is common and many users don’t develop a dependence on the substances, the adolescents who end up developing the disorders of substance abuse and dependence make substance use a major public health