...Abstract Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees their parents and they learn by their example. Media plays a role in the use of drug and alcohol use among young people. Many school systems have implemented programs that teach adolescents about the problems of substance abuse that is funded by the government. The community health nurse helps provide education in the community. The cost for substance abuse can be astronomic. Emergency room visits, treatment programs and even court costs lead to billions of dollars annually. The key to prevention is education. Adolescent Substance Abuse In society today adolescent substance abuse is a growing problem. There are many risk factors that can lead to substance abuse. It is important to understand the reasons behind why the adolescent begins the experimentation of drugs and alcohol. Media plays a role in adolescent substance abuse. Many times advertisement and movies betray alcohol or drug use as fun and not addictive. Many times the people are happy and having a good time. This gives many young people the wrong idea about substance use. Substance abuse among young people between the ages...
Words: 311 - Pages: 2
...Abstract Drug abuse is a growing problem in the world today. Past studies have been conducted in efforts to recognize similar patterns in addicts’ lives that may have contributed to their behavior. The emerging results from this research suggested that it was due to several maltreatments occurring during the addicted individual’s adolescent years that were behind their early drug use. It is during the critical years of adolescence, when the brains of young adults are still developing, that the youth of today are most susceptible to a number of issues that can lead towards drug addiction, such as problems at home, abuse, and peer-pressure. Exploring these adversities will help shed some light on why adolescents make the decision to use drugs. This paper will address what influences drug use and how this knowledge can help treat addiction. Issues surrounding why addicts began drug use and how this information could be beneficial in treating substance abuse in the future will be explored. . Understanding Early Drug Use and Its Implications on Future Drug Abuse Treatment Addiction has been defined as a “misguided attempt at self-repair” (du Plessis, 2012 para. 53). But who is in danger of becoming addicted or may be feeling the need of some “self-repairing? During a 2013 testing of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), a tool to assess certain personalities found often in substance abusers, it was found that adolescents were at high-risk for substance abuse (Castellanos-Ryan...
Words: 2725 - Pages: 11
...Delinquency and Substance Abuse Delinquency is a term that is used to describe illegal or antisocial behaviors and activities. Delinquent behavior may include drug use, underage drinking, violence, sex crimes or property crimes. Individuals who are delinquent typically express antisocial opinions, are involved in activities that are dangerous, harmful and wrong and are often outspoken in their rejection of punishments associated with their crimes. In some cases, there is a strong link between delinquent behavior and substance abuse. Many delinquents will seek out activities that are considered criminal or wrong. In this case, drug use is both criminal and socially unacceptable in most cases. A delinquent person may be under the influence of alcohol and or drugs when they commit a crime, or they may be committing a crime such as theft to get funds to support their drug and alcohol use. Delinquency is considered a serious issue, with several different theories relating to its cause. Some theorists suggest that delinquency is the result of psychological health. Particular behavior or mood disorders may be associated with the involvement in delinquent activities, including substance abuse. Antisocial personality disorder is one condition that is closely linked with delinquent behavior. This condition is typically associated with abnormal or destructive thinking, perception and relationships with others. In other words, a delinquent does not have any regard for right and wrong,...
Words: 1319 - Pages: 6
...Drugs and technology While it is almost impossible to get an actual percentage of people affected by drug addiction, the use continues to grow. Most people will admit to trying some form of illegal drug, but addicts have a hard time even coming to grasp that they are addicted. Our society has been struggling with addiction for hundreds of years. Those affected vary in age, and are not limited to adults. According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2011), there are approximately 27 million Americans today that either use illicit drugs regularly or are “heavy drinkers”. Sixteen million of these are in need of immediate treatment for their addiction problem. By the age of 18 almost 12 percent of young people in America are addicted to drugs. Statistics also show that about 70 percent of users who are employed contribute significantly to absenteeism in the work place, workplace accidents, workplace injuries, decreased productivity, increased insurance premiums, and large employee turnover and violence in the workplace. The total estimated cost to our society in America for substance abuse exceeds 250 billion dollars per year. Addiction has become prominent as one of the worst health and social problems in the United States today. (coachinginternational.com) Through the last two decades, addiction rates in the United States have increased significantly because of the advancements in Information Technology. Social networking, internet access...
Words: 3928 - Pages: 16
...Running Header: Substance Abuse Adolescent Substance Abuse Dana Sweitzer Liberty University Abstract Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees their parents and they learn by their example. Media plays a role in the use of drug and alcohol use among young people. Many school systems have implemented programs that teach adolescents about the problems of substance abuse that is funded by the government. The community health nurse helps provide education in the community. The cost for substance abuse can be astronomic. Emergency room visits, treatment programs and even court costs lead to billions of dollars annually. The key to prevention is education. Adolescent Substance Abuse In society today adolescent substance abuse is a growing problem. There are many risk factors that can lead to substance abuse. It is important to understand the reasons behind why the adolescent begins the experimentation of drugs and alcohol. Media plays a role in adolescent substance abuse. Many times advertisement and movies betray alcohol or drug use as fun and not addictive. Many times the people are happy and having a good time. This gives...
Words: 1655 - Pages: 7
...Current Drug Trends in America Sarah Pierce PSY425 October 25, 2010 Scharlene De Horney Past and Current Drug Trends in America Drugs come in many forms and from many places. Drugs have been around since the beginning of time and people have been using them since they discovered them. Drug use began thousands if not a hundred thousand years ago as humans started exploring their environment. People would see a new plant or observe an animal’s behavior after consuming the plant, and out of curiosity, they would experiment with it or taste it. This is how some of the drugs we know today came about. Cocaine, opium, LSD, peyote, and marijuana all come from plants that primitive people discovered while tasting the environment around them. This paper will identify the past and current trends in the use and abuse of substances (drugs) in the United States. It will also discuss when it is viewed appropriate to use illicit drugs. Moreover, this paper will analyze the health and social problems in the United States that occur due to drug abuse and addiction. Trends American views on drugs have gone from one extreme to the opposite over a period of about 200 years. In the late 1700s through the 1800s, everyday Americans legally used substances like opium, cocaine, and marijuana for medicinal, spiritual, and recreational uses. At the beginning of the 1900s, the American view on drugs began its dramatic change. As of 1971, America is in an outright “war on drugs”. Past The late...
Words: 1253 - Pages: 6
...Political Viewpoint on Substance Abuse in Today’s Society Substance abuse in the United States dates back to the excess use of morphine during the American Civil War. Morphine was used as a “wonder drug”, taking away the pain of soldier’s injuries as well as avoiding health hazards such as diarrhea. These soldiers ended up going home addicted, taking morphine even though they no longer needed it, and had to fuel their addictions just to keep their sanity. Present day United States is not free from substance abuse either, and it has started to escalate at an even bigger scale. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 570,000 die annually due to drug abuse (NIH, 2014). Due to an excess amount of people dying due to drug abuse,...
Words: 1216 - Pages: 5
...have a place to call home. While homelessness has always existed in America, never before has this nation seen such a high percentage of its youth population living on the streets. Even though Young people often become homeless due to family conflict and substance abuse, youth is at a higher risk for homelessness than adults ("Starry Children At Heart Ministries, Inc.", 2015). In order to reduce the number of homeless youth, society needs to address the high rates of substance abuse, mental illness, and sexual trauma that is experienced by today's young adults. Substance abuse of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs are prevalent amongst homeless youth. Many, young adolescent young people who became or on the verge of becoming homeless, were brought up in households where drug and alcohol were being used on a regular basis by parents or guardians. Domestic violence and some form of abuse within the home was present. Therefore, prompted the youthful pre-adult youth, encountering a horrible and traumatic adolescence. Subsequently; a high rate is brought up in foster homes, mental organizations, or detained before the age of 16. Many use drugs or alcohol as an expedient to self-medicate so they can deal with the harsh reality of homelessness, not to mention the experiences and abuse they face living on the streets. ("Facts about Youth Homelessness", n.d.). Under these circumstances, self-medicating helps them...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...Adolescent Substance Abuse Isaiah.R 3/27/14 In society today, a common problem among teenagers is the use of drugs. Teen age years are probably the most challenging periods of life. It is a stage of finding yourself versus confusion of knowing oneself. Belonging and being accepted in a group seems to be very important, as well as being “cool”. Troubled, teens turn to things such as drugs to help Suppress or ease the emotional/mental pain of things such as the common rejection. During these years of maturing, teenagers encounter their share of positive and negative experiences. Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are some of the factors that youthful and vulnerable teenagers have to cope with in their young lives. One of the significant reasons for teenage drug use is peer pressure, particularly from the influences among friends, acquaintances, school, and the media. If a teenager’s main social group is using drugs, then there is a strong pressure due to the fact that drugs are present and can easily be offered. Also, the person might get convinced to think that there is nothing wrong with trying drugs because “everybody else is doing it.” In the effect that teenagers will try drugs just to fit in the social norms, they might do it to impress their buddies to be considered “cool” as part of being in the group and gain acceptance by friends. The issue of using drugs is everywhere in this country and around the world. It’s available and accessible...
Words: 3108 - Pages: 13
... Nowadays teens and young adults are influenced by alcohol everyday. Whether it is by friends, advertisements, celebrities, or even family. Alcohol abuse amongst minors, needs to be abolished. To help end this growing problem, classes taught on drugs and alcohol, in all schools, should be required. Along with simply teaching minors, in school, the health issues and dangers of alcohol abuse, parents need to do a better job of knowing what their teens are doing. Communication, not only between parents and their children, but also between siblings and friends, has a great impact on the decisions they will make. When it comes to peer pressure, minors must realize what is best for their safety and choose wisely who their friends are. Required classes, strictly on the use of drugs and alcohol, taught in schools, would have an enormous impact on teens. With it being a required course, students would have no choice but to attend. Not only would they be learning the health issues of these substances, they would be being tested and graded on their knowledge of the subjects. This would force teens to listen to and take into consideration, the risk of substance abuse. Being in the classroom and learning with other people of the same age group could help students create positive, drug and alcohol free, friendships. Having friends who have the same understanding of the risks of drinking alcohol, would greatly help minors stay free of abusing substances. Today, young adults spend the majority...
Words: 662 - Pages: 3
...Psychology and health issues with Substance Abuse Sherry Ramos Resurreccion HCA/250 03/02/2014 Tiffany Hanshaw Psychology and health issues with Substance Abuse A psychological education program that we have here in our community is a program at our local Hospital. Our local hospital Sutter Delta Hospital has a Substance Abuse program. They provide information about substance abuse and they work with the largest treatment center in Northern California called the Impulse Treatment Center. The Impulse Treatment Center provides resources such as where they can go for group therapy, extended care, long treatment care, and intensive out patient care. This program is not a free program however your insurance company may cover it. When deciding to use this program we should learn more about being a healthy and learning the signs of someone who is unhealthy and need treatment. When you are healthy, you are free from any sickness/illness, you feel good about yourself, and your body is physically fit. When you are healthy it also means that you feel positive mentally and physically. The relationship between health and Psychology go hand in hand because in order to have a healthy life you should be physically healthy but you should also feel mentally stable. If you are not mentally stable it will make an impact on your over all health. Some people who are psychologically not stable will become ill because they may decide that they do not want to eat, they seclude themselves from...
Words: 1645 - Pages: 7
...A drug is a substance that alters the mind, body or both. Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in colleges today. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. Today children are subjected to all sorts of situations both good and bad. School systems are much more difficult to deal with nowadays. Most people from older generations still think that school is simple you go to class, go to lunch, bring home your homework and that’s it. This however is not the case anymore. Drugs are making their presence in schools more and more and it is becoming a very big problem. There are more steps that can be taken to help stop present juvenile drug abusers as well as prevent other children from even beginning. For example, programs should be set up for the students, something that will actually interest more students. There should also be support groups for parents who feel lost as to what they should do to guide their children. In 2007 according to the U.S. Census Bureau there were approximately 41,738 children between the ages of 10 and 19 living in the United States. In the same year according to the same source there were 160,410 drug related arrests in the United States involving children between the ages of 10 and 19. This includes possession charges and dealing charges. Keeping in mind that there are far fewer children than criminal arrests, this means that there are some children who get repeated offenses...
Words: 3173 - Pages: 13
...We’ve all heard it before. An elderly person rants on and on about how “corrupt” the youth of today is. Yes, we’ve seen examples of youth disregarding the idea of being law-abiding citizens, but do youth really deserve all of the blame? Not necessarily so. Today’s youth, like youth throughout time, are being influenced. The problem is just that the influences of today’s world such as, the media, education, drugs, and alcohol are growing steadily negative and poorer in quality. Social networking, the media, music, education, various drugs, and alcohol affect today’s youth in negative ways. Youth and the Media Some of the most influential vectors affecting teenagers are social networks, the media, and music. Social networking sites dominate the time of many teenagers. Paired with the entertainment industry, and things being said on television or the radio, social media can definitely change people's mindsets and emotions. Think about it. Very often, you see children posting statuses on Facebook or tweeting on twitter. And when these kids are watching television, listening to the radio, or reading magazines, often times the wrong messages are being projected to the ears of teens. The result is a changed teenager. The result is a teenager whose mind is being corrupted by the face of a few people. Nowadays, many teens have a Facebook account. The website is simple. You upload some statuses, you like somebody's pictures, you see what your friends like and update. Even though...
Words: 3076 - Pages: 13
...What new information did you learn? I really learned a lot about substance abuse in this course and also during my readings. I always looked at substance abuse as someone who just uses drugs to get high. I never really thought about it being a brain disease. According to NIDA, “Addiction is similar to chronic diseases” while observing the brain and the heart addiction and heart diseases produce observational changes in the function of human organs. While all this information wasn’t too new to me I just really never gave it any thought. I learned how people become addicted to drugs due to the drugs altering their Dopamine which is a brain chemical which also affects the neurons in the brain. I understand what Neurons are and how they communicate...
Words: 1820 - Pages: 8
...consequences of their actions. How wide-spread is drug and alcohol abuse? Teenagers today admit to extensive experimentation. According to one study, 90 percent of teens said that they have used alcohol, over 50 percent have used marijuana, 17 percent have used cocaine and 13 percent have used some form of hallucinogenic drug. Drug use has been classified as a major problem of students as early as in the fourth grade. Consequently, it is no surprise that substance use is prolific on college campuses, where many young adults are free from adult supervision for the first time in their lives. Alcohol use accounts for over 100,00 death per year in this country. It contributes to over 50 percent of all suicides, violent crimes, emergency room admissions, traffic accidents, substandard job performances and industrial accidents, and 80 percent of all domestic violence incidents. You may falsely believe that your are “safe” because you live in the small community of Melbourne and that these issues don’t really affect you. To be more specific, how can drug and alcohol abuse affect a healthy young college student like you? The statistics are staggering: • Drug and alcohol abuse is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24 • 95% of all college campus violence is related to alcohol • 28% of all college dropouts are alcoholics and 40% of all college students having academic problems abuse alcohol • Over 60% of all college women who have contracted STDs were...
Words: 767 - Pages: 4
