Two Policy Approaches to Drug and Alcohol Usage - Assignment Example

1. Substances which might be abused at Leavers week and the possible social and/or legal ramifications young people may experience when using these substances Adolescent substance abuse is turning out to be a major problem in many countries such as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. This habit appears to be at its highest level during special events such as leavers week celebration. Zinkiewicz et al., (1999) did a comparative study amongst the year 12 students in the Gold Coast to compare substance abuse during the Leavers' week with that of other normal days. Amongst the 658 young people interviewed, 55% of them had taken alcohol in the last one week while 84% consumed during leavers week (Zinkiewicz et al., 1999). Leavers week celebrations are yearly celebrations organized for year 12 students to mark the close of schooling and a transition to independent adult life. It can therefore be regarded as a transition from childhood to adulthood (Salom et al., 2005; Quek et al., 2012). As a result, most of the participants experiment with the behaviors of their adult counterparts. In Australia, the Gold Coast is a preferred venue for Schoolies week and the behaviors that signify this event have raised alarm among the community members. Excessive use of both licit and illicit substances have always signified these celebrations. A number of studies have been conducted to establish the kind of substances that are abused during the Schoolies week. These studies have revealed that alcohol remains at the top as the most abused substance during the leavers' week followed by cannabis (Salom et al., 2005; Lam et al., 2013). In particular, the Drug ARM's cross-sectional five year study for the period 1999-2003 gave a pattern of substance use during the leavers' week. The 2003 survey revealed that 88% of the revelers who were young people aged between 16 and 20 years reported having used alcohol during this celebration (Salom et al., 2005). This figure had been consistent for the year period. A similar study that was conducted in 2009 by Lam et al., (2013) indicated that 93% of the respondents who were schoolies had reported having used alcohol during the schoolies celebration. Quek et al. (2012) also did a similar survey on Queensland in 20101 and the results were the same as those of other similar surveys. Amongst the 352 school leavers who participated in the survey and had attended the schoolies week, 90% of them reported that they got drunk during the event (Quek et al., 2012). These results were exceptionally quite higher when compared to those who reported engaging in drinking prior to the schoolies week. In spite of the fact that most of these studies conducted a research on illicit drugs dichotomously, some results are more predictive on the kind of drug most likely to be abused during the leavers week. A more detailed study done by Lam et al., (2013) which tried to compare all the drugs both licit and illicit, indicated that alcohol tops the list followed by caffeine with an average figure of about 50% of the respondents reporting to have used it during the event. Excessive drug use is always accompanied by social and legal ramifications. Risky behaviors common during the schoolies week are unprotected sex, fights and drunk driving. The 2003 survey done by DRUG ARM indicated that 30% of the respondents engaged in sexual activities and 15% of them had not used protection in the activity (Salom et al., 2005). A similar survey for the 1995 leavers' week that was done by Smith & Rosenthal (1997) had similar results. A similar survey done by Quek et al., (2012) also indicated that 35% of the respondents reported having engaged in a problem causing behaviors during the 2010 schoolies week. Additionally, many surveys that have been conducted prior to the schoolies week indicated youths intended to have sex during the event (Maticka-Tyndale et al., 2003). References Lam, T., Liang, W., Chikritzhs, T. & Allsop, S. (2013). Alcohol and other drug use at school leavers' celebrations. Journal of public health, 87: 1-9. Maticka-Tyndale, E., Herold, E. & Opermann, M. (2003). Casual Sex among Australian Schoolies. The Journal of Sex Research, 40(2): 158-169. Quek, L., White, A., Low, C., Brown, J., Dalton, N., Dow, D. & Connor, J. P. (2012). Good Choices, Great Future: An applied theatre prevention program to reduce alcohol-related risky behaviours during Schoolies. Drug and Alcohol Review, 31(7): 897-902. Salom, C., Watts, M., Kinner, S. & Young, D. (2005). Schoolies Week in Perspective: Studies of Alcohol, Drug and Risk-Taking Behavior. Of Substance, 3(1): 26-29. Smith, A. & Rosenthal, D. A. (1997). Sex, alcohol and drugs? Young people’s experiences of Schoolies Week, Australian and New Zealand. Journal of Public Health, 21(2): 175-180. Zinkiewicz, L., Davey, J. & Curd, D. (1999). Sin beyond Surfers? Young people’s risky behaviour during Schoolies Week in three Queensland regions. Drug and Alcohol Review, 18(3): 279-285. 2. Compare and Contrast two Policy approaches to drug and alcohol usage; harm reduction and zero tolerance. Drug abuse is accompanied by serious effects on both the user and those around him. As a matter of fact, addiction is an illness that makes the victim lose that option of quitting the habit. As a result, such people need to be assisted. There are three major policy approaches to drug and alcohol usage namely; harm reduction, harm minimization and zero tolerance. Harm reduction and zero tolerance are the two distinct policy approaches to alcohol and drug use and will be our main points of focus Harm reduction refers to those approaches aimed at reducing the dangers that accompany drugs (Hunt, 2003). A distinctive feature of this approach is the focus on reduction rather prevention. This approach has long been adopted and it can be traced back to 1987 when it was adopted for curbing opiate dependence (Stimson & Oppenheimer, 1982). The basic assumption of harm reduction is that drug use can be made less detrimental to an individual if it is not possible to remove the effects completely. Proponents of this policy perceive that it is impossible to have a drug free world and zero tolerance is impractical. However, it seems practical to reduce harms of these drugs on individuals. They further argue that substance abuse ought to be perceived as a health issue instead of being viewed as a legal issue (Mendes, 2001). Addiction is a health issue and therefore just like any other people in the society, drug users ought to be accorded equal rights. According to Mendes (1999), harm reduction approaches disagree with the ideology of drug wars which later turn out to be a fight against the users of the drugs instead of drugs themselves. Important to note is the fact that, this policy has been disputed (Wellbourne-Wood, 1999) and the opponents of it argue that it encourages drug use rather than control. In contrast, zero tolerance policy refers to those approaches which aim at eliminating drug use. Yet this policy has evolved for years tracing its roots to 1980's (Skiba, 2000), there is lack of precise definition. Skiba (2000) described zero tolerance policy as a policy approach meant to convey a message that a given behavior will not be allowed. As such, related offenses irrespective of whether they are minor or major will not be tolerated. Unlike the harm reduction policy, proponents of this policy argue that substance abuse ought to be viewed as a moral and legal issue rather than health issue (Mendes, 2001). As such, this policy focuses on law enforcement and unlike the harm reduction policy, there is a strong belief of drugs war (Mendes, 2001; King, 1998). The two strategies can provide a solution to the problem of drug use during the schoolies week. However, the fact that some parents support it and the event has gained popularity among the young people, it might be impractical to eliminate the substance use completely. Since there is no indication of these events declining in popularity, there is need to recognize the possible harms and introduce mitigation measures. Harm reduction strategies appears to be a suitable strategy considering this fact. Harm reduction strategies extend beyond total elimination efforts and acknowledges the fact that some drug users may be unwilling to quit the habit. However, as Marlatt et al., (2011) points out, harm reduction does not imply that its proponents favor legalization. Also, harm reduction strategies are homogenous with other policies of zero tolerance (Marlatt et al., 2011). Harm reduction programs such as moderation of alcohol use during the event, alcoholics free ride home programs, safer alcohol consumption programs, safe sex programs and free condoms programs may provide effective ways of curbing the harms of excessive drug use during the leavers' week. At the same time, zero tolerance may be used for those illicit drugs such as the injectable drugs. References Hunt, N. (2003). Forward Thinking on Drugs. A Release Initiative. A Review of the evidence- base for harm reduction approaches to drug use. Retrieved from King, T. (1998). The Search for Rationality in Illicit Drug Policy. In M. Hamilton, A. Kellehear & G. Rumbold. Drug Use in Australia: A Harm Minimisation Approach. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.pp. 145-158. Marlatt, G., Larimer, M. & Witkiewitz, K. (2011). Harm REduction, Second Edition: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors. New York: Guilford Press. Mendes, P. (1999). The Great Heroin Debate: Unraveling the Competing Ideological Perspectives. Victorian Social Work,7(5): 9-11. Mendes, P. (2001). Social Conservatism vs Harm Minimisation: John Howard on Illicit Drugs. Journal of Economic and Social policy, 6(1): 1-15. Skiba, R. (2000). Zero Tolerance, Zero Evidence: An Analysis of School Disciplinary Practice. Indiana Education Policy Center. Stimson, G. V. & Oppenheimer, E. (1982). Heroin addiction: Treatment and control in Britain. London: Tavistock. Wellbourne-Wood, D. (1999). Harm reduction in Australia: some problems putting policy into practice. International Journal of Drug Policy, 10: 403-413. 3. Discuss how psychosocial theory might explain addiction that arises from young people engaging in events such as “Leavers Week" Scholars do agree with the fact that psychological, environmental and social factors have a substantial effect on the behavior of an individual and they have proposed a number of theories to explain behavior of human beings. Each of these theories has explained the development of certain behaviors despite each of them having some inadequacies. One of the categories of these theories is the psychosocial theories. The psychosocial theory perceives that addiction arises from different social and psychological factors (Korhonen, 2004). These factors include; learning, peer group influence and self esteem. Social, environmental, personal and psychological factors push individuals towards a certain behavior. Unlike other theories of addiction such as the social theories and psychological theories, psychosocial theories have been more successful in explaining drug use basically because it combines both the social and psychological components (Peele, 1988). Learning is a crucial aspect of the development of a harmful behavior and it is the point of focus for psychosocial theories. Therefore, an individual learns a certain behavior, the expectations of that behavior and the use of that behavior for certain purposes. For instance, binge drinking is a learned habit, and one can use binge drinking to get what he or she wants. In addition to this, individuals are always molded by the consequences of a certain behavior. If the consequences are positive, then an individual will continue to behave in that manner. In the context of engaging in drinking during the leavers' week, if one gets by a positive consequence from drinking with friends, he or she will be motivated to continue drinking hence leading to addiction (Korhonen, 2004). Additionally, it has also been proved both culturally and historically that the behavior of an individual upon drinking is learned socially (SIRC, 1998). If an individual takes alcohol in order to behave in a certain manner, then he or she is more likely to behave in that manner. The environment is also a critical factor in explaining addiction according to the psychosocial theories. As such, the environment where a child has been brought up plays a critical role in pushing him or her towards addiction. Evidence from research studies that were conducted during the leavers' week clearly indicates that there is a close relationship between those who frequently engaged in drinking and those who engaged in risky drinking during the schoolies. Those who drank occasionally were less likely to engage in binge drinking during the schoolies while those who drank more oftenly were more likely to engage in risky drinking during the leavers' week (Quek et al., 2012; Zinkiewicz et al., 1999). Peer cluster theory highlights the importance of peer groups in the development of a certain behavior. This theory is similar to Jessor's social learning theory which also recognizes the importance of peer influence. Peer cluster theory stresses the importance of peer groups in molding an individual's behavior and it posits that other factors only set stage for substance use. Unlike other theories of addiction such as the social theories and psychological theories, psychosocial theories have been more successful in explaining drug use basically because it combines both the social and psychological components (Peele, 1988). Peer groups play a key role in initiating and maintaining drug use amongst the youth. According to Peele (1988), peer clusters are small groupings of individuals sharing some common things. As earlier stated, leavers' week can be regarded as a transition to independent life. Young people are therefore more likely to maintain these peer groups during the independent life. As Peele (1988) states, drug use can be an important uniting factor for peers and it plays a critical role of uniting the members and identifying them. Within these peer clusters, drugs are accessible and peers can learn to use from other members who are using these substances. Moreover, peers share the beliefs and principles of substance use. Akers et al., (1979) argues that drug users are more likely to relate with other peers who are also users and the relationship will continue to exist. References Akers, R., Krohn, M., Lanza-Kaduce, L. & Radosevich, M. (1979). Social Learning and Deviant Behavior: A Specific Test of a General Theory. American Sociological Review, 44(4): 636-655. Korhonen, M. (2004). Alcohol Problems and Approaches: Theories, Evidence and Northern Practice. Ottawa: National Aboriginal Health Organization. Peele, S. (1988). Visions of Addiction: Major Contemporary Perspectives on Addiction and Alcoholism. New York: Lexington Books. Quek, L., White, A., Low, C., Brown, J., Dalton, N., Dow, D. & Connor, J. P. (2012). Good Choices, Great Future: An applied theatre prevention program to reduce alcohol-related risky behaviours during Schoolies. Drug and Alcohol Review, 31(7): 897-902. The Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC). (1998). Social and Cultural Aspects of Drinking: A Report to the European Commission. Oxford: The Social Issues Research Centre. Zinkiewicz, L., Davey, J. & Curd, D. (1999). Sin beyond Surfers? Young people’s risky behaviour during Schoolies Week in three Queensland regions. Drug and Alcohol Review, 18(3): 279-285. Read More