There are many issues which the modern teenager is facing ranging from mental health problems such as depression to other common issues, which include drug abuse, peer pressure, the pressures that come with social media, body shaming which tampers with their self-esteem, sexual unhealthy sexual acts and academic pressures. The most common and ever-growing in is the vice of drug abuse. Many teenagers in this error have easy access to drugs and abusive substances due to the ease of reach through technological advancements (Shahsavar et al., 2022). Ease of drug access makes any vulnerable teenager fall to this temptation and may become an addict.
External stressors associated with drug abuse
Unstable families, money problems, academic stresses, bullying and social insecurities are just several issues that prompt teenagers to indulge in drug and substance abuse. Family structure and stability influence decisions made by teenagers early in their lives; single parenthood has been closely associated with drug abuse among teenagers, with the single male parent being more associated with teenage drug abuse than the single female parent family structure. Single parents are also associated with more financial stability, especially in a family with only female single parents, increasing the stress level for the teenager and eventually the ease of indulging in drug and substance abuse (Lu, 2019). Academic stress also contributes much to teenage drug abuse prevalence; the continuous pressure to meet academic requirements has been rampant in schools, with educators piling pressure through assignments and tests. Many teenagers often seek ways to relieve this tension and keep themselves alert through drug use. With the increase in mental health problems, academic stress adds to the pile of causes of mental strain, therefore, driving learners to seek the use of drugs (Obumse & Egenti, 2021). Social insecurities such as lack of self-esteem also prompt drug abuse among these students as drugs act as companions or a way to break from the reality of rejection such teenagers face.
Assessment strategies to use
Early screening will reduce the prevalence of drug and substance abuse among teenagers. One of the most effective methods of screening includes assessment for mental health problems, as it is believed that several mental problems are associated with drug and substance abuse among teenagers (Mackavey & Kearney, 2020). Emergence or an increase in anxiety or a steep change in behaviour patterns can be suspected to be caused by substance use. Quick intervention should be taken to investigate further and take appropriate actions afterwards. Brief intervention can also help identify drug use and the underlying causes of drug abuse as it helps build trust between the victim and practitioner. Through brief intervention, causes of indulgence in drugs can be handpicked and taken care of before the effects can be severe. Brief intervention offers a flexible way of taking care of this problem as the interviewer usually offers several ways of gradually recovering from the use of drugs.
Assessment Questions and ethical considerations
Some of the questions one can ask during the assessment are: whether the teenager has ever used Marijuana, and if the answer is yes, then how often does he or she use the drug, and whether or not the teenager has ever used alcohol, or smoked cigarettes. Smoking use often exhibits several physical effects that can be easily identified by a health practitioner, characteristics such as a change in breathing patterns, lung movements during deep breathing, and other lung and back inspections can easily notify the practitioner if the patient is smoking and the extend of damage which will further in the form of how often the victim smokes (Mehta, 2010). As much as patient confidentiality is paramount, some information must be shared with the patient’s parents. However, it is crucial to note that some assessments have to be kept private if sharing with a parent or guardian will hinder the effectiveness of the assessment. The practitioner should be well well aware of factors such as cultural considerations in order to avoid violating sensitive matters that are of high regard to a certain group of people; the child’s interest should also be of great importance when planning on whether or not to keep a certain procedure or preceding private. Finally, the parent should be educated on the risks of his or her involvement in the process.
Support options
Support options may include but are not limited to community-based intervention, support groups, school-based programs, and offering therapy together with counselling and treatment programs. Community-based programs might include organizing sporting activities to unite teenagers and create a platform for sensitization and reform programs (Shahsavar et al.,2022). Counselling programs will supplement the community-based programs as the counsellors will draw many teenagers from such programs and offer their therapy and counselling sessions. School-based programs are also very effective as they can easily identify changes in students’ behaviours and academic performances, which can be used to handpick possible victims of drug abuse. The teachers and counsellors in charge of this lot of learners can then take them through the various assessment and recovery programs mentioned for rehabilitation. Counselling and therapy programs can easily be incorporated into schools and community centres where they will offer appropriate services. Support groups also offer much help by creating a sense of community, thus preventing depression and anxiety among teenage drug users (Wasserman et al., 2020). This sense of togetherness and a common cause encourages the victims to want to give up drugs due to the availability of peer and community support.
References
Lu, W. (2019). Adolescent depression: National trends, risk factors, and healthcare disparities. American Journal of health behaviour, 43(1), 181–194.
Mackavey, C., & Kearney, K. (2020). Substance use disorder: Screening adolescents in primary care. The Nurse Practitioner, 45(5), 25–32.
Mehta, M. (2010). Performing a respiratory assessment. Nursing2020 Critical Care, 5(3), 45–47. https://journals.lww.com/nursingcriticalcare/Fulltext/2010/05000/Performing_a_respiratory_assessment.8.aspx
Obumse, N. A., & Egenti, U. P. (2021). Influence of mental health status on academic achievement of public secondary school students in Anambra state. African Journal of Educational Management, Teaching and Entrepreneurship Studies, 3(1), 118-128.
Shahsavari Bami, R., Khoshab, H., Fadakar Davarani, M. M., Jahani, Y., Nakhaee, N., Nadrian, H., & Iranpour, A. (2022). Prevalence and determinants of substance use among a sample of Iranian adolescents with ease of drug access: an application of Social Development Model. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 60(3), 178–190.
Wasserman, D., Iosue, M., Wuestefeld, A., & Carli, V. (2020). Adaptation of evidence‐based suicide prevention strategies during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic. World Psychiatry, 19(3), 294-306.
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