Applied Final Project Part 3: Parenting Action Plan

Walker in his book argues that substance abuse among teens is not a new thing and that in most cases it happens because some of them are influenced by others as they grow and while at the adolescent stage. The author also argues that teens may end up abusing substances for various reasons which include having the desire to fit in with friends or even certain groups, having the belief that drug abuse will make them grow up, and also the fact that they like how the same drugs make them feel. Additionally, it is possible for teens who find themselves around family members with alcohol abuse problems or other drug abuse issues to have related challenges. In other cases, the author adds that teens who will feel unwanted in the family are at great risk of being affected by drug abuse. Besides, teens that will be affected by other conditions like depression, mental health problems, and stress will also be at high risk of getting into drug abuse and substance use.

Rahimi, A., Sohrabi, N., Rezayei, A., & Sarvghad, S. (2018). Comparison of the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on signs in stimulants substance users (Methamphetamine). Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 19(3), 79-89.

Zickafoose, P. C. (2018). Substance use disorder: Efficacy of educational strategies in Delaware. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49(1), 42-48.

In this article, Rahimi states different signs that are associated with substance use. For instance, teens using drugs will depict red eyes and other health complaints like being tired or exhausted at most times. Also, such individuals will have less interest when it comes to school matters which might be influenced by a drop in grades. Again, they may be spotted with friends who have less interest in important issues like education and family. These signs may start showing at a slow rate but get intense over time which means that it is important for parents to have a close relationship with their children and try understanding what they are involved in on daily basis (Zickafoose, 2018).

Mehra, V. M., Keethakumar, A., Bohr, Y. M., Abdullah, P., & Tamim, H. (2019). The association between alcohol, marijuana, illegal drug use and current use of E-cigarette among youth and young adults in Canada: results from Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey 2017. BMC public health, 19(1), 1-10.

The author of this article, however, argues that when a teenager gets into substance abuse, this does not mean that they cannot be retrieved from the same behavior and therefore various things can be done to ensure that they get rid of the vice. Mehra states that one of the most important things to do in this case is to openly talk to them about the problem. In doing so, the author suggests that it is essential to be gentle and avoid harsh words that may end up worsening the situation. In most cases, harsh arguments may push away the teen from the family and seek help from other people which will further mislead him or her and end up being affected more.

Moody, L. N., Satterwhite, E., & Bickel, W. K. (2017). Substance use in rural Central Appalachia: Current status and treatment considerations. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 41(2), 123.

Ritter, A., Mellor, R., Chalmers, J., Sunderland, M., & Lancaster, K. (2019). Key considerations in planning for substance use treatment: Estimating treatment need and demand. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Supplement, (s18), 22-30.

According to Moody, the type of treatment that will be offered to the affected person will depend on the type of substance that has been abused. For example, if the teen has had substance for two or three times the most efficient thing to do is to talk to them openly about the problem. However, Ritter says that in the case where the teen has been addicted or has a substance disorder, this will call for serious medical attention which will involve seeing a doctor or a counselor. The author states that relapse is common after treatment which refers to returning to substance use even after treatment. This means that keeping in touch with the teen even after they have undergone treatment is also very crucial as it helps in fully helping them recover from the drug abuse.

Gugu, D. P., & Davison, M. (2017). The prevalence of drug and substance abuse among school-going teenagers in the Shiselweni Region of Swaziland. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 20(2), 652-660.

Ivanich, J. D., Mousseau, A. C., Walls, M., Whitbeck, L., & Whitesell, N. R. (2020). Pathways of adaptation: Two case studies with one evidence-based substance use prevention program tailored for indigenous youth. Prevention Science, 21(1), 43-53.

Ivanich in his article argues that teen substance and alcohol use can be prevented by talking to your child about the issues that they are going to face as they grow and the effects that come with drug abuse. Additionally, keeping your teens with reasonable activities that will keep them busy is quite important as they grow. Also, Gugu states that having a clear understanding of your child’s friends is also very important as it helps you in knowing what they are doing at any given time and also tracking their behavior at all times.