In regards to substance abuse, social vulnerability refers to the inability of people and their respective societies to cope with the impacts of the exposure to both legal and illegal drugs. It is in this respect that the level of vulnerability is augmented by the availability of high potential risk factors that are capable of diverting the society from intervening and preventing substance abuse. It is therefore worth acknowledging that social vulnerability in its different capacities is linked to substance use disorder as the substance users attempt to relieve themselves from stressful encounters. Owing to the fact that there are numerous risk factors in the modern world, many people especially the underprivileged are at a high risk of developing substance use disorder because they possess multiple risk factors. There is a need to consider the rights of the individuals suffering from substance use disorder while conducting both the formal and informal intervention (Doweiko, 2011). Additionally, major transitions in individual’s lives represent the link between social vulnerability and substance use disorder because during transitions, people seek relevance from their peers and are susceptible of engaging in use of drugs.
Understanding the addictive process and the associated dangers is an imperative trait that can effectively help differentiate addictive behaviors from normal behaviors. Whether a particular behavior is associated with substance abuse or not, it is imperious to acknowledge that certain behaviors create a rewarding feeling that could be profound enough to prevent an individual to neglect their normal activities. The most critical and impactful means of preventing such behaviors is by adopting selective program mechanisms that target specific vulnerable groups in the society (Robertson, 2003). By using this approach, the targeted group of individuals will be effectively counseled in due consideration of their specific needs hence getting the best out of the prevention program. For instance, by selectively targeting the school-going population, adolescent programs can be organized in such a way that they are tailored towards providing information and interventions that meet their level thus helping this group avoid addictive behaviors.
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References
Doweiko, H. (2011). Concepts of chemical dependency. Nelson Education.
Robertson, E. B., David, S. L., Rao, S. A., & National Institute on Drug Abuse (DHHS/PHS). (2003). Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders. Second Edition. In Brief. Place of publication not identified: Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse.
