HHS 497 Health & Human Services Wk5-A

Best Practice and Proposal

Chanda Crews

HHS 497 Health & Human Services Capstone

Instructor: Sarah Nowlin

November 19, 2018:

Best Practice and Proposal

Drug abuse is an issue facing many people in society especially the young within the schooling environment. Drug abuse leads to cases of drug addiction in the society which further complicate the efforts of healthcare organizations and primary caregivers. Some of the best intervention mechanisms include clinical interventions and educational initiatives. The two mechanisms can be considered as necessary when it comes to reducing the problem of drug addiction from the society.

Educational Initiatives

One of the best ways to fight this societal problem is to ensure that every person in the society understands the consequences of drug abuse (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). Understanding the consequences of drug addiction can help the rising cases of drug abuse and truancy. For example, children from middle school to high school can be educated on the consequences of consuming hard drugs such as cocaine to help them understand that they are supposed to stay away from such vices. Education initiatives can also be done in colleges and on mass media to also caution adults against hard drugs that have severe consequences on the human body.

The educational initiatives can involve educating children from as early as their stages of early development on the dangers of drug addiction. Educators can further include such information in the curriculum to ensure that every child can learn and understand the consequences of drug abuse in society.

Clinical Intervention

Clinical intervention helps in handling drug problems that develop as a result of additions. Individuals who are already addicted to some hard drugs require proper clinical intervention that will help them recover (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). The recovery mechanism has proven to work with many people who suffer from withdrawal. Clinical intervention is thus an excellent way to rehabilitate drug addicts and further reduce cases of drug abuse in society. Drug addicts have low rates of economic productivity and thus sometimes end up being a danger to society due to the need to satisfy their addiction problem.

In this clinical intervention program, clinics and healthcare facilities can be set in areas high in drug addicts. Further, all major healthcare facilities should be provided with the necessary equipment, technology, and workforce to handle these cases of rehabilitation (Hansen-Turton & Mortell, 2014). It will be important since, in the long run, the government will be able to understand the patterns of drug users, i.e., understanding how the mechanisms put in place to fight the drugs in the streets are working and also the drug that is highest in number in the streets.

Preventive services

In any healthcare plan, the preventive aspect is always upheld first before considering treatment or any other form of countermeasure (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). In this case, drug addiction can be prevented by taking necessary measures early enough before the damage is done. For example, the government can focus on providing strict rules which will see users of illegal drugs and underage children. Such measures will see a reduced number of individuals who abuse hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

In this practice, the government can form a task force within the police to survey individuals consuming illegal drugs and also the individuals who are trafficking and distributing narcotics. Cutting the drugs supply from the source will be important since it will reduce its availability in the streets. Further, people will have a fear of consuming these drugs because they may be arrested and jailed or fined heavily. This measure is essential in reducing the problem of drug addiction in society. However, it might come at a high cost since the drugs are an economic activity for some individuals.

Intervention Proposal

Description

The drug problem in society has ruined the lives of many people. The interventional will focus on providing a long-lasting solution to the society. The intervention plan will involve providing education to the people from their early stages of growth to adulthood. Such will involve the use of social media and mass media to provide education. Further, the government will provide rules and regulations that will see people who break the rules with regards to drug trafficking and distribution jailed.

Rationale

The intervention plan will help in reducing the crisis caused by addiction in the society. Identifying a solution to the drug addiction problem in society will see increased productivity and thus general economic growth. Drug users who will have rehabilitated will be able to get involved in active economic activities that will see them rise from poverty and also contribute to economic growth.

Where the best practice will be used

The best practice will be used in schools, at home, and in society. In schools, children will be educated on the dangers of drugs and the importance of avoiding drug abuse. In society, people will be educated through the media about the dangers of drug addiction and also the consequences of consuming illegal drugs. Further, the government will implement the rules that will ensure that all drug traffickers and distributors are arrested and receive lengthy jail sentences.

References

Glasner-Edwards, S., & Rawson, R. (2010). Evidence-based practices in addiction treatment: review and recommendations for public policy. Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 97(2-3), 93-104.

Hansen-Turton, T. & Mortell, M. (2014). Making strategy count in health and human services sector. New York, NY: Spring Publishing Company.