Substance Abuse Teens And Adolescents Essay - 2280 Words

Substance abuse is something that teens and adolescents battle every year. More than millions of teens face this issue and every year the number rises and high schools across the nation are seeing a need for school-based prevention programs to decrease the amount of students that are dropping out from these issues. These programs are geared towards helping problems such as alcohol and drug abuse. Although majority of large high schools have these programs, the number of students with these issues continues to rise and the problems are getting worse. â€Å"Adolescent substance use increases the risk of significant mental health problems such as conduct disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance dependence.† (Shekhtmeyster, Sharkey, You, 2011, p.386) It is very obvious that these prevention programs are not digging deep enough into the issues to truly hit the root of the problem to become effective. Researching the substance abuse programs inside these high schools and their counseling programs, as well as their effectiveness can lead to better standards and interventions that can help these students who intend to have bright futures and are trying to move past their problems with drug and alcohol abuse. The Counseling Profession and Research Importance of Research Evidence-based practices are what holds counselors accountable and keeps them out of trouble. A counselor should always respect the privacy and best interest of their clients and the best way for them to do this isShow MoreRelatedRisk Factors For Adolescent Drug Abuse1462 Words   |  6 Pages Body: Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug Abuse There are an abundance of risk factors that can relate to the contribution of drug abuse in adolescents. The primary risk factors can be divided into two main categories: social and emotional triggers. Social factors play an important role because during the adolescent years it can be an extremely emotional and physically tough time for teens to transition through. Adolescent phases are one of the biggest transitional stages in a person’s life becauseRead MoreEssay about Adolescent Substance Abuse641 Words   |  3 PagesAdolescent Substance Abuse Adolescent substance abuse continues to be epidemic in American society -- it crosses geographic, economic, gender, racial, and ethnic lines. In addition, more than a decade of national, state, and local prevention efforts have been minimally effective. It is a major problem that continues to escape our control. Nearly 9 out of 10 high school seniors in America report that they have experimented with alcohol. Within this group, 3 out of 10 report alcohol abuseRead MoreSubstance Abuse : A Public Health Problem Among American Children And Adolescents1561 Words   |  7 PagesSubstance use and abuse is a definitely a public health problem among American children and adolescents. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, substance abuse is the excessive use of a drug or the use of a drug without medical justification. There are various different substances that adolescents are abusing. Alcohol is the most abused in adolescence with four in ten high school seniors consuming some type of alcoholic beverage in the past month and more than one in five engaging in bingeRead MoreThe Psychological Effects Of Adolescent Substance Abuse1469 Words   |  6 PagesAdolescent substance abuse is one of the largest issues faced by our society today. According to Teenrehab.com, nearly 50% of all high schoo l seniors have abused some form of illicit substance and according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism nearly 70% of 18 year olds have at the least tried alcohol. Many more adolescents are trying, and getting addicted to, drugs every year. In my opinion this is one of the most critical issues that we have to address as a society. Summary Response:Read MoreWhat Does The Strength Perspective Can Be Beneficial? Adolescents?1285 Words   |  6 Pagesadolescents relate to the clinician that is working with them. This could be because strengths based is a positive perspective that is meant to encourage and teach the teens how to cope. Strengths based perspective is also known to help open up adolescent’s ability to talk with their parents and can also decrease negative behaviors. After the five week treatment was complete the adolescent where asked to talk about their experience and what they liked most about the strengths based perspectiveRead MoreAdolescence : An Exciting Milestone For Any Individual1626 Words   |  7 Pagesguardian(s) must develop a strict monitoring regime due to the fact that some teens will begin engaging in risky behavior such as experimenting with substances. This can lead to habitual abusing and other serious problems. Thus, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in reducing these risks. In this instance, there is a need to identify specific factors within the home environment to mitigate or even prevent adolescents from wandering down this destructive path, which leads to poor educationRead MoreEssay on Dysfunctional Families and Drugs852 Words   |  4 PagesWhy do teens use drugs? Many reasons contribute to adolescent drug use. It may be stress, peer pressure, or even the difficulty coping with the ills of school life. Teens use drugs because they have no true guidance. The absence, of certain vital components such as, someone to talk to, morals, values, or even responsibility forces teens to use drugs. One major contributing cause of adolescent drug use and abuse is a dysfunctional family, a family that does not provide all of the above. Read MoreAdolescent ´s Drug Abuse on the Rise737 Words   |  3 Pages 2. There are over 11 million adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12-25 that abuse and use drugs in the U.S. 90 % of these need treatment and are unable to get the help they need. Drug use is highest among individuals in their late teens. In the U.S, there are approximately 60.6% of youths that are dependent, or abuse drugs.In the U.S. alone, the related public health, social services, public safety, and lost of productivity cost society $465 billion a year (NSDUA, 2009). The damageRead MoreDrug Use On Young College Students1079 Words   |  5 Pagesworld s population and 75 percent of prescription drugs taken. Sixty percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them free from friends and relatives. The purpose of this study is to explore drug use in adolescent students, focusing on young college students. For the purpose of this study, a drug is defined as a habit forming substance that directly effects the brain and the nervous system. It is a chemical substanc e that affects mood, perceptions, bodily functions, or consciousness that hasRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse : Drug And Free World1508 Words   |  7 Pagesaged 12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) A 2007 survey in the United States found that 3.3% of 12 to 17 years olds and 6% of 17 to 25 year olds had abused prescription drugs in the past month (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdoses (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics