Effects of Teenage Drug Use

Running Head: Effects of Teenage Drug Use

Effects of Teenage Drug Use

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Abstract

The ability of a given society to identify the emerging social problems in a timely manner and address the same accordingly is imperative for sustainable growth and development. Recent research indicates that the nature and complexity of social problems has increased significantly. This undermines the ability of the society to attain and maintain high productivity that is fundamental for growth. Among the most worrying problems that continue to compromise the ability of Hawaii State to attain optimal productivity is the issue of teenage drug use. Historical evidence affirms that the state has experienced different challenges that accrue from this ill practice. Addressing the problem in a sustainable manner over time has been difficult because of its expansive and deep rooted nature.

Introduction

Teenage drug use and abuse has diverse impacts on the functioning of the society. These are both direct and indirect and threaten the very human existence by negatively affecting sustainable living. This paper provides an explicit analysis of drug use amongst Hawaiian teenagers. In particular, it begins by evaluating the nature and extent of the problem and provides a credible justification with regards to why it is has caused major stirs within the social circles. Later, it evaluates the segment of the population that is most affected and underscores different intervention measures that have been employed in dealing with the issue. Further, it identifies a social work agency whose activities are geared towards addressing the issue. Finally, it analyzes the role of a social worker that is found within the identified agency.

It cannot be disputed that the sustainable functioning of the society is highly depended on the productivity of the youth. It is for this reason that societies strive to ensure that the youth lead a healthy lifestyles. This plays a great deal in securing the future of the society by ensuring that its productivity is assured. Teenage drug use poses significant effects on different segments of the society. Most importantly, the far reaching implications undermine societal growth by depriving the same of productive personnel. For example, the health effects make it difficult for the respective youth to cater for their wellbeing. Worth mentioning is the impact of loss of lives that culminates from teenage drug use and abuse. It is for this reason that Workin (2005) contends that the society should assume the sole responsibility of addressing the teenage drug use and abuse.

In his consultative review, Barnard (2006) ascertains that teenage drug use in Hawaii has soared beyond societal expectations. The total population in the region currently stands at 1.2 million individuals. Of this, teenagers account for a significant 30%. Notably, the percentage of the population that is at risk is high and this undoubtedly has significant effects on the societal welfare. Further, the population in this region has been cited to be greatly diversified. Population diversity is important for executive functioning of the society as it boosts the immunity of the same against the implications of the emergent social problems. In other words, it empowers the society and makes it possible for it to face the challenges with ease. At this juncture, Aue (2007) posits that teenage drug use deprives the society of this immunity as the affected population lacks the fundamental ability to fight challenges effectively.

Historical evidence ascertains that teenage drug use is a social problem that Hawaii has grappled with since historical times. Illegal drugs are introduced in the region through shipping companies, postal services of the United States and using air craft. Notably, the State has different air ports as well as air fields that accommodate flights from different regions such as Canada, Asia and the US mainland. In particular, the aircraft passengers have been implicated for introducing drugs in the region.

Drug use and abuse amongst the teenagers in Hawaii has raised various concerns since historical times. In his survey, Schmidt (2006) cites that more than ever, the use of drugs by school going children in Hawaii has increased significantly. In particular, current trends ascertain that most teenagers use and abuse drugs before the age of thirteen years. Most of these drugs are illegal although a significant percentage of other drugs are available over the counter. Further, prescription drugs have increasingly assumed an elevated niche in this respect and pose significant effects on the youth. A study carried out in 2006 by Schmidt (2006) to determine the degree of risk behavior amongst the youth in this region indicated that the youth are most susceptible to drug use and abuse. Statistical evidence showed that 29% of high school students in the State had used alcohol before the age of thirteen years.

Myerson (2006) ascertain that drug use and abuse amongst the teens in Hawaii has been experienced since historical times. Their progressive reports indicate that incidences of use of tobacco and illicit drugs have increased over time. This is attributable to the easy availability of drugs to this segment of the population. However, use of alcohol has stabilized over time and currently, it is not commonly employed. The emergent strict measures can be used to explain these trends. Other drugs that are commonly abused in the region include smokeless tobacco, marijuana, inhalant such as glue and petrol and cocaine. Statistics ascertain that the most abused drug by teenagers in this region is marijuana. Rehabilitation records indicate that over three thousand teenagers are in dire need for rehabilitation on a statewide scale. Further, 2227 need drug treatment for them to be able to function effectively and be accepted within the society. Compared to other states, Myerson (2006) indicate that the state of Hawaii is the most affected with teenage drug use.

The most affected population in this regard is the teenage boys. Comparative surveys show that the number of teenage girls affected by this problem is significantly lower than the number of teenage boys. In his research, Workin (2005) cites that the nature of upbringing that the two populations are exposed to have a great influence on their tendency to use drugs. In this respect, it is worth acknowledging that the societal value system has different expectations for these groups of populations. From a cultural point of view, the girls are expected to be reserved and to refrain from adventurous activities. The value system on the other hand expects the boys to be courageous, outgoing and adventurous. In addition, the girls are expected by the society to be polite as opposed to the boys that are expected to be physically rough for them to be able to pursue different activities. With respect to the subject under review, it can be posited that the participation of both sexes in teenage drug use and abuse is anchored on the societal value system.

Aue (2007) ascertains that teenage drug use and abuse is a pressing social problem that needs to be accorded utmost attention. It has negative implications not only on the present populations but on future populations too. The increasing violence being experienced in high school in this region has been greatly contributed to by this menace. Essentially, drugs trigger violent behavior in individuals and make them to behave in an unruly manner. This impedes rational decision making and the affected individuals resort to violence during problem resolution. Notably, this violence has greatly affected the quality of education in several learning institutions. Teachers find it difficult to develop a viable curriculum has can holistically cater for the emergent problems. This is because the environment is not accommodative and students tend to interrupt the decision making problem. Likewise, drug use and abuse by the teenage students inhibit their ability to concentrate well in class and this has negative impacts on their performance. In the long run, they become demoralized and decide to drop out of school.

Violence in schools also undermines the learning as well as teaching environments. In particular, teenage drug users make the school environment to be hostile and therefore ineffective for learning. In this regard, Aue (2007) asserts that hostile learning environments can be implicated for frequent transfers. In such environments, drug users harass students who do not use drugs and make it difficult for the latter to learn effectively. The resultant gangs further undermine the security of not only the students but also the teachers. In general, the learning and teaching process is disrupted and more often than not, other students in such instances prefer to transfer from the affected learning institutions.

Straussner and Fewell (2006) ascertain that school dropout rate in the region have soared in the recent past. This has devastating effects on the security of the communities as such students resort to employment of violence in order to acquire resources for use. Dropping out of school makes it impossible for them to acquire relevant ad sufficient skills to participate actively in sustainable job employment. The inability to participate in meaningful employment makes it difficult for parents to provide for the needs of their children. In other words, their children fail to have credible education that would give them skills to participate in employment. Over time, this cycle becomes mainstreamed within the society and breaking it requires massive resources that would have otherwise been employed in other sectors of the society to enhance societal development.

Further, the relative health risks have diverse impacts on the societal wellbeing. To begin with, these reduce the level of economic productivity as the respective youths find it difficult to engage in active employment. Further, the society uses a wide range of resources to rehabilitate and/or treat the affected youth. At this juncture, it cannot be disputed that the government employs significant resources in providing rehabilitation services to these individuals. If such resources would have been employed in other sectors such as education and research, the disseminated results would have been important in improving the quality of life of the American society. In addition, it is worth acknowledging that the resources reserved in educating such youth are wasted as in most instances, these tend to drop out of school.

Comparatively, teenage drug users tend to have a shorter lifespan as compared to their counterparts who do not abuse drugs. In this regard, a research carried out in the Columbia affirmed that the youth who abuse and use drugs tend to live a shorter life as they are susceptible to different ailments that stem from drug use and abuse. Their level of immunity and overall physical health is affected by their addiction to various types of drugs. In addition, it is indicated that teenage drug use and abuse contributes to incidences of premature death. Statistical evidence ascertains that close to 82% of all drug abusers begin the practice before eighteen years. Currently, teenage deaths that is attributable to drug use and abuse range between 200000 and 400000 per year (Aue 2007). Notably, these have the capacity to curtail economic growth in future as the employment sector would be adversely affected. Other relative deaths pertain to incidences of AIDS, murder, road accidents and suicide.

From the preceding analysis, it is certain that teenage drug use and abuse has far reaching implications on the societal wellbeing. Not only does it impact on economic development, but it also undermines the sustainability of future populations. Perhaps the most profound effects pertain to loss of lives and therefore future manpower. Recent trends show that the state of Hawaii has suffered devastating implications in this regard. Currently, this state can be considered to have the leading percentage of teenage drug users in the entire nation.

Notably, the impacts of these surpass the geographic boundaries and the entire nation is expected to suffer the impacts. The resources allocated for rehabilitation and treatments can be employed in development of other social sectors in order to boost the quality of life of the Americans. In order to attain this desirable state, various intervention measures have been undertaken on a micro as well as macro level. These seek to reduce the impact of the drugs as well as prevent the use of the drugs altogether (Schmidt, 2006). Presently, primary strategies that are used to curb the practice include supply reduction, demand reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and monitoring. Other factors that are used to augment the above include prevention, education collaboration between concerned stakeholders and law enforcement.

Specific measures in this regard include attacking the sources from which the drugs come from and particularly destroying and destructing the drug market. Others include destructing the agricultural areas that grow the drugs, identifying and paralyzing the manufacturing and transportation systems that enhance movement of drugs around the globe. Further, the government coordinates with other regulatory agencies like the police and defense department to prevent the movement of the drugs (Myerson, 2009). Additionally liaises with the financial agencies helps to paralyze the financial flow that is related to drug supply. Further, the government is also taking measures to close down the black market operations and interdicting the drugs at various entry points.

With regard to demand reduction, the government has taken measures that discourage use of drugs by teenagers. Specific measures entail enhancing drug education and awareness programs, enhancing living conditions and intensifying community patrols to boost security. Further, relevant stakeholders have initiated treatment and rehabilitation centers in Hawaii to address the implications of teenage drug use. Specific measures that have been undertaken include training of medical staff, initiating detection of drugs at different health institutions, providing free medical services to teenage drug users, employing drug courts and using the effort of the public for greater impact ( Sraussner & Fewell, 2006). The medical practitioners have been advised to be keen when prescribing drugs and a task force has been established to monitor the prescription.

Also, the government in collaboration with other bodies is continuing to carry out research about drugs, use of drugs as well as prevention measures. The NGOs and other corporate bodies carry out training and awareness creation at community and institution level in order to have an impact on the attitudes of the affected population With respect to monitoring, particular measures are being directed at providing an analysis of how the trends have changed over time to enable the government make timely interventions.

Further, measures have been undertaken to encourage local authorities to adopt their own ways of addressing use and abuse of drugs. In this regard, the government has played a critical role of providing funding to these initiatives (Aue, 2007). The professionals and security agents that are used to enforce the laws and regulations at the community and institution level are drawn from within. Decision making about drug use should be consultative and informative. Community policing should be encouraged.

Since the social workers are aware of the hard facts regarding abuse of alcohol, they have assumed the responsibility of providing relevant information about the effects of this practice to the natives within the region. Coupled with community rehabilitation and treatment programs, this strategy has been very instrumental in reversing the present defective trend. Other sustainable practices in this respect include community policing initiatives that aim at identifying the malpractice within the community and helping the police curb it by providing relevant information.

One of the agencies that have played a leading role in addressing the problem of teenage drug use and abuse include in Honolulu is the Alcoholic Rehabilitation services of Hawaii. It offers a host of services that essentially seek to prevent teenage drug use and abuse as well as rehabilitate and/or treat the victims. The social workers provide instrumental services for this agency in a bit o ensure that it attains its goal of having a drug free future population.

To begin with, the social worker liaises with the community and learning institutions to identify victims of drug use and abuse. After identification, the worker embarks on awareness creation about the implications of drug use and abuse. This is important to ensure that the victims have background information regarding the drug use (Barnard, 2006). At this stage, identification of the causes of teenage drug use and abuse is also done to underscore the various intricate and augmenting factors that influence the teenagers to resort to drug use and abuse. Education and awareness creation enables the teenagers to make informed decisions with regard to quitting the practice. Identification of the key causes on the other and enables the social worker to derive sustainable practical measures that would be employed in dealing with the problem.

Further, the social worker also offers therapeutic services that are an intrinsic aspect of both rehabilitation and treatment. In this regard, social studies ascertain that counseling is an important aspect that with respect to behavior modification (Workin 2005). Coupled with effective treatment and follow up services, this goes a long way in enabling the victims to recover accordingly.

Social workers also monitor the rehabilitation process to prevent incidences of drop out from the programs. In this regard, it is worth acknowledging that the rehabilitation process poses significant challenges especially to drug addicts. Social workers come in handy to provide relevant moral support to these individuals to ensure that they go through the program with ease. Besides raising the awareness of the victims about drug use and abuse, social workers educate the community about viable preventive measures. In most instances, the approaches they employ are sustainable because of the fact that they have a better understanding of the particular needs of the population (Workin 2005). This is attained through carrying out research prior to effecting viable approaches.

Also, social workers that are employed by the Alcoholic Rehabilitation Services of Hawaii act as middlemen between the government and the affected teenagers. In this respect, they source for funds from the government and employ the same in rehabilitation services. In addition, they inform the government about the areas that require timely interventions and make viable proposals. Notably, this enables the government to assume sustainable measures when addressing the identified issues. This is imperative in saving resources while ensuring effective output at the same time.

Conclusion

Teenage drug use and abuse is a social problem that has detrimental effects on the holistic welfare of the society. It undermines the social functioning of the society and makes it difficult for it to sustain itself in future. Its impacts on social security are massive as they enhance incidences of poverty by compromising the learning and teaching process. As it has come out from the study, this problem is inclined within the social sphere and contributed to by various cultural factors. The government and other stakeholders have taken diverse measures to address the issue. Of great importance however is the role of the social worker that enhances the sustainability of the assumed strategies.

References

Aue, W. (2007). Teenage Drug Abuse. USA: Rutledge.

Barnard, M. (2006). Drug Addiction and Families. USA: Jessica Kingsley.

Liddle, H. & Dakof, A. (2005). Multidimensional Family Therapy for Adolescent Substance Abuse. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 27, 651-7.

Myerson, J. (82009). The Lost Child. USA: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Schmidt, S. (2006). Change in Parenting Practices and Adolescent Drug Abuse. Journal of Family Psychology, 10, 12-2.

Straussner, A. & Fewell, C. (2006). Impact of Substance Abuse on Children and Families. USA: Haworth Press.

Workin, J. (2004). Advanced Social Work Practice. USA: Allyn & Bacon