The recognition of drug abuse patterns, culminating during the onset of adolescence to young adulthood has raised warranted attention to the issue of drug abuse among the young generation. This is additionally due to the adverse effects, both individual and societal, that drug abuse causes, ranging from the myriad of physical and mental health issues to societal adjustment issues all through to adulthood, synonymous with teenage drug abuse (Botvin, 2007). One imperative method of both preventing drug abuse among teens in addition to delaying the inception of drug abuse in individuals is the provision of normative education to both prospective and active users (Botvin, 2007).
Comprehending the vital role that normative education plays in demystifying urban misconceptions among the youth about the prevalence of drug abuse among peers is imperative. One way of impacting normative education is revealing statistics showing the actual decline in the prevalence of drug abuse among the youth since the 1990s (Botvin, 2007). This goes contrary to popular belief, created by pop culture, commercials among other vital factors, which have constantly created an impression of a society delved in drug and substance abuse (Botvin, 2007). Sensitization to the futility of these false impressions is vital in ensuring that the youth are not duped into believing that drug abuse is the norm.
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Additionally, normative education among the youth and abusing adolescents could be impacted by a revelation of the actual evidence-based risks that they face as a result of drug abuse (Botvin, 2007). The perception of rising popularity of drugs scraps the relevance of knowledge about the danger posed to health, with most individuals sharing the view that some drugs are not harmful to their health (Botvin, 2007). The demystification of these myths in addition to sensitization on the real impact of drug abuse would go a long way to ensure drug abuse as a result of popular culture and poor sensitization is curbed.
References
Botvin, G. J., & Griffin, K. W. (2007). School-based programmes to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. International review of psychiatry , 19 (6), 607-615.