Drug abuse is a common phenomenon among youth today. The key reasons for their susceptibility are poor familial, school, and administration links. This paper discusses the legal and ethical implications of drug abuse on the relationship between counselors and youth. The paper also details the characteristics of high-risk youth. High-risk youth imply adolescents who have been addicted to use of drugs. Moreover, the paper will also look at family problems that are often associated with high-risk youth. They include abuse, breakups, and homelessness. Drug abuse has seen many families break up and many are homeless as a result of abuse of drugs. This paper will also detail some of the school problems associated with school-going youth. Consequently, ways of preventing cocaine addiction and overall drug use will be highlighted in the paper. A conclusion at the end will be given to summarize what has been discussed.
Introduction
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 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 adolescents to prevent them from relying on drugs in future. Counselors rely on direct counseling group counseling, community collaborations, and parent participation to make a difference in the lives of adolescents abusing drugs. Nonetheless, counseling adolescents with substance abuse is challenging and in order to make a difference, counselors must be prepared to handle those challenges.
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Legal and Ethical Issues in counseling Youths with Drug Addiction
According to the McCrystal et al., (2007) alcohol is the most abused drug by adolescents, followed by marijuana and tobacco. Statistics show that approximately 39% of high school seniors’ abuse alcohol, while 23% use marijuana and 16% smoke cigarettes ( McCrystal et al., 2007). The startling substance abuse figures among adolescence shows that many adolescents are now addicted to drugs.
Drug abuse treatment is associated with a number of legal and ethical issues: confidentiality, informed consent, parental rights versus child rights. Counselors require informed consent before engaging adolescents in any form of treatment. Informed consent is a moral obligation, which shows that the counselor respects the individual regardless of age. Duncan et al., (2013) assert that an informed consent equips the adolescent with information about the purpose of the process, the expected outcomes and the limitations, so that the adolescent can make an informed choice on whether to be a part of the process or not.
Counselors must take into account the cognitive abilities of the student in discussing the concept of informed consent . Since counselors are dealing with the issue of substance abuse, they have to ensure that the adolescents are not intoxicated as they discuss the issue of informed consent (Duncan et al., 2013). Counselors should find a perfect time to bring up the issue of informed consent to avoid sounding an alarm to the patients or to avoid breaking an already established trust. The concept of informed consent is also challenging since most parents believe they are in charge of making decisions for their adolescent children (Duncan et al., 2013). Counselors, therefore, have to find a balance in addressing the concerns of both the parent and the client.
Another ethical issue is confidentiality; in working with adolescents with substance abuse, the confidentiality issue becomes trickier. Different states have different laws regarding confidentiality among minors. The counselor must be aware of the state policies, and must be willing to abide by them. Similar to confidentiality issues , a counselor must explain the concept of confidentiality to the adolescent clients in a manner that they can easily understand. The counselor has to explain the limits of confidentiality to the adolescents (Duncan et al., 2013). Even though the counselor is required to disclose some of the information from the counseling sessions, the counselor must make an effort to show the adolescents that their sessions are confidential.
Lastly, the ethical issue of parental rights versus child rights must be addressed. Counseling substance abuse among minors is very controversial because parents believe that they are entitled to know what is going on with their children. Nonetheless, Duncan et al., (2013) posit that before an adolescent takes part in the treatment program, the adolescent’s written consent is required, and not the parental consent. Therefore, the clients can forbid their counselors from sharing session information with their parents (Duncan et al., 2013). However, counselors must understand that laws are vague regarding the issue of confidentiality of minors and parental rights. It is the duty of the counselor to understand the child-parent relationship, and figure out the best way to work with them as long as the counselor remains within the provisions of the law (Duncan et al., 2013).
Individual Characteristics of High Risk Youths
Drug abuse is not common among all adolescents, some adolescents engage in drug abuse while others chose not to engage in the vice. According to King et al. (2013), there are personal factors that characterize high-risk individuals. Young individuals who engage in substance abuse do so for many reasons, some are coping with stress and negative emotions, others want to relieve pain, and some want to experience some feelings of sensations (King et al., 2013). At-risk individuals also show a lot of general behavioral similarities. They experience sudden changes such as skipping school regularly, drastic changes in personality and attitude (King et al., 2013). The adolescents become more secretive and they start acting out because they are under the influence of drugs.
According to Osilla et al. (2014), high risks teenagers have one characteristic in common; they all have friends who abuse drugs and they can easily access drugs when they need them. Alcohol is the most abused drug among adolescents, and adolescents who can easily access alcohol from their family members or friends are more likely to abuse alcohol from a young age. Osilla et al. (2014) notes that about 78% of 15- 17 year olds who abuse alcohol report that they do not pay for the alcohol for their last use, instead the alcohol was bought by friends or family members.
Chakravarthy et al. (2013) assert that some adolescents who are considered at risk for substance abuse are often labelled gang members, homeless, or adolescents from low socioeconomic background. Low socioeconomic class is often seen as one of the main feature of young individuals who abuse drugs. Marginalized individuals characterized by lower socioeconomic status such as aboriginals are also at-risk individuals given the high cases of drug abuse (Webster, 2012). Homelessness is another individual factor to consider, as homeless adolescents turn to drugs to cope with the challenges of street life (Hudson et al., 2009). Homeless youth turn to alcohol and marijuana to escape from the challenges they face such as lack of family and basic needs. They also turn to drugs to escape from harsh living conditions, and the emotional turmoil they go through every day. Alternatively, mental disorders such as anxiety and depression affect and consequently make adolescents resort to drug abuse.
Family Problems Related to At-risk Youth
According to King et al., (2013) family plays an important role in adolescent lives, such that the kind of parenting experience by an adolescent can determine whether one will be addicted to substances. Adolescents who witness drug abuse in their families are more likely to abuse drugs because they grow up in an environment where they know that drug abuse is a norm in the society (King et al., 2013). Drug abuse in the family might not be among parents, it can be among older siblings who are quite influential to the adolescent. Adolescents look up to their older siblings and they will think that drug abuse is fine if their older siblings and peers abuse drugs (King et al., 2013).
Drug abuse in the family is not the only family problem that can push adolescents to follow suit. Adolescents living in families with conflict are known to abuse drugs to escape from problems at home. Conflicts such as arguments and domestic violence have serious psychological effects of children, and children can seek refuge in drugs. Another family problem is lack of parental supervision; this is a common problem among low-income families (Taylor, 2015). Parents in low-income families are known to hold up to three jobs such that they do not have time to monitor their children’s activities. Alternatively, some parents are free with their children such that the adolescents have the freedom to do anything they want. Parents who do not supervise their teenagers are not so different from parents who abuse drugs at home, as the teenagers will easily access and use drugs at home (Taylor, 2015).
School Issues that may Impact At-risk Youth
Drug abuse is a complex issue caused by a wide array of factors. Bad influences obtained from school can make an adolescent to abuse drugs. As 1 Corinthians 15: 33 (New International Version) states, “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character.” This shows that at-risk youth are more likely to start abusing drugs under the influence of bad company. School-going youth are affected negatively when they resort to use of drugs. Their concentration in class goes down, visibility is hindered, and their focus thwarted. This affects performance and ultimately getting out of school (Mrug et al., 2010).
Mrug et al. (2010) notes that adolescent behavior regarding substance abuse is often affected by proximal social contexts such as peers and family. Hence, peers in schools are more likely to influence others to start abusing drugs. What exacerbates the problem is the fact that drugs are easily accessed in schools, and because of the common misconception that drugs are fun.
It is worth noting that drug abuse varies in schools, depending on the locations, school grade and school administration (Mrug et al., 2010). Schools in low-income neighborhoods where drug abuse is rampant are known to have high cases of drug abuse because the students can easily access drugs. Drug abuse is quite common among high school seniors in comparison to juniors; seniors already have experience with drugs and they know where to access them.
According to Mrug et al. (2010), individual vulnerability to drug abuse in school varies such that students who have friends who abuse drugs are more likely to take part in comparison to students who do not have friends who abuse drugs. Students who have been exposed to drug abuse at home are also more likely to fall victims of drug abuse influences in school. Parental influences also play an important role, such that students with parents who do not abuse drugs and are more involved in their lives are more likely to avoid drug abuse in school (Mrug et al., 2010). The student’s level of deviance can also determine whether one will be involved in drug abuse.
Prevention, Intervention and Treatment Options
Evidently, drug abuse is more dangerous to adolescents than adults. Adolescents are just starting their lives and they do not have enough skills to cope with substance abuse. Thus, prevention is the best way to approach drug abuse in adolescents.
Given the complex nature of drug abuse among adolescents, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive prevention approach, which includes school intervention, social resistance skills, and creating family connections (Griffin & Botvin, 2010). School intervention program is the most effective approach towards prevention of drug abuse in adolescents. Adolescents spend a lot of time in school and with their peers, and school based efforts reach a large number of students. School based prevention approach involves educating adolescents about the dangers and long-term effects of drug abuse. Schools should be involved in creating a zero tolerance environment against drug abuse to prevent students from accessing drugs easily. Schools should have programs for at-risk students who are known to come from families with parents who abuse drugs, or from inner-city neighborhoods where they can easily access drugs. Homeless, aboriginals, and other minorities from low socioeconomic groups have high drug abuse statistics, therefore, it is important to create school mentorship programs for at-risk students so that they will not succumb into pressures to abuse drugs.
Another preventative approach is social resistance skills training. Adolescents should be educated on various social influences that support drug abuses such as media and peers. Resistance training will give adolescents skills to avoid situations that make them vulnerable to drug abuse. Resistance skills training equips adolescents with counterarguments to resist misleading influences from peers. Social resistance skills training will be accompanied by normative education and competence enhancement, which makes adolescents more knowledgeable on drug abuse so that they can avoid ascribing to inaccurate perceptions that make them abuse drugs ( Taylor, 2015 ).
Apart from social skills training, it is important to educate adult family members so that they will watch out for their children. Parents play an important role in shaping their children’s attitudes, and by educating parents on increased abuse of drug by adolescents, they will be watching out for their children.
According to Arevian (2010), adolescent drug abuse and addiction is a serious problem that calls for comprehensive intervention measures. Intervention programs are different from preventive measures as they tend to target at-risk adolescents, while prevention measures target all adolescents. Apart from school programs targeting at-risk students, young activists can be used to campaign against drug abuse. Arevian (2010) suggests that young activists are more equipped to advise at-risk adolescents because they experience the same challenges just like the at-risk youth. Young activists from at-risk populations have higher chances of making a difference in the lives of at-risk adolescents. Hence, it is important to empower such activists through training and funding so that they can reach more at-risk adolescents.
Treatment of drug abuse in adolescents should use a holistic approach that focusses on the whole person, instead of the drug abuse problem only (Kings et al., 2013). Adolescents who abuse drugs have needs that should be supported, the needs could be medical, psychological or social. For instance, a homeless adolescent who abuses drugs has a more pressing issue of lack of housing that should be addressed. Therefore, it is important to address the root issues that make adolescents resort to drugs (Kings et al., 2013). Some adolescents are suffering from mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression that make them resort to drinking (Kings et al., 2013).
Chakravarthy et al., (2013) state that behavioral therapy and family therapy are part of the treatment. Behavioral therapy will motivate the adolescent to change. It will motivate them to stop abusing drugs by finding constructive and rewarding activities. Behavioral therapy helps adolescents to stay off drugs by building abstinence, resistance skills, and skills to deal with triggers that make the youth to abuse drugs. Family therapy as part of treatment will address issues within the family, such as violence, drug abuse and violence that make adolescence abuse drugs. Family therapy also makes parents more knowledgeable of their children so that they can make changes at home to prevent further drug abuse ( Chakravarthy et al., 2013) .
Most importantly, it is important to monitor adolescent substance abuse treatment. Adolescents recovering from addiction can easily relapse because of the triggers in their day-to-day lives. By monitoring the treatment, counselors can easily adjust treatment to meet the needs of the adolescents (King et al., 2013) . Monitoring does not involve adolescents only, counselors should use follow-up visits at home and link with family members to ensure the patients (adolescents) are complying with the treatment (King et al., 2013).
In conclusion, drug abuse among adolescents is an issue that should be taken seriously. A bigger percentage of adolescents who abuse drugs are suffering from real social and psychological problems that should be addressed. It is important to intervene as early as possible through effective prevention and intervention strategies that will help adolescents shun drugs for good.
References
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