Helping Teenagers with Substance Abuse in a Psychiatric Unit - Essay Example

Researching project paper How exercise can help teenagers with substance abuse in a psychiatric unit A. Literature review Morbidity/mortality Addiction to substances changes the brain that in turn alters the needs and desires of the affected individuals. Studies show that about 90,000 individuals in the country die due to elicit and alcohol abuse yearly (NIH 1). There are various causes of deaths associated with substance abuse, especially suicide. Addiction to substance may contribute to other mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and mental illnesses (Nora 1). If not monitored properly, people with mental illnesses are more likely to hurt themselves. Studies show that substance abuse is one of the major causes of violence in the society. Engaging in violent behaviors increases the risk of death among drug addicts. Another cause of death is deterioration of the users’ health. Continued usage of the substances leads to addiction, which is one of the causes of morbidity among the substance abusing people. Morbidity caused by substance abuse can be categorized into social, psychological and physical. Long-term usage of substances leads to poor social health such as isolation. It makes it difficult for the users to interact with other people in the society by making it difficult for them to create relationships with others. This may result into other health complications such as depression (Nora 1). In addition, it may lead to poor psychological health. Substance abuse has also been associated with other chronic illnesses. For instance, long-term usage of tobacco may cause serious illnesses such as lung cancers. Other illnesses associated with drug addiction are diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses. The poor health among the people addicted to substances includes poor eating habits. Since substance addiction changes priority, food become less important compared to the substance. The situation may cause other illnesses associated with poor eating habits. The multiple disorders caused by substance abuse are referred to as co-morbidity (Nora 1). Risk factors and mental health disparities The risk factors associated with substance abuse include availability of the substance and peer influence. Many people start using alcohol because it is readily available. Young adults are also likely to start abusing drugs in order fit in their peer groups. Economic problems also increase the chances of abusing alcohol. Other risk factors include poor management of problems in families. Studies also show that ADHD also increases the risks using drugs among children and adults. It is important to note that mental health disparities are also recorded among the substance users. Individuals who lack financial capabilities are more likely to have more mental problems connected with substance abuse because of their inability to seek medical help in time. People with other mental problems are also at the risk of using substances. For instance, studies show that schizophrenic people are at a risk of abusing substances (Whitten 1). In addition, older adults are more likely to be affected because to their poor health conditions. Developmental stages Exercises play a great role in reducing substance abuse. Studies indicate that individuals who engage in more physical exercise are less likely to use substances. The teaching of the targeted group on the effects of exercises will focus on two Erickson’s developmental stages which are intimacy Vs isolation and Generatively Vs Stagnation. It will also focus on Piaget’s development concepts. Individuals in the targeted group also fall under Formal Operational Stage. The cognitive abilities developed at this stage include logical thinking and deductive reasoning. It starts from adolescents to adulthood. The prevention program should focus on the cognitive needs of the targeted group based on Piaget’s concepts. For instance, the teaching sessions should enable them understand the effects of physical exercises. Exercises help in reducing cravings to use substances which in turn stop the behavior. It is important to acknowledge that exercises reduce the level of proteins in the rain that are responsible for cravings associated with drugs (Smith & Lynch 82). A low level of protein reduces the cravings. It means that engaging in regular exercises may enable one to stop abusing substances. In addition, shifting ones attention to exercises reduces overreliance on substances. Exercises also increase levels of interactions and improve their social lives. B. Mental health issues and content of the targeted population Part of the targeted population is in the intimacy vs. Isolation psychological development stage. The stage ranges from the age of 19 to 40 years (Sacco 140). People in this developmental stage are more likely to be affected by various mental issues. People’s mental health is determined by their sense of self that enables them to create good relationship. Persons with poor sense of self are more likely to develop mental problems such as depression due to loneliness and isolation. The situation increases the risks of abusing substances. The targeted population also consists of people from the age of 40 to 65 that is the seventh stage of Ericson’s development stage. People at this stage usually struggle to make their lives better. However, if they experience stagnation, they are more like to suffer from mental issues such depression and stress because they feel disconnected to the community. Primary prevention is meant to prevent people from using substances, especially persons who have never used them before but are more likely to start abusing substances. One of the primary prevention issues of the targeted group includes limited awareness about the effects of exercise on the substance abuse. Most people in the targeted group are not aware of the importance of exercise in preventing substance abuse (Lindsey 21). The other issue includes identification and classification of the targeted group in the primary prevention stage. The aim of this prevention stage is to stop the behavior by changing people’s attitudes through education. The other aim includes reducing the incidences of substance abuse. The priorities of the primary prevention include identification of the right group, creating awareness, and changing people’s attitudes towards the substance abuse and physical exercises. Reducing the risk factors is also a top priority at this stage. It is vital to take action against the risk factors before the group is affected. The secondary prevention involves helping people who are already addicted to substances to reduce their usage before the substances affects their health. The issues experienced at this stage include lack of commitment to prevention programs because drugs are priorities. Behavioral norms of substance users may also affect the prevention program at this stage. The top priorities at this stage include motivating drug users to cease using substances through physical exercises. This is considered the early stage of the intervention. The tertiary prevention is meant to prevent relapse of substance abuse and helping the population affected by other health complications maintain good health (Lindsey 21). Identified issues at this stage include lack of motivation and negative attitudes. The top priority in this stage includes motivation of the targeted group by changing their attitudes towards the effects of exercises on their health. Works Cited Lindsey, Val. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Youth Prevention Programs. Journals of Addictive Disorders. 2002. Web 3 November 2014. National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction: The basics. 2014. Web. 3 November 2014. Nora, Vollow. Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses. National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2006. Web. 3 November 2014. Smith, Mark & Lynch, Wendy. Exercise as a potential treatment for drug abuse: Evidence from preclinical studies. Journal of Psychiatry. Vol 2:82. 2011. Web. 3 November 2014. Sacco, Rob. Re-Envisaging the Eight development stages of Erik Erikson: The Fibonacci Life- Chat Method. Journal of Education and Developmental Psychology. Vol 3 (1). 2013. Web. 3 November. Whitten, Lori. Exercise also decreases neural change linked with drug seeking during abstinence. NIDA. 2012. Web. 3 November 2014. Read More