Substance Abuse Among Teens - Article Example

s Substance abuse amongst the teenagers is one of the most recurring issues, which needs to be addressed. The issue being so widespread gathers attention of multiple stakeholders. Though the issue being discussed here relates to the teenagers, yet the stakes are naturally extended to individuals from all age groups. Parents of these teenagers who are responsible for the conduct of the children are directly influenced if their children are in any way indulged in substance abuse, and thus awareness of the issue must be on their top agenda. While teenagers may get into substance abuse owing to peer pressure or just for the sake of pleasure, the long term consequences are extreme and thus, they must be educated on the issue which makes them direct stakeholders in the issue. Thus, both parents and their children as a family unit make an important stakeholder to the issue. For instance, if the child is indulged in the perils of substance abuse, it would be the family who will have to bear the brunt while the child is in rehab, also medical expenses would also be borne by the family. Thus, in any way, the family unit has the most stakes in the issue (Monty, Suzzane & Tracy 22-23). Similarly, the community of the teachers and instructors directly associated with these teenagers also has stakes in the issue since they will be ones looking after the well being of the community. Thus, as an institution these teachers, professors and instructors must also be directly engaged in a meaningful discussion since they understand the behavioral patterns of the issues well, which makes them stakeholders in the debate. On a macro level, the policy makers who are looking after the demand supply pattern of these drugs involved, and thus awareness over the issues is also significant for them. For instance, these policy makers have to be mindful of developing strategies over the age limit of legal availability of certain legalized drugs, similarly, of the level of taxation to be imposed on the purchase of such drugs. Thus, on a holistic level, advocates, community mobilzers, family units and other similar institutions stand to be significant stakeholders in this context. The study aims at addressing the gap in information specifically for the stakeholders identified. In other words, assessing substance abuse with a focus specifically on teenagers is the need of the time since the issue is now affecting stakeholders at a macro level. The paper will thus offer information for these stakeholders who are looking for figures and estimates in a consolidated form to further decide on what action must be taken. Thus, only after proper assessment of the issue can the policy makers decide on how to counter the demand supply cycle and more importantly on where to focus while taking action. Furthermore, substance abuse is an issue over which many studies and assessments have been made, yet it hasn’t been consolidated in a form where the stakeholders and policy makers can get hold of all the available information. In addition, those who don’t concern policy makers are also the subject of the paper. The paper will also offer information in simple form which even the laymen can understand, thus, those who are looking for general information over the issue along with recommendations on how the issue can be countered will benefit from the study. Those conducting research on the topic will also be able to add to their existing data, where a different perspective may enlighten their study. The children and adults themselves may also seek information on the subject if they`re looking for such sources. Also, teachers and instructors and even those who are working or aiming at working in rehab centers can also get hold of the study for their benefit. Those looking for advocacy or volunteer opportunities at such centers are also subjects of interests concerning the study. In other words, people from different kinds of background and different interests may have stakes in the topic and thus, this study may interest stakeholders diverse in nature. Also, the problem statement of the study is also a problem, rather an issue for many looking for an escape or rather an information outlet. For this reason, the study will aim at producing authentic yet precise and complete information on the subject where the addicts as well as researchers will find out the background behind the issue, along with how the issue is affecting the addicts and others associated with the issue. Also, the study will pose recommendations on how the issue can be avoided and how individuals can deal with those suffering from the issue. Also, the issue doesn’t have a narrow focus rather it has quite a wide one since the kind of drugs and the kind of addicts are varied in nature and context. For instance, the drugs are quite diverse in nature like alcohol, meth, marijuana, weed etc. Thus, those looking for sources on the issue for reasons not limited to research or study, will definitely find diversity in the study where they can find information on other wide-ranging issues associated with drug abuse amongst the teenagers. Thus, the audience may be the teenagers suffering from the issues themselves, or the stakeholders having risks associated with the issue, or even the stakeholders. These audiences will be able to reap not only information, but also various perspectives to look into via this study. Substance abuse is such a far ranging issue and one that concerns individuals quite intensely is how it is quite difficult to identify. In other words, these is a wide ranging generation gap between the parents and teenagers today, where the kinds of drugs available nowadays are quite alien to the parents and thus, it becomes almost impossible for them to detect if the children are in any way using these drugs (Wolf, David & Claire 222). A few teenagers just take substance abuse quite causally and become eventually so immune to the issue that it becomes a part of their lifestyle just like their attire or other lifestyle activities. Therefore, detection becomes possible only after the consequences are far reaching and irreversible. However, research nowadays focuses entirely on causes of drug abuse and kinds of drug abuse along with the effects it leaves on teenagers. However, research over how the identification patterns may be addressed is missing, which seems to be a gap in literature review as well. Thus, the study will also touch upon patterns on identification for drugs abuse specifically to benefit the stakeholder so that they may use the findings in awareness campaigns to educate the masses. Also, most studies suggest that substance abuse amongst teens can be very dreadful and difficult to counter, thus this study will also aim to counter this misperception. Therefore, the paper will aim to address the gaps in research and will also give a ways forward. As mentioned above as well, substance abuse must be identified early on to counter the issue. For this reason, certain symptoms can be used to gather evidence, however confirmation can only be achieved after toxic screens. In a few cases, however, even the toxic screens fail to recognize these drugs. Another issue associated with the symptoms of substance abuse is that most of them are close to the natural habits of a normal teenager which makes it difficult for the parents to identify. Moreover, parents completely unaware of their child`s association with drugs may also be in denial and never even imagine their children to be involved in drugs, and so, they may completely ignore the symptoms. Yet, most of these symptoms may still contribute in early diagnosis of the problem, and for this reason the policy makers and the community mobilizers must be equipped with the skills to further contributing towards spreading awareness amongst parents of the teenagers involved in substance abuse. Identification of these early signs lead to early diagnosis and the results at this phase are completely reversible, since they haven’t caused much of the damage as yet. Thus, if the parents are constantly reminded, as a discourse in public policy, of this menace, they will be more mindful of the issue and would be able to speculate if there`s any such case. The process of rehabs and dealing with the effects follow this step and thus, identification just like diagnosis of a deadly disease is the most crucial of all. There are many diverse symptoms of substance abuse amongst teenagers, depending on the type of drugs they`re using or the length of the period they`re taking these drugs for. Also, these symptoms are similar to symptoms for other diseases due to which assessment of the behavioral patterns of the teenager also need to be observed. Runny nose is one the most common symptom of all and due to this reason, if a parent observes that their child is suffering from a runny nose for an extended period of time, they must get it checked. Another apparent symptom is sudden weight loss and any change in the body weight at an usual level must never go unnoticed since toxins in drugs directly affect the weight of individuals. Also, parents must also keep a check on behavioral patterns of their children, especially when they`re at a vulnerable age. Any change in their like and dislikes, or even past time activities is a red flag which may indicate that the child is involved in substance abuse. Chronic coughing is another apparent symptom, since a few most commonly acquired drugs directly affect the lungs and breathing patterns which cause extensive coughing. This symptom is especially apparent in new users. Also, parents need to be pro-active in this context and so; they should also keep a check on clothing patterns of their children. For instance, children may start wearing full length shirts even in summers to hide their needle marks, or in another case children may be trying to fit into the gothic culture. Also, if a child suddenly loses interest in studies and there is an apparent decline in results, drugs may also be associated with such children in this case. In addition, the teachers should also report to the parents if any uncommon and inappropriate behavior is observed at school since that may also be indicative of a drug problem. In extreme cases, the children may start skipping classes to fulfill their drug related needs, a behavior which must never go unchecked. The friends circle of these children also says a lot about the habits of the children. A few children may even be indulged in crimes like stealing to fulfill their needs. Sometimes, these children may simply lose their appetite or in another case, they may suffer from excessive hunger and both cases may be indicative of drug abuse. (Ramo 44-47) On one hand where these symptoms are indicative of drug abuse in teenagers, on the other hand they aren’t truly reflective of the condition. Thus, it would be wrong to presume that diagnosis would occur at home without any external help. After extensive observation and speculation, if parent feel the need to consult an expert, there are many such specialists on narcotics and psych related experts who must be contacts for a counsel. Detox centers often have a team of experts who can guide the parents on how to go through with the entire process (Dangerous Liaisons 12-13). However, most commonly, the parents are seen panicking and over-reacting when they find out about the substance abuse habit in their children. They must be mindful of the fact that this is not the right time to be hard on the children, rather this is the time when tough decisions would be made. The first thing which should strike the minds of the parents in such a case is that there is expert help available who must deal with the issue and parents themselves can`t deal with the problem since they have emotional bonding at stake here. Thus, the parents must research on support groups who specifically counsel the parents before counseling the effected children. After being counseled well enough, the parents must turn towards the rehabilitation facilities specifically built for the purpose of dealing with drug abuse, and thus the children must be enrolled into such specialized treatments. Though the rehabilitation centers are clichéd as well even in the modern world, yet the parents must believe and adapt to the fact that the experience is more like a medical treatment just like it is for any other disease. Also, in such a scenario, opening doors for communication and speaking to the child about the experience may also prove to be beneficial since the child may be under a lot of stress in such a condition which must make it necessary for them to talk to those close to them. Since the entire rehabilitation is a fight against an addiction, the support of the family is crucial at this point, and only with an expert help can this experience be made comforting. The illicit substance abuse began an issue, and more of an agenda for policy makers since the beginning of the 1990`s where the public policy was quite strict and there were massive taxes in the USA over drugs use (Aue 111-112). In such a scenario, the drug trade wasn’t as common and demand was being countered along with the supply where availability of drugs wasn’t as common. However, in 2009 the teenagers of America were again found being indulged heavily in drugs, more commonly due to the drug cartels in Afghanistan which was then tied to terrorism as well. For this reason, drug facts quote nationwide trends back in 2011 where it deems marijuana intake elated between the period of 2009 and 2010, which was most commonly found in children studying between eighth and twelfth grades, which was a striking discovery (Bestor 55-56). Ecstasy is another wonder drug discovered for teenagers which is especially presented in night parties to achieve an elated sense of pleasure and to enhance physical activity, and thus this drug is also now quite popular in eighth and also tenth graders. These two drugs are just the tip of the ice berg where many different drugs are now available to be utilized, and those how aren’t indulged in illicit drugs are found addicted to prescription drugs as well. This calls for a renovated public policy to take strict measures to again counter supply along with the demand. As mentioned above, since prescription drugs are also common amongst the teenagers these days, an assessment over such drugs also becomes crucial in this context. Teens who have enough maturity to avoid illicit drugs may still find themselves drawn towards prescription drugs, though the reasons behind indulgence into prescription drugs may vary. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that children over the age of around 12 years were found using prescription drugs for reasons other than medical ones between 2009 and 2010, out of which many reported that they accessed such drugs without prescription via family friends or other individuals which directly calls for public policy initiatives in this regard, so that issue is countered before getting too worse. The social stigma against these prescription drugs must also be exaggerated via rhetoric as is done in the case of illicit drugs as one of the most priority public policy initiatives. Thus conclusively, substance abuse amongst the teenagers is one of the most recurring issues, which needs to be addressed. The issue being so widespread gathers attention of multiple stakeholders. Though the issue being discussed here relates to the teenagers, yet the stakes are naturally extended to individuals from all age groups. Parents of these teenagers who are responsible for the conduct of the children are directly influenced if their children are in any way indulged in substance abuse, and thus awareness of the issue must be on their top agenda. While teenagers may get into substance abuse owing to peer pressure or just for the sake of pleasure, the long term consequences are extreme and thus, they must be educated on the issue which makes them direct stakeholders in the issue. Thus, both parents and their children as a family unit make an important stakeholder to the issue. For instance, if the child is indulged in the perils of substance abuse, it would be the family who will have to bear the brunt while the child is in rehab, also medical expenses would also be borne by the family. Thus, in any way, the family unit has the most stakes in the issue. Similarly, the community of the teachers and instructors directly associated with these teenagers also has stakes in the issue since they will be ones looking after the well being of the community. Thus, as an institution these teachers, professors and instructors must also be directly engaged in a meaningful discussion since they understand the behavioral patterns of the issues well, which makes them stakeholders in the debate. On a macro level, the policy makers who are looking after the demand supply pattern of these drugs involved, and thus awareness over the issues is also significant for them. For instance, these policy makers have to be mindful of developing strategies over the age limit of legal availability of certain legalized drugs, similarly, of the level of taxation to be imposed on the purchase of such drugs. Thus, on a holistic level, advocates, community mobilzers, family units and other similar institutions stand to be significant stakeholders in this context. For the reasons cited above the study specifically addressed the gap in information specifically for the stakeholders identified. In other words, assessing substance abuse with a focus specifically on teenagers is the need of the time since the issue is now affecting stakeholders at a macro level. The paper focused on information for these stakeholders who are not looking for figures and estimates in a consolidated form, rather looking for action to further decide on what action must be taken. Thus, only after proper assessment of the issue can the policy makers decide on how to counter the demand supply cycle and more importantly on where to focus while taking action. Works Cited: Aue, Pamela W. Teen Drug Abuse: Opposing Viewpoints. Detroit: Thomson/Gale, 2006. Print. Bestor, Sheri L. M. Substance Abuse: The Ultimate Teen Guide. Lanham: The Scarecrow Press, Inc, 2013. Internet resource. Dangerous Liaisons: Substance Abuse and Sex. New York: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 1999. Internet resource. Monti, Peter M, Suzanne M. Colby, and Tracy A. OLeary. Adolescents, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse: Reaching Teens Through Brief Interventions. New York: Guilford Press, 2001. Print. Ramo, Danielle E. Developmental Models of Substance Abuse Relapse. , 2008. Internet resource. Wolfe, David A, Peter G. Jaffe, and Claire V. Crooks. Adolescent Risk Behaviors: Why Teens Experiment and Strategies to Keep Them Safe. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. Internet resource. Read More