Contemporary Issues and Resources.

Posted: November 4th, 2022

Contemporary Issues and Resources.

Adolescence: Contemporary Issues and Resources

Substance abuse as a contemporary issue teenager face today

Teenagers face actual problems on an everyday basis as this is the most difficult period of their growth and lives. During this period, teens encounter overwhelming internal and external struggles. Teens pass through and are anticipated to deal with parental and social forces, hormonal changes, school, and work pressure. Substance abuse is a serious problem that teenagers face today. The world is changing swiftly, and when things become hard, some adolescents, just like some adults, start using drugs as a provisional solution. External stressors associated with substance abuse include childhood maltreatment, emotional or physical abuse, and peer pressure. Childhood maltreatment, entailing neglect and physical and emotional abuse is associated with high risk for teen substance abuse. According to Zucker and Brown (2019), parental neglect including less parental supervision and monitoring, lower warmth, lax discipline as well as the style of punishing disciple is linked with high risk for teen getting involved with drugs. Chronic child hardships, and in particular criminal behavior of parents are connected with alcohol and drug use among teens.Contemporary Issues and Resources.

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There are robust links between the experience of sexual and physical trauma with the threat of substance abuse. Teens who are victims of sexual or physical assault are ta a greater risk of abusing substances. Adolescents use alcohol and drugs to lessen the negative effects of trauma. Early utilization of substances to control emotions, nevertheless, can lead to delayed or disrupted development of more emotional coping responses. As indicated by Zucker and Brown (2019), peer pressure might facilitate teen alcohol and drug use through several mechanisms that entail peer selection, numerous types of influence like modelling drinking behavior or endeavoring to match the drinking behavior of a peer along with effects of social facilitation of substance use. Generally, high-risk teens choose deviant teens as peers, and via a reciprocal socialization process to strengthen each other’s positive attitude toward use of substances.Contemporary Issues and Resources.

An outline of assessment strategies to screen for teen substance abuse and external stressors during an assessment for an adolescent patient

An assessment to screen for teen for substance abuse adolescents must be comprehensive and include identification of external stressors that contribute to this problem. It is crucial for the health care professional to conduct a comprehensive assessment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) along with substance use disorders (SUDs) with adolescents. According to McCrady and Epstein (2013). It is crucial for the assessors to examine the involvement of the adolescent in substance use and history of substance use (for instance, onset, quantity, context, patterns and frequency of use, expectancies and consequences) and diagnostic criteria, that is, SUDs and AUDs along with co-occurring pathology. The assessor should also examine domains of functioning (for instance parenting behaviors, family relationships, social support, interpersonal relationships, hobbies, and physical health), and probable problem areas (for instance, peer substance use, stressful life events, coping skills, and comorbid psychopathology).Contemporary Issues and Resources.

Additional assessment questions that I would need to ask are which friends the adolescent hangs out with or use the drugs and how and where they obtain substances. I can share information that the with guardian or parent that the adolescent has agreed to be disclosed and is in the best interest of the patient. However, I cannot disclose information like where the adolescent gets drugs and who they are involved with as they would want this information to be protected. Levy and Williams (2016) claim that confidentiality is important in the care of a teen disclosing substance use. Safeguarding their confidential information is a crucial determinant of whether the teen will honestly answer questions and access care.Contemporary Issues and Resources.

Support options for adolescents encountering external stressors at risk of substance use

Family support programs are support options for adolescent substance abuse. Family involvement plays an important role in adolescent substance use and treatment options. Dysfunctional family systems make a great contribution to the initiation and sustenance of teen AUDs and SUDs. Family support programs are crucial in improving primary prevention of aberrant behavior and detrimental consequences of adolescents. As Kaminer, Y. (2013) asserts family support programs offer services such as empowering families through social support, promoting parental skills along with early interventions with teens at risk for using substances and delinquency. Apart from family support programs, there are community groups, school assistance programs and local agencies that offer a suitable setting for substance use prevention programs for children and parents.Contemporary Issues and Resources.

Research the range of contemporary issues teenagers face today. In a 500-750-word paper, choose one issue (besides teen pregnancy) and discuss its effect on adolescent behavior and overall well-being. Include the following in your submission:

1. Describe the contemporary issue and explain what external stressors are associated with this issue.
2. Outline assessment strategies to screen for this issue and external stressors during an assessment for an adolescent patient. Describe what additional assessment questions you would need to ask and define the ethical parameters regarding what you can and cannot share with the parent or guardian.
3. Discuss support options for adolescents encountering external stressors. Include specific support options for the contemporary issue you presented.Contemporary Issues and Resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Contemporary Issues and Resources.