A Drug Abuse in Adolescents - Assignment Example

Drug Abuse in Adolescents Drug Abuse in Adolescents Literature Review Substance abuse is a prevalent problem affecting the youth as a whole and presents a challenge for those in the juvenile justice system. Research reveals that more than a third of all the arrests are drug related. Adolescence is a stage of identity formation through experimentation. Part of this “developmental” process involves high risk taking, from involvement in dangerous driving to unsafe sex and substance abuse. The motives for involvement in drug abuse vary from enjoyment, thrill seeking, alleviating boredom, and facilitating social bonding, satisfying the curiosity to attaining the peer status (Battjes, Onken, & Delany, 2009). In this particular context, the concept of substance abuse in a functional behavior and is acceptable. The drugs commonly abused are alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, sedatives, and hallucinogens. There has been an increase in the number of adolescent substance abusers over the years. Between 1986 and 1996, there was a 291% increase in the number of adolescents incarcerated facing drug charges. Drug tests and interview conducted in 1998 revealed that more than four thousand adolescents arrested tested positive for marijuana (Battjes, Onken, & Delany, 2009). A report on the prevalence of serious crimes in 1999 revealed that thirty percent of all serious crimes were perpetrated by teenagers who were solemn drug users. A study conducted in 2009 monitoring the future survey of drug abuse among adolescents aged 10-19 reported that 25% of them had used alcohol in the past month. These values had increased from the previous years’ report that indicated that 18% had used alcohol in the previous month. The same report indicated that 5% of adolescents aged 10-19 reported smoking cigarettes frequently. It also established that 7% of high school seniors reported smoking cigarettes daily in 2009 (Battjes, Onken, & Delany, 2009) In 2009, the report indicated that the rate of marijuana use among adolescent’s aged 10 to 19 stood at 20%. Close to 6% of the whole group in summation reported to smoke marijuana daily. However, these figures are expected to plunge because of the adverse effects associated with marijuana’s use. The use of over-the-counter drugs among the adolescents was estimated to be 10% across the board, and is expected to increase in the near future (Battjes, Onken, & Delany, 2009). Decades of research on drug and substance abuse among teenagers have reported quite a number of correlates associated with the problem of drug abuse among teenagers. In addition to “experimenting”, there are other factors that drive a teenager towards substance abuse. Individually, a teenager might have the genetic susceptibility to seek sensational excitement. The family might also compel a teenager into substance abuse. Issues like poor parenting skills and family conflicts often impact negatively on a teenager, driving them into doing drugs to “deal” with the harsh reality. Parents let their teenagers loose; to discover things on their own. This lack of directing is what drives the teenager into doing drugs. Violence in the family is yet another factor. A study showed that 70% of teenage drug abusers came from broken families, with 40% reporting their parents as drug abusers themselves (Battjes, Onken, & Delany, 2009). Underachievement in school is also another motivating factor towards substance abuse. The above is bulwarked by school and home peers who negatively pressure an individual into substance abuse. The society also has a role to play because it defines the laws and regulations regarding substance abuse. With the number of teenage drug abusers increasing, it is imperative that something is done to curb the menace so at to prevent the downbeat personal and societal consequences of teenage substance abuse. Problems Arising from Teenage Drug Abuse Personal Level Illicit drug use is a peril to both the user and the society as a whole. The drugs used have different modes of action, but all serve the same purpose; to get someone high. Substance abuse has negative impacts on the lungs, liver, brain and the central nervous systems of the users. Alcohol abuse has contributed to the loss of lives through the road carnage. Driving under the influence accounts for 87% of the almost every year teenage deaths aged 10-19 (Bazemore & Nissen, 2000). Problems of suicide have also been reported. Most teenage drug abusers have the tendencies develop loose morals, so most of them often indulge in promiscuity that ends up with HIV infections and unanticipated pregnancies. Since drugs interfere with the mental processes of an individual, this leads to poor decision-making. In some cases, deaths normally occur for drugs like heroin and alcohol as a result of over indulgence (overdose). Respiratory diseases are also common among teenage drug abusers. The above diseases come as a result of prolonged cigarette and marijuana smoking, predisposing an individual to higher chances of developing lung cancer. Heart problems are also closely linked to drug abuse. Drugs like heroin and certain stimulants make the heart beat abnormally, causing cardiac arrhythmia and ultimately cardiac arrest in some cases. Excessive consumption of heroin and hallucinogens can cause mental illnesses and delirious mind states. The overdose of these drugs often results in dropping out of school (Altschuler & Brash, 2004). Heavy drug abusers, in addition, have the tendency to become violent when “high”. Most of them are driven into indulgence in sadistic acts like robbery with violence, gun fights and gang wars (Alexander, Pugh, Parsons, & Sexton, 2000). Many teenagers lose their lives when they are in delirious mental states, when their thinking is not “straight” due to the “thought freezing” effect of drugs on their brains. Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to the development of liver cirrhosis, a very dangerous disease if not treated, leads to death. Social Level There are many risk behaviors associated with teenage drug abuse. There has been an increase in the crime rate, most of which are perpetrated by teenagers. These teenagers develop gang units, bound by substance abuse. When they run short of resources, they often resolve to rob convenience stores at gunpoint. Teenage crime is a societal effect of substance abuse. Under the influence of drugs, teenagers often indulge in unsafe sexual practices. The implications of such acts are an increase in teenage pregnancies and STDs infections (Alexander, Pugh, Parsons, & Sexton, 2000). These pregnancies contribute majorly to high rates of school dropouts. The children born to drug abusers become a burden to the community because they cause a strain on the already scarce resources. The number of teenage HIV cases has also increased due to unsafe sexual practices. All these present a challenge to the community because it augments to the number of societal terminally ill persons. The society spends millions of dollars on the treatment of HIV and STDs annually. Approximately 50% of the twenty million STD cases diagnosed annually are youth aged 15-19 (Altschuler & Brash, 2004). The use of substances amongst the teens has also led to a high number of teenage school dropouts. Increased school dropout impact negatively on the community because the dropouts are the ones that eventually form gang units that terrorize innocent citizens in the streets of the United States. Drastic actions have to be initiated to curtail drug and substance abuse among the teens. A policy has to be enacted to address teenage substance abuse, which had adverse detrimental effects to both the users and the society at large. The next section will delve into the primary stakeholders that need to be considered when developing a policy related to teenage drug and substance abuse Primary Stakeholders Needed when Formulating a Policy to Address Teenage Drug and Substance Abuse Family The family plays a central role in the lives of most adolescents. The family is the basic unit of the society, where an individual is born and bred. The family is important in the formulation of a policy because it is in the family that an individual’s values and principles are instilled. Accordingly, the family is a primary stakeholder in the advance towards the prevention of teenage substance abuse (Dembo & Walters, 2003) Schools Schools form the major stakeholder in the movement against teenage drug and substance abuse. They are an important stakeholder because it is in schools that teenagers get to have more values instilled in them. What is not taught at home is taught in school. Schools have guidance and counseling departments that are pivotal in counseling teenagers. Thus, through using schools as a weapon, they can be used to make aware the effects of drugs and substance abuse. Such awareness will help in reducing substance abuse incidences among the teenagers (Karp & Breslin, 2001). Churches Churches are religious institutions. Their basic principles are based on spirituality and holiness. The church is an important stakeholder because it can be used to make public the campaign against drug and substance abuse among teenagers. Church leaders are often influential personalities, thus, involving them in the fight against adolescent drug abuse can prove to be very beneficial. Mass media The mass media is also a major stakeholder in the fight against teenage drug abuse. The involvement of the media is evident through the various platforms of entertainment, anti-drug abuse messages can be passed through a great multitude of persons (Dembo & Walters, 2003). The mass media is perfect since it has a substantial amount of influence because of the prominent characters of the radio personalities who have a voice in the society. Government The government is another equally important stakeholder when developing a policy addressing teenage drug and substance abuse. The government needs to be considered because it can use its federal arms of law enforcement to curb drug abuse among teenagers. Through the government, the police and the office of the DEA can be used to wage war against teenage drug abuse menace (Collins, Murphy & Bierman, 2004). For these reasons, the government needs to be considered when developing a policy to address the issues at hand. Analysis of the Current Policy The current National Drug Control Strategy put into action by Barrack Obama in 2010 has four major strategies that serve as the nation’s blueprint for reducing drug abuse and its consequences. The strategies are; prevent, expand, reform and support (Collins, Murphy & Bierman, 2004). Beyond the fact that this policy acts as a guide for shaping federal policy, it is a useful resource in stopping drug production, drug use, trafficking and provides care to those that are addicted. In 1960, drugs were the symbol of youthful insurgency and political dissent. On June 1971, President Nixon officially declared war on drugs. He placed marijuana as a section one drug, but eleven states decriminalized the possession of marijuana. In the 1980’s, a political frenzy of drugs led to the passage of draconian drug abuse penalties that rapidly increased the number of incarcerations due to drug abuse (Karp & Breslin, 2001). In 1992, President Bill Clinton escalated the war on drugs by instituting a tougher policy against teenage drug abuse. George Bush arrived at the White House with a proposition that students undergo drug testing. His era witnessed a rapid escalation of domestic drug law enforcement. By the end of his term, there were over 50,000 SWAT raids conducted on drug offenders and other misdemeanor offenders (Kumpfer & Alvarado, 1998). The entry of Obama into office shifted drug control funding to a health-based approach, with the four elements as the core drivers. What is being done to Address Teenage Substance Abuse in Other Contexts? The approach towards teenage drug abuse is more or less similar to that of the United States, although delivered using different strategies. In Asia, drug abuse among teenagers is not so prevalent because of the heavy punishments accompanying drug-related charges. For instance, in Cambodia, there is a death penalty for those caught with controlled substances. Marijuana is part of their cultural fabric, which makes the availability of other drugs easier. In Indonesia, drug laws stipulate death penalty with up to twenty years imprisonment for marijuana offenses. In Malaysia, long jail sentences are prescribed and heavy fines a must for drug traffickers. The Philippines also have iron rules against drug abusers. A death sentence is prescribed for drugs like opium, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana (Kumpfer & Alvarado, 1998). In the UK, sentencing differs with more years for trafficking and less for possession. The UK has two main statutes that regulate drugs; the Medicines Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act (prevents non-medical use of some drugs). Policy Recommendation The policies I recommend for addressing the issue of adolescent drug abuse constitutes different approaches, which are as discussed below; a) Family Based approach. This approach brings into focus, the roles of parents in the prevention of teenage drug abuse. This approach aims at strengthening parent-child communication on substance abuse, encouraging the enforcing of drug abuse prevention strategies at the home level. The approach also aims to reinforce parenting skills that are beneficial in the prevention of adolescent substance and drug abuse. This approach also reiterates on parents acting as role models for their children to emulate (Kumpfer & Alvarado, 1998). b) School-based approach. Schools often reflect the community’s norms about substance abuse because they do not allow such callous behaviors. Therefore, this approach focuses on schools to explicitly specify the punishment for those that go against the societal norms. I strongly recommend incorporating of schools in my policy because schools forbid the sale, distribution, and use of substances. Consequently, schools can be used to pass the message across teenagers all over the country that drug abuse is not beneficial. The schools also have guidance and counseling departments that will prove pivotal in the rehabilitation of adolescent drug abusers. In addition, they may serve to prevent new entrants into the vice (Henggeler, Pickrel, Brondino & Crouch, 1996). c) Mass Media approach. I recommend the use of mass media in my policy in the prevention of adolescent substance and drug abuse. The mass media approach recommendable because of the efficiency of the media in passing “non-use” messages across the wider population (Morehouse & Tobler, 2000). The television and radio are platforms through which teenagers can be reached at, and warned of the dangers of using drugs and substances. These are important platforms because one warning message reaches millions of adolescents in an instant, across the whole country. d) Community approach. I recommend the involvement of the community in my policy against adolescent drug abuse. The community is important because communal events can be held to propagate the negative effects teenage drug abuse can cause to the lives of adolescents. Communal campaigns against adolescent drug abuse are also beneficial. Communal campaigns can be done in partnership with the schools and churches so that the message is all involving. Such campaigns can address the issue from a holistic and realistic perspective (Henggeler et al., 996). e) Government approach. The government approach involves the use of the government and its forces to combat the issue of teenage substance abuse. I recommend this approach because the government has a lot of influence on policies. The political influence of the government representatives like senators and governors will be beneficial in the fight against teenage drug use and abuse. The government agencies, like the DEA, will also bulwark my policy, to make sure it elicits the intended purpose of curtailing teenage drug use (Shenk & Zehr, 2001) Consequences of Policy My policy is designed to reduce and discourage the teenagers against the use of substances. As a result, the negative consequences that stem from teenage drug abuse will drastically diminish. These are the intended consequences of my policy. However, there might be a considerable injection of colossal amounts of money to lobby for the involvement of the government, schools, and the community at large. The use of funds is justifiable as long as my policy elicits the effects it is designed to. Analysis if the Policy will be Effectively Implemented It is evident that cases of teenage drug and substance abuse have been increasing with each passing day. The increase results from the fact that the policy in place is only one-sided. Solely the government, without the inclusion of the wider society, has driven the fight against teenage substance abuse. Since my policy is all-inclusive, I believe that it will be effectively implemented since it encompasses the family, church, school, community and the government. It will traverse all the components of the society. Thus its implementation will be swift because it involves all the stakeholders in the wider community. Conclusion The menace of adolescent substance abuse has been in existence since time immemorial. The consequences are unpalatable, affecting negatively on the society. With the rising number of new entrants into the vice, the outcomes have become unbearable. It is, therefore, crucial to develop policies to curb the menace. New policies have to be enacted that involve all the stakeholders in the society. Through the involvement of all the stakeholders, the policy will be embraced by everyone because we are all part of the solution. My policy is an all-rounded policy, and I believe it will be instrumental in curtailing the problem of adolescent substance abuse. The consequences of my policy are both intended and unintended, but for as long as it is put in place, it is a sure fact that adolescent drug abuse will diminish. References Alexander, J., Pugh, C., Parsons, B., and Sexton, T. (2000) “Functional Family Therapy.” Blueprints for Violence Prevention. Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder. Altschuler, D., and Brash, R. (2004) “Adolescent and teenage offenders confronting the challenges and opportunities of recovery.” Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 2(1):72-87. Battjes, R.J., Onken, L.S., and Delany, P.J. (1999) “Drug abuse treatment entry and engagement: Report of a meeting on treatment readiness.” Journal of Clinical Psychology 55(5):643-657. Bazemore, G., and Nissen, L. “Mobilizing social support and building relationships: Broadening correctional and rehabilitative agendas.” Corrections Management Quarterly, 4(4):10-21; 2000 Collins, L.M., Murphy, S.A., and Bierman, K.L. (2004) “A conceptual framework for adaptive preventive interventions.” Prevention Science 5(3):185-196. Dembo, R., and Walters, W. (2003) “Innovative approaches to identifying and responding to the needs of high risk youth.” Substance Use & Misuse, 38(11-13):1713-1738; 2003. Henggeler, S.W., Pickrel, S.G., Brondino, M.J., and Crouch, J.L. (1996) “Eliminating (almost) treatment dropout of substance abusing or dependent delinquents through home-based multisystemic therapy.” American Journal of Psychiatry 153(3). Karp, D.R., and Breslin, B. (2001) “Restorative justice and the prosocial communities solution.” Youth & Society 33(2): 273-295. Kumpfer, K., and Alvarado, R. (1998). Effective Family Strengthening Interventions. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice. Morehouse, E., and Tobler, N.S. (2000) “Preventing and reducing substance use among institutionalized adolescents.” Adolescence 35(137):1-28. Shenk, B.T., and Zehr, H. (2001) “Restorative justice and substance abuse: The path ahead.” Youth & Society 33(2):314-328. Read More