Drug and alcohol abuse are contemporary issues that affect adolescents, especially in today’s society. Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs such as opium, heroin, and cocaine or using over the counter drugs for purposes that they are not meant for. Alcohol abuse on the other hand is the excessive use of alcohol and is considered harmful to one's health. To properly understand this societal problem, the term adolescent is to be understood. An adolescent is a young person between the age of thirteen up until nineteen and is considered to be transitioning to an adult. During this period, there are a lot of changes that adolescents go through both physically, psychologically, and emotionally.
In the process of transitioning into adulthood, adolescents face a couple of challenges that would otherwise push them to abuse drugs and alcohol (Finkelstein et al, 2017). Some of these external stressors do include:
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Adolescents are required to fully concentrate on school activities to secure a future for themselves. The pressure that they face in school may push them into drug abuse.
Peer pressure is another factor that makes adolescents indulge in drug and substance abuse. The fact that one friend sees the other taking alcohol, they are driven to also try and feel what their adolescent friends are.
Bullying is a problem that students face especially in schools. It is the use of coercion, intimidation, and threats to get a given result. This behavior is habitual over time and may affect the bullied party negatively.
Separation and divorce of parents is another factor that drives adolescent to use drugs and alcohol. These adolescents feel responsible for the separation and divorce of their parents hence punish themselves by using drugs or rather take these drugs to feel good.
The death of a loved one is another reason that may push an adolescent into the use of drugs and alcohol excessively. This is because they may feel lonely and sad so to avoid such feeling they indulge in excessive drinking habits.
There are strategies that a clinician or rather a doctor uses in the process of screening to analyze the extent of addiction and the effects in the life of the patient. One of the strategies to be used is by asking the right questions as put across by Stranger and Budney (2010). Matters related to drug and alcohol abuse are considered personal and handling such matters requires sensitivity. Screening requires a basic understanding of the patient by asking general questions such as:
What type of drug is used by the patient?
How is the drug taken and consumed?
How frequent is the drug used by the patient?
Are there any previous treatment plans?
A thorough assessment requires understanding the circumstances and context that the patient is in. This talks about the social, environmental, and economic factors. The assessment requires:
Treating any acute problem and emergencies
Assessing the degree of dependence
Assessing any risk behavior
Identify any social problems such as separation of parents and bullying
In medical practice confidentiality is often paramount therefore patient-doctor confidentiality is required. The other ethical practice that is due is a follow up from the clinician to ensure that the patient is making progress. To come up with solutions for drug and alcohol abuse amongst adolescents, there have to be ways to mitigate these external stressors they face ( Seiffge-Krenke, 2013).
Encouraging adolescents to take up sports and exercise activities. Sports is an engaging activity that has the potential to reward those who engage in it. It is also said that it boosts immunity hence good for one's health.
Having guidance and counseling of adolescents in schools and community centers. Adolescents face a variety of issues and having someone to talk to especially a professional proves to help in tackling issues that these adolescents wouldn't tackle alone.
Campaigning of anti-drug and alcohol use. Campaigning against the use of drugs among teens creates awareness that using excessive alcohol and drugs is harmful to one’s health
References
Finkelstein, Y., Goel, G., Hutson, J. R., Armstrong, J., Baum, C. R., Wax, P., ... & Toxicology Investigators Consortium. (2017). Drug misuse in adolescents presenting to the emergency department. Pediatric emergency care , 33 (7), 451-456.
Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2013). Stress, coping, and relationships in adolescence . Psychology Press.
Stanger, C., & Budney, A. J. (2010). Contingency management approaches for adolescent substance use disorders. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics , 19 (3), 547-562.
