Substance Use and Abuse - Essay Example

They are the need for a quick weight-loss program, increased energy, longer stamina or endurance, a faster workout recovery time, and attainment of a muscled body (Hayashi, 1) but has side effects. A few of these are serious gastrointestinal problems, severe headaches, menstrual irregularities, hypertension, premature baldness, shrinking of the breast (females), and enlargement of the breast (males) while shrinking the testicles (testicular atrophy).

Drug Education Programs – the goal of drug education programs such as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is to educate youngsters about the dangers of illegal drug use before they will even start and be swayed by its temptations (Brogan & Koellhoffer, 9). The logic behind the program is to involve police officers in giving their time and expertise to help schools conduct drug-education programs. The approach is to use police officers who are into the fight against drug-related crimes gives them much-needed street credibility in the eyes of the kids, as opposed to the “tough guy” persona exemplified by thugs, pimps, and drug pushers. A drug prevention program, meanwhile, focuses more on counteracting the social influences that can lead to drug use; such as peer pressure, ostracism, and school bullying (Segal, 125). In the case of the former, it is more school-based like being integrated into the curriculum while the latter program is more community-based as part of a wider community-policing program.  Drug education programs prevent experimentation by the curiosity of young school-aged kids.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy – this is a form of therapy that uses more subtle approaches by letting the affected individual get on his or her own feet rather than aggressive techniques of steering that person in the right direction. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) addresses the main problems, characteristics, and traits of adolescents and addicts alike such as denial, ingrained resistance, a marked lack of personal motivation, or even narcissistic attitudes. The whole concept of MET is to let a concerned person accept a new idea by saying or suggesting it is their idea to enhance its acceptance. There are no direct or even overly aggressive approaches being used; it is the patient who will have to decide whether he has a problem or not and then proceed from there. A person is in denial if he does not believe that he has a problem or that his actions are a problem; MET is designed to overcome denial. The stages of change are pre-contemplation, reflection, clarification, and preparation (Thombs, 262); MET moves the client through a “decision gate” with non-confrontational approaches. Read More