thesis for drug and alcohol abuse

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• v.14(4); 2022 Oct
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A Review of the Prevention of Drug Addiction: Specific Interventions, Effectiveness, and Important Topics

Background:.

This study was a narrative review on prevention of addictive behaviors with an effort to clarify the major concepts of prevention and its dimensions.

The PsycInfo and MedInfo databases were used to identify prevention. Α total of 65 articles were found 46 of which were included in the review. Τhe data were analyzed using content analysis.

For a better understanding of the results, it was deemed advisable to categorize them into: (a) the types of major interventions and the theoretical approaches on which they were based, (b) the results of the review articles according to (1) variables and factors concerning the prevention proved important through the review and (2) a number of more general important topics which arose in the prevention of addictive behaviors.

Conclusion:

The results highlighted the greater effectiveness of community-based programs, applied primarily in broader contexts but also secondarily in high-risk groups. Τhe results were discussed based on the combination of the emerged factors with each other and prevention experience.

Introduction

One of the most important questions in the field of psychotropic substances addiction, including alcohol abuse, is which ways, methods, techniques, or interventions are effective in substance use prevention. Given the fact that there are various kinds of prevention strategies, this question becomes even more complicated as it is hard to find and systematize these factors. It is essential to continue research in this direction since the question why young people resort to substances and get addicted to them has not been fully answered yet. Furthermore, it is generally accepted that prevention is better than treatment.

Psychotropic substances addiction refers to the substance-related disorders as described by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V). Although the psychological mechanism of addictive substance use is considered to be common with or at least similar to that of addiction to illegal substances and alcohol, in this study, the surveys that focus exclusively on alcohol were not included. The reason for this decision was that articles on alcohol prevention are numerous and could be investigated –as already done- in a separate study. Besides, alcohol use displays certain peculiarities; for example, it is a legal and easily accessible substance.

Traditionally, prevention strategies have been categorised into primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. Primary prevention refers to the prevention of substance use and abuse. Secondary prevention refers to the early identification and treatment of individuals already using substances, while tertiary prevention refers to the treatment and reduction of harm in people who have already used substances and have consequences from their use. We can literally talk about prevention only in primary and partially in secondary types. Tertiary prevention is essentially not prevention but treatment and reduction of harm.

Another distinction that has been made in recent decades (e.g., National Advisory Mental Health Council Workgroup on Mental Disorders Prevention Research 1 ) classifies prevention strategies into universal, selective, and indicated preventions. The universal strategies apply to the general population (e.g., students) in order to inform and raise awareness about the issue of drugs. 2 Selective strategies target individuals at increased risk of substance use and abuse (e.g., children of addicts, children growing up in high-risk environments or neighborhoods). Indicated strategies are for people who may not already be addicted to drugs but have had a contact with them (e.g., young people experimenting with substances).

Preventive interventions in the three categories described above may have different goals, including the following: (a) increasing the knowledge about drugs in adolescents; (b) reducing the use of drugs; (c) delaying the onset of first use; (d) reducing abuse of drugs; and (e) minimising the harm caused by the use of drugs. 3 Additionally, regarding the context of implementation of prevention interventions, it is evident that these interventions can aim at different settings such as schools, families, the wider community, the media, 4 or even in places of gathering of young people e.g., cultural centres, parks, cafes, and so on.

The field of prevention is in general very broad as it includes prevention policies, designs, methods, techniques, and interventions. The design of interventions requires the appropriate theoretical background and the deployment of previous knowledge and results. Furthermore, it potentially includes various intervention implementation frameworks, a different extent of involvement, and participation of the individuals e.g., children, parents, and teachers.

There are a lot of important dimensions to be investigated in what is broadly defined as prevention. The effectiveness of the interventions is an important parameter. Effectiveness is usually defined as a reduction in substance use or a reduction in the positive attitude towards substances, after the implementation of a prevention program. The sustainment, however, of positive results on a long-term basis is an even more important dimension. The active participation of the involved members and the retention of the therapeutic results are other necessary components for the implementation of effective interventions.

As far as the evaluation of interventions is concerned, reliability should be tested as youth substance use programs are often of limited generalizability due to methodological restrictions and the absence of consistency in evaluation of interventions. 5

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the concepts usually studied (e.g., self-efficacy, motivation for change, coping skills) are complex and hard to be assessed in self-report measures. In addition, these psychological processes may not be part of conscious awareness and thus may not be possible to be evaluated using self-report measures. Additionally, it is doubtful whether they are indeed related to the underlying pathology of addiction. 6

The main objective of this narrative review was to investigate the key modern trends in the prevention of psychotropic addiction and to identify which interventions are most effective and where and how they are performed.

A specific review of factors important for the prevention of drugs was conducted in PsycInfo and MedInfo databases, entering as search items for the factors the words “prevention”, “addiction”, “drug addiction”, “drugs”, “drug prevention strategies”, “substance use” and “dependence” or the combination of the above words. The data were collected from 2018 to 2021. The search included articles published from 2000 onwards. A total of 65 articles were found among which 46 articles were included in the review. Articles that clearly referred to the prevention of substance use (interventions, strategies, or prevention systems) were included in this study. Articles that indirectly referred to prevention or were restricted to medication or genetic aspects of prevention were excluded. Regarding the type of articles, 26 of them were research articles and 20 were review articles. Among the research articles, 11 were correlational quantitative studies, 9 were quasi-experimental studies, and 6 used qualitative designs. Concerning the participants, 34 of the studies were conducted on school-based programs and 9 on community-based prevention programs. The remaining ones did not refer to specific intervention programs and focused on theoretical elements or prevention and health policies systems.

Taking into consideration the above mentioned as well as the theoretical concerns and the steady need to improve the problematic parts, a search of relevant findings from research and review articles was conducted. Given the dissimilarity of the research studies found, the data were analyzed using content analysis and systematized in different categories according to the point on which each research focused. For a better understanding and categorization of the research results, it was deemed expedient to mention a) the major interventions and techniques used in the studies and b) the results categorized through the above-mentioned analysis.

(A) With regard to the type and the theoretical approach of the interventions applied in the studies found in this review, a wide range of theoretical approaches and techniques were identified that illustrate the preferred trends in prevention over the past years. Characteristically, there is a great heterogeneity among the programs and methods. 7 , 8 Before reviewing the results in the following section, these interventions are elaborated. The following categorization of interventions was chosen because it contributes to a systematic and comprehensive display ( Table 1 ).

a) A lot of studies used interventions that could be characterized as environmental interventions 9 - 11 which highlight mainly the implementation of interventions in a more natural, social, and cultural environment where the individuals act and behave. The aim of these interventions was to increase the cultural belonging to achieve which, a lot of interventions used culturally-based techniques. 12

b) A second category of studies, possibly the one encompassing the majority of them, includes the studies that used more cognitive-based techniques, namely interventions whose broader theoretical framework relies on the cognitive-behavioral approach. Thus, it specifically includes social skills interventions, strengthening families programs and life skills trainings, 13 enhancing communication channels interventions, CHAT- a solution focused strategies program, increasing self-efficacy methods, 14 - 16 McGuires’s persuasion, 17 CHOICE program, Cherokee self-reliance program, 18 Project ALERT program, Persuasion Communication Model, SMART program, random student drug testing, 19 development and monitoring of career goals, and internet-based prevention programs. 20

c) A third research category includes methods that could be characterized in a broader sense as humanistic. These methods are based on the restricted results of the mainly informative (based on providing information) and more cognitive approaches and illustrate the experiential character of prevention. Thus, a lot of prevention strategies deal with the promotion of youth development, 21 peer-to-peer mentoring, 22 motivational interviewing 23 , 24 (a method with a cognitive background as well), narrative therapy, educational and career counseling, and positive youth development strategies with the active participation of teachers and parents. 21 , 25 Obtaining insight and expertise from program personnel and school staff and administrators can bring the program to a point where these strategies can still be achieved and theoretical linkages made after a program has been implemented. This is a necessary foundation for measuring the success of an intervention. 21 A common characteristic of these methods is the intent of active participation of all the community members such as local media and teen networks. Some of them, when implemented in a school-based environment, are delivered by teachers, 26 not by specialized scientists alien to the school environment.

(B) In the second and main part of this section, the results of the reviewed articles are presented as categorized based on (a) variables and factors concerning the effectiveness proved important through the review and (b) a number of important topics highlighted for the prevention of addictive behaviors ( Table 2 ).

a) Concerning the variables and/or the factors that proved more or less important to the implementation of prevention programs, the self-efficacy variable is the most frequently mentioned one. Self-efficacy is the optimistic self-belief in one’s competence or chances of successfully accomplishing a task and producing a favorable outcome. 27 , 28 The building of self-efficacy seems to be a characteristic of addiction-proof children. 14 Apart from self-efficacy, other variables from the cognitive approach associated with successful efforts of prevention are motivational enhancement, life coping skills, decision-making, 20 enhanced drug resistance skills, increased knowledge, and behavior determinants (attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, intention) more negative towards drugs. 13

The variables that derive from the humanitarian tradition and positive psychology have very positive results when included in prevention programs. Thus, the promotion of positive youth development and the cultivation of an optimistic future orientation, 21 the development of hopefulness, 29 harmony among family members, 30 and the strengths and the enforcement of a healthy lifestyle have been repeatedly associated with a reduction in use of addictive substances. The positive role of self-reliance which is defined as being true to one’s self and being connected, responsible, disciplined, and confident 18 can be included in the same context.

Other studies investigated the social support and generally the effect of the social environment on addiction prevention. The results are usually controversial. Therefore, the influence of friends and peer pressure 31 may be associated with high-risk behaviors, but friends are preferred in seeking help. 26 , 30 Self-evidently, having family members who use drugs and adverse life events are associated with high risk. 31 , 32 On the other hand, peer networks and dynamic group leaders can also help to motivate the students. 33 The role of the teachers in prevention is estimated to be positive, as their involvement in prevention programs is associated with lower risk. A positive impact seems to be attributed to parenting monitoring and strict parenting as well as religiosity. 26 Especially in the school context, it seems that belonging to the public school network, development of activities targeting sexuality, development of “Health at School Program” activities, offering extracurricular activities, and having an administrator that participated in training courses on drugs are associated with program implementation. 34

b) With regard to the more general important topics highlighted in substance addiction prevention, a first point is that a lot of researches were based on an informative approach about prevention (e.g., decision), 31 namely the provision of information to the target group (youths or students) about the negative effects of addiction that is expected to lead to a logical refusal of substance use. The major conclusion drawn is that prevention strategies based mainly or exclusively on information have poor results, 17 , 35 which is confirmed by a study according to which most youths were aware of the adverse health effects of substance use. 31 However, other studies based on internet-based interventions supported that intervention groups have more knowledge and are less likely to use cannabis. 20 It is recommended to adopt a broader approach which embraces other directly or indirectly involved individual groups (parents, teachers) and control the quantity and quality of the information provided. 35 , 36 Relevant to the provision of appropriately purposeful information about substance use was the finding about the inadequate awareness and messages in workplace, 37 an example of the expansion of prevention in environments outside the school.

The importance of development stages and the transition from one development stage to the next was another topic highlighted in the review. 38 Studies focused on the understanding and recognition of possible genetic risks and protective factors at the crucial age of children and teenagers. 39 , 40 Some data seem to be confirmed, such as the fact that the onset of substance use at a later stage reduces the problematic use. 12

A lot of studies 18 , 41 - 43 mentioned the effectiveness of culturally grounded interventions. These interventions are culturally sensitive, which means that they primarily take into consideration the cultural characteristics of the population on which the intervention is implemented. Quite often sub-techniques are used that deploy special cultural characteristics of a place (e.g. canoe). 41 The positive results of these efforts reinforce the poorer results of interventions, where a prevention program is transferred and implemented invariably from one country to another, mainly from a developed country to a so-called developing country. 42 Therefore, the integration of appropriate theory and cultural elements seems to be necessary. However, there are also findings that consider that risk and protective factors concerning majority-based research may also be predictors for minorities. 43

Similar to the above is the finding that a lot of preventive interventions followed the ground-up methodology, namely the configuration of interventions after relevant research in population members, where the intervention was implemented later on. 16 , 20 Therefore, in case the aim is to apply an intervention in the school-based environment, the prevention strategies are configurated and chosen after some preliminary work (e.g., focus groups) with the affected populations (e.g., teachers, students), which illustrates the needs of these particular individuals at a specific time. This is in contrast with the most common method (up-ground) where already tested interventions are applied to various populations. 40

As mentioned in the methods section, the greatest part of interventions took place in school-based environments that seem to be probably the most suitable ones for the implementation of interventions, as indicated by findings about effectiveness. 19 However, the findings are not always consistent, as there are also findings that suggest minor to insignificant positive results. 17 Furthermore, certain findings indicated a lower effectiveness in boys compared with girls and better results in children of a low socio-economic level compared with children of a higher socio-economic level. 42 With regard to the frequent implementation of prevention programs in school-based environments, a question of generalization is raised, as expected, namely to what extent the whatsoever results achieved in this environment can be sustained outside this environment. 20

A classic study indicated small- to medium- sized differences in behavioral problems between students who participate for the longest period of time and those who participate for the shortest time 19 which highlighted the importance of the sustainment of the results as well as the retention of students both in the school-based environment and the prevention programs. As noted, the impact of education and persuasion programs tended to be small, at best. When positive effects were found, they did not persist. 17 Furthermore, in terms of effectiveness, the flexibility in delivering the program, such as offering the program in different days and times, seems quite important. 22 However, low effectiveness, indicated even by large-scale studies, is probably attributed to issues of methodology, such as selection strategies. 43

A matter of greater importance with various social aspects that was highlighted was social responsibility with regard to addiction prevention. 44 The importance of the involvement of all the community members leads to the conclusion that prevention concerns potentially every member of the society and not just the populations included in the so-called high-risk groups. Thus, the involvement of school, neighborhood, family, and various associations and religious bodies 45 - 48 seems to be important as it enhances the conscientiousness and responsible behavior of the citizens towards such a vitally important matter. In the same context, the importance of a broader collaboration and consistency between policy design and implementation of educational interventions 17 is also highlighted; however, this is a very complex issue which faces various obstacles during its implementation such as the cost of the interventions. 4

The policy issue comes to the forefront when addiction prevention issues are dealt with. Roumeliotis 49 showed drug addiction is presented as a problem to be handled by experts rather than politics. This shows an important shift in the role of policies in prevention and treatment. Certainly, there is an increasing trend towards harm reduction and even educational approaches and other more traditional forms of prevention including harm reduction. 48 These matters are underlined by the necessity for transdisciplinary scientific collaborations that have the potential to strengthen substance use and abuse research and prevention. 49 Transdisciplinarity is distinguished from other forms of cross-disciplinary collaboration, such as multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity. Transdisciplinarity is the process whereby researchers work jointly using a shared conceptual framework that draws together discipline-specific theories, concepts, and approaches to address a common problem. 49

As indicated in the first part of the results, there is great heterogeneity in the interventions and techniques of addiction prevention. This might imply a great variety of available methods and strategies that can be used. The selection of the suitable methods in each case should be based on the needs of the population to which the respective program is applied and on the study of the effectiveness of the available interventions. Any combination of methods and techniques is legitimate as long as it is based on a justified theoretical background and previous experience from prevention programs. The reported trend of environmental interventions 8 - 10 is a positive step, as it takes into account people’s needs in the natural and social environment in which they act. Given the prevalence of cognitive-behavioral methods on a large scale in the treatment of mental disorders, it is absolutely natural for similar interventions to be used in prevention as well. 15 , 16 These interventions, which require a rational data processing, have a proven effectiveness; however, quite often they seem to be inadequate for the prevention of rather complex psychosocial problems, such as addiction. For this reason, there is a prevalence of more experiential interventions (either in combination with cognitive-behavioral techniques or not), which attempt to include not only the directly affected people (e.g., the students) but also parents, teachers, and other community members or bodies. 34 , 35 Apart from the above mentioned, other factors should be taken into account including ‘Who is training the trainers?’, ‘How can quality delivery be ensured on a large scale?’, ‘How can a universal program become part of a chain of prevention?’ and ‘How do we handle the needs of practitioners?’ 50 - 52

With regard to the factors/variables that play an important role in addiction prevention, as expected, the findings highlighted already known variables, such as self-efficacy 14 - 16 and the development of positive characteristics like hopefulness 29 and social support. 31 It could be assumed that based on the repeated findings, an effective prevention program could include the development of cognitive and social skills in line with the development of a positive lifestyle, way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The introduction of complementary concepts and interventions from the field of positive psychology would be a suggested step at the therapeutic level. Such interventions could be the emergence and strengthening of strengths as well as mental resilience and positive emotions, such as hope and gratitude. According to Peele, 53 addiction-proof children have skills to gain real rewards in life, values that sustain moderation, and reject addiction in favor of pursuing positive goals, and confidence that they can achieve these goals. This is in contrast with addiction-prone children, who are more likely to come from backgrounds that deny them any opportunity, are plagued by bad feelings (depression, anxiety, lack of purpose), and have history of dependence. The reinforcement of these characteristics seems to be even more effective when teachers, parents, and the broader community are involved in the program. Therefore, prevention should concern a bigger part of society and should not be implemented fragmentarily only to the population at risk.

As indicated by the findings, in the review of substance addiction prevention, certain repeated matters raised which were evaluated in order to improve future choices and practices. Therefore, the restricted effectiveness of strategies based exclusively on information 17 , 35 has been confirmed, as aptly pointed out by Zafeiridis. 54 As we live in an era in which information constitutes a basic part of our lives, information is recommended to be provided at an initial stage of prevention, whereas later on it should become more experiential. As indicated, it is important to control the quantity and quality of the information 35 , 36 to be essentially helpful to parents, teachers, and children.

Prevention programs should also take into account the importance of development stages. 38 A reasonable conclusion drawn by the findings is that prevention should be applied at a young age (even at pre-school age), because the beginning of substance use later on reduces the possibility of problematic use. This is probably due to the fact that young people, from an age onwards, have already managed to develop important cognitive and emotional mechanisms of dealing with situations. The recognition of protective factors, as well as risk factors at a crucial age is also helpful in designing an effective intervention.

An issue dealt with in numerous researches was the importance of culturally-based interventions. 17 , 41 The programs implemented in developed countries can form a good knowledge and practice basis, but it is obvious that they should not be applied invariably in different cultural environments. A good suggestion in this regard would be the development of programs through the ground-up methodology, which initially illustrates the population needs, followed by the design of prevention interventions. To this end, the theoretical knowledge should be deployed and there should also be an integration of the appropriate theory and cultural elements.

With regard to the usual choice of implementing prevention programs in school-based environments, 19 it seems that school-based environment remains the most suitable one for these interventions as it combines the daily involvement of the child in a series of activities in the community environment where potentially significant others, such as teachers and parents, are also involved. The utilization of research findings is important in order to increase the so far minor positive results and generalize them in different conditions outside school.

On a broader level, it is commonplace that substance addiction prevention should be dealt with not only by the directly affected populations but by various bodies, such as associations, communities, religious bodies, as well as every individual member of the society. It is a reasonable assumption that the increase in social responsibility brings about an increase in individual responsibility and that the social well-being is interrelated with the individual one.

Finally, on a policy level, drug prevention is not something only experts should deal with, but requires an active political will and active involvement of the citizens. Accordingly, not only transdisciplinarity, but also the consistency of policy design and implementation of educational interventions is required and vital. To overcome possible obstacles, the cost of prevention should be calculated and compared to that of interventions. Effective prevention can, therefore, have multiple benefits on both personal and social levels.

The results of this study concerning the prevention of drug use showed the most effective interventions are those implemented in community contexts, such as schools, at a young age, and based on experiential methods tailored to the needs of each population. Humanitarian approaches are effective and can be applied in parallel with cognitive and behavioral approaches. In this context, methods from positive psychology could be used. It is important for clinicians working in the community to implement or recommend prevention programs with the above characteristics. Nevertheless, even for those clinicians who do not work in the community, it is important to know what really prevents substance use to make the right referrals and give the right directions. At the level of health services, it is important that prevention programs are implemented primarily universally in a broad context such as schools but also secondarily selectively in high-risk groups. Finally, it is important to emphasize that substance abuse prevention is not just for mental health professionals but also for the whole community, teachers, parents, and every individual citizen.

The present narrative review highlighted some important issues for addiction prevention. However, this was not a systematic review or meta-analysis. Further studies are recommended to conduct a more systematic review.

Acknowledgments

I thank the colleagues in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Macedonia and the students in the course of psychopathology for their support.

Citation: Flora K. A review of the prevention of drug addiction: specific interventions, effectiveness, and important topics. Addict Health . 2022;14(4):288-295. doi:10.34172/ahj.2022.1348

Conflict of Interests

Author declares no conflict of interests.

Ethics Approval

Not applicable.

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The Impact of Alcohol Abuse: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

• Categories: Alcohol Abuse Health Care Policy Social Justice

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Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Young People in Zimbabwe: A Crisis of Morality or Public Health Problem

10 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2019

Vakai Matutu

North West University; North West University[RSA]

Daniel Mususa

Biomedical Research & Training Institute

Date Written: November 19, 2019

Drug and substance continues to be on the rise in Zimbabwe. It is more prevalent in urban areas. Despite growing evidence that drug and substance abuse are on the increase especially among young people, there is little being done in terms of interventions conducted by the government and its partners to reduce drug and substance abuse among the youth. This paper is based on research conducted in Zimbabwe with the aim of understanding drug and substance abuse among young people in Zimbabwe. The study focused on the driving forces or push factors for drug and substance abuse among young people, the sources of illicit drugs and substances, prevalence of drug and substance abuse among young people as well as the interventions being implemented to address the problem of drug and substance abuse. The key findings indicate that prevalence of drug abuse is at 57% among young people, the most commonly abused drugs and substances are marijuana and alcohol. Peer pressure, breakdown of the family support system, limited knowledge about the effects of drug abuse and stress were identified as the major factors that drive substance and drug abuse among the youth. The criminalisation of the drug and substance abuse continues to make it difficult for young people to seek help when they suffer from the effects of the drug abuse. The paper recommends an emphasis on shift from the legal approach to a public health approach in-order to address the challenges and complications associated with drug and substance abuse among young people in Zimbabwe.

Keywords: drug and substance abuse, young people, public health

JEL Classification: I12

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Vakai Matutu (Contact Author)

North west university ( email ).

Mafikeng South Africa

North West University[RSA] ( email )

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108 Drug Abuse Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best drug abuse topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on drug abuse, 💡 most interesting drug abuse topics to write about, ❓ drug abuse research questions.

Drug abuse essays are an excellent way to learn about the issue and its influence on various groups and populations while demonstrating your understanding.

Various substances, including alcohol, narcotics, and other mind-altering products, are a popular method for recreation in some communities.

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In doing so, he or she can eventually ruin his or her life, which is why most drugs are currently banned around the world. This article will offer you some tips that will help you write an excellent essay and receive the top grade.

Youth is a major demographic that is affected by addiction issues due to drug consumption. Young people are impressionable and prone to search for new sensations. Drugs can offer a sense of novelty and provide an experience they have not had before, leading to considerable appeal.

Considering that young people are generally not wealthy and have to focus on work to succeed in life, essays on drug among youth can use a variety of excellent topics. You can offer your ideas on the reason for the phenomenon’s existence and ways in which it can be prevented.

However, remember that the purpose of the programs should be to help the people who are at risk.

There are many other drug abuse essay topics that you can explore, with poverty being a prominent example. Despite their conditions, many people turn to substance abuse to try and escape the unpleasant aspects of their life.

These population segments are more likely to suffer after acquiring a drug habit than young people because they generally receive less attention.

Furthermore, poor neighborhoods with relatively low amounts of surveillance by law enforcement are likely to house drug dealers who prey on vulnerable people.

You can discuss this topic or discuss a variety of other ones, as the relationship between poverty and poor outcomes has been researched deeply.

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• Drug Abuse and Current Generation Drug abuse also breeds an array of behavioral problems among young people, which may affect their suitability to fit in the society.
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse For along time now, drug and alcohol abuse in the society has been a problem that affects the youth and the society at large. This paper highlights the problems of drug abuse and alcohol drinking […]
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• Prevention Research: The Fight Against Drug Abuse It is agreeable that US’s ‘War on Drugs’ has been an effective substance abuse prevention plan despite the hiccups that the program faces and its inability to attain some of its designated mandates within the […]
• Prevention Programs: Drug Abuse Resistance Education This program focuses on handling peer pressure among youths, a crucial cause of drug abuse in the country. The program is also grounded on sound research, which offers the critical elements vital to handling the […]
• Substance Abuse: Prevention Strategies and National Benchmarks Still, this desire to get away from problems by means of substances instead of making effort to improve an individual’s environment contributed to the evolution of the challenge of substance abuse into a real public […]
• Merton’s Argument of Deviance: The Case of Drug Abuse The most prominent example in support of Merton’s argument in relation to drug abuse is that cultural and social circumstances play a crucial role in defining people’s desire to engage in drug use.
• Drug Abuse Among the Youth Essentially, this case study will allow the evaluation of the prevailing cases of drug abuse among the youth. In this regard, the pain and peer pleasure cannot be persevered to allow an explicit cure of […]
• Teenage Drug Abuse in the United States The problem of teenage drug abuse inflicts a threat to the future society and health state of the overall population in the United States.
• The Formative Evaluation: Program of Addressing Drug Abuse in Schools The proposed program sought to educate students about the challenges of drug abuse, its impacts on academic performance, and the best techniques to avoid the vice.
• Drug Abuse. “Nine Years Under” Book by Sheri Booker The book is thought provoking and important because it allows representing the difficult social situation and the problems of gang violence and drugs in the United States from the personal point of view.
• Drug Abuse in Adolescents and Its Causes Scientific research shows that the development factors for adolescent drug abuse are not limited to a set of three to five causes, but are usually linked to the integration of destructive environmental conditions.
• Youth Drug Abuse Among, Education, and Policies Although drug abuse encompasses improper use of drugs disregarding the prescriptions of medical practitioners, the principal challenges of drug abuse occasion from abuse of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
• Reasons Behind Youth’s Engagement to Drug Abuse in the 21st Century Although youths in the 21st century engage in drug abuse due to several factors, it suffices to declare factors such as the rising unemployment status, peer pressure, and their hiked tendency to copy their parents’ […]
• Drug Abuse and Society Regardless of the many intervention measures that can be adopted to solve this problem of drug abuse, the most effective intervention measure is to create awareness to youths to enable them change their behaviors and […]
• Drug Abuse as a Social Problem This poses as problem to the society because many of the people who are unemployed will resort to different ways of seeking money and pleasure.
• Drug Abuse and Its Psychological Effects The purpose of this paper is to explore in more depth the psychological effects of addiction on the family and inner circle of the addict.
• Drug Abuse, Aggression and Antisocial Behavior The use of abusive drugs can cause anger in people because of the effect they have on the brain. An example of how alcohol can cause aggression in a person is that it impairs an […]
• Policies for Pregnant Women With Drug Abuse Thus, out of all the offered policies, financial support for therapy is the best one, as it motivates prevention and treatment, which, in turn, causes the improvement of this situation.
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Canada Therefore, it contributes as a central factor in the essence of the character, and it is crucial to understand the core definition and the elements that foster the ideology.
• Mitigating Drug Abuse in Pine View School The inclusion of professionals in the fields of health care, counseling, and drugs is expected to promote the delivery of desirable results.
• Drug Abuse and Its Negative Effects This paper aims to highlight what the field of psychology says about the negative effects of drugs and why people continue using despite the consequences. The main effect is that it creates a memory of […]
• Drug Abuse in Lake County, California The topic of drug abuse is essential for discussion due to the need to develop strategies to prevent and minimize the dangerous consequences of drug abuse in different regions.
• Drug Abuse Among Homeless Young Adults in New Jersey The reason why young adults in New Jersey get involved in drugs and alcohol after becoming homeless is to manage their situations in an attempt to attain the tentative pleasure of life despite their problems. […]
• Community Intervention Practices Against Drug Abuse The key features that result in successful community-based intervention on drug abuse are integrated for effectiveness and efficiency. On the other hand, drug abuse refers to the consumption of substances that elicit particular feelings and […]
• Drug Abuse Effects on Health and Nervous System These numerous damages severely affect the quality of the brains work and the health of the nervous system. While discussing the effects of drug addiction, it is essential to notice that it has a devastating […]
• Alcoholism, Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse Kaur and Ajinkya researched to investigate the “psychological impact of adult alcoholism on spouses and children”. The work of Kaur and Ajinkya, reveals a link between chronic alcoholism and emotional problems on the spouse and […]
• Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use National survey results on drug use obtained by Monitoring the Future have a significant value to the development of various approaches with regard to the prevention of drug abuse.
• The Health Issues Associated With Drug Abuse It is therefore imperative to develop strategies for health promotion to reduce the number of teenagers, the most at-risk family member when it comes to drug abuse.
• Fentanyl – Drug Profile and Specific and Drug Abuse The drug has the effect of depressing the respiratory center, constricting the pupils, as well as depressing the cough reflex. The remainder 75% of fentanyl is swallowed and absorbed in G-tract.
• Cases of Drug Abuse Amongst Nursing Professionals It is noteworthy that at the top of the information, the date posted is Monday, February 14, 2011, yet against the information, the date is February 11, 2011.
• The Treatment of Drug Abuse Any medical practitioner treating a drug abuse patient has to be careful in many aspects, like: He has to be careful on the issue that if the addiction has effected the brain of the patient.
• Drug Courts and Detoxification: Approach to Drug Abuse Treatment However, since 1989, the US federal system has been providing the majority of drug abusers with proper treatment or education with the help of a drug court option.
• Drug Abuse and Prevention Strategies When specialists deal with preventative factors, they pay attention to both mental and physical ways to resist the drug. The symbiosis of these procedures is exceptionally efficient in terms of the drug rehabilitation process when […]
• Drug Abuse in Adolescents Aged 15-19 Years Old: A Public Health Menace In addition, the objectives of the paper are as follows: the first aim is to analyze the collected data and produce a review of the information.
• Drug Abuse and Addiction Holimon has succeeded in reviving some of her family relations, and she is still putting a lot of effort to get ahead in this area to the fullest extent possible.
• Sports as a Solution to Youth Substance Abuse: Dr. Collingwood’s View His comments made me realize that it would be unwise by the end of the day for any parent to leave their children under the mercy of the media where they learned that doing drugs […]
• Drug Abuse in High School and College With respect to social work and the problem of substance abuse, research has been carried out in terms of investigating the relationship between drug abuse and poverty, the effects of drug abuse on the society.
• Critical Issues in Education: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism For this case, the ministry concerned has a very hard task of ensuring there are no critical issues that are left unsolved that relate to education, failure to which will affect the performance of students […]
• Biopsychosocial Experience in Drug Abuse Treatment There has to be a preventive strategy in every intervention procedure to avoid the occurrence of a disease. I find the course of treatment in this intervention beneficial for the creation of the needed preventive […]
• Addictive Behavior Programs and Drug Abuse Trends The involvement of stakeholders is an essential condition for the effectiveness of this model of work and its results, and all the roles should be allocated in accordance with the capabilities of the program’s participants.
• Substance Misuse in American Youth: A Socio-Cultural Analysis The paper analyzes studies regarding some of the most widespread types of substances, as well as discusses the role of the rap culture in the growing number of young addicts in the U.S.
• Social Behaviour as a Science: Drug Abuse in Youth Thus, the application of social psychology to the phenomenon of youth drug abuse helps to explain how social factors impact the prevalence of and risk for drug abuse.
• ACTIQ Prescription Drug Abuse The fast-acting characteristic of ACTIQ is a result of being absorbed in the mucosal lining of the mouth. ACTIQ is a synthetic drug that is available as lozenges/lollipops, which are designed to be sucked in […]
• Prescription Drug Abuse and Lebanon Students The first two authors are the representatives of the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at the American University of Beirut, and Martins is from the Department of Mental Health, the John Hopkins University.
• Financial Planning for Drug Abuse Prevention in Virginia Estates Therefore, the first preferred sources for the program are the County Commission and the Alabama Department of Corrections. The program can be financed by the Montgomery County Commission in the short term and Alabama Department […]
• Addressing the Drug Abuse in Parolees and Probationers The aim of the program is to address the drug abuse in parolees and probationers during their probations and decrease the use of drugs in them.
• Problem of Drug Abuse in Schools The research worked on the hypothesis that the treatment would reduce or result in the total cessation of drug use, and better relations with family and friends.
• Prescription Drug Abuse in the United States The combination of Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are effective for the patients, who want to reduce and control the level of pain.
• Drug Use Among Parolees and Probationers: A Comprehensive Plan To reduce drug use in probationers and the probability of a new crime, the approach to drug testing needs to be changed.
• Drug Abuse and Medicaid Program The emergence of alcohol and drug abuse as a problem and the intensification of people with mental health problems, have exposed the society to the likelihood of involvement of the population in substance abuse.
• Impact of Drug Abuse on Adolescent Development Therefore, it is important for counselors to consider these stages to help them address the issue of substance abuse among adolescents. In the habitual stage, most adolescents take drugs to help them modify their moods.
• Drug Abuse: Age, Gender and Addictive Susceptibility This incorporates the aspects of gender where males and females possess varying biological constitutions that might affect the prescribed treatments in the realms of addiction. It is important to consider the rapidity and susceptibility of […]
• Drug Abuse Prevention Programs Additionally, it is possible to prospect the success of the program in case the required readiness from the community can be unveiled prior to the program execution.
• The Cultural Context and Ethics of Prevention of Drug Abuse The first prevention strategy outlined in the document is the involvement of young people in all levels of the prevention program establishment. Concurrently, it is crucial to relate this technique with the subject of culture […]
• Use of Psychotropic Medications in the Treatment of Drug Abuse This is because the mental illness is, literally, the one that sustains the abuse of drugs and thus after it is healed; the patient will have no reason to continue abusing the drugs.
• Drug Abuse: Awareness Amongst the Youths This project is going to carry out a public awareness campaign with the aim of educating the young people on the hazards related to the vice of drug and substance abuse. The awareness campaign is […]
• A New Alcohol and Drug-Abuse Rehabilitation Center in Liverpool Hospital, Sydney The hospital, in response to this distress, has decided to bring help closer to the people of Liverpool by the construction of the annex facility.
• Spirituality Effect on Drug Abuse Treatment Programs The hypothesis of the study was that spirituality is appropriate in the formal treatment of addiction; the study confirmed this hypothesis.
• Drug Abuse and Religious Spirituality Concept Particularly, this high rate of relapses was determined by Olmstead et al.as a direct result of a degree of failure on the part of drug abuse treatment programs to sufficiently address the primary reason why […]
• Drug Abuse and Harmful Health Effects The principle recognizes the importance of helping drug addicts out of the activity but also sees the importance of protecting their rights to health matters if the country is to realize economic development.
• The Extent of Drug Abuse Among People in America Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Said He Lied about Crack Cocaine Use Because He Was Embarrassed Mayor lied about the use of crack cocaine The article titled “Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said he lied about crack […]
• Drug Use and Abuse in America: Historical Analysis The new law was similar to the Boggs Act of 1951 in that it employed the same formula of using perceived increase in drug use in the country.
• Drug Abuse as an Ethical Issue On the side of duties and obligations, the societal norms stipulate that individuals should be caring to other members of the society especially the children and the old.
• “Cocaine: Abuse and Addiction” by National Institute on Drug Abuse The literature provides us with a report of a research that has been conducted in the US regarding the topic of cocaine and drug abuse.
• Prescription Painkillers, the New Drug Abuse of Choice Studies attribute the recent increase in the misuse of prescription drugs to an increase in the use of the Internet, which facilitates the growth of illegitimate online drug stores and uncontrolled online prescription drug sales.
• Music Analysis: Drug Abuse in Music So in this song the artist is also lamenting the dangers of drugs and the theme of the music is one that advocates against tackling the problem with issues of drug abuse by arguing the […]
• Drug Abuse: Comprehensive Review The effects associated with drug abuse tend to vary depending on an individual’s age and the phase of drug abuse that the person is in.
• Adolescent’s Drug Abuse and Therapy Success When one accepts to put up with negative peer pressure, they end up giving up the personal trusts and values thus the pressure becomes a form of a negative force.”Does peer pressure affect the decision […]
• What Are Influences That Cause Drug Abuse on Youth?
• What Are Some Solutions to Drug Abuse?
• What Are the Primary Causes and Effects of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Among Young People?
• What Causes Teenage Drug Abuse?
• What Does Drug Abuse Truly?
• Why Do Children Need to Be Educated About Drug Abuse?
• Why Has the American Government Not Managed to Stop Drug Abuse All These Years?
• How Does Drug Abuse Affect Personal Development of Hong Kong Teenagers?
• How Does Pericarditis Form Due to Drug Abuse?
• How Drug Abuse Ruins Families and Destroys Relationships?
• How Does Prescription Drug Abuse Affect Teens?
• Does the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program Work?
• What Is the Drug of Abuse?
• What Are the Four Types of Drugs Abused?
• Which Is an Example of Drug Abuse?
• What Is the Leading Cause of Drug Abuse?
• What Are the Causes and Effects of Drug Abuse?
• What Are the Main Consequences of Drug Abuse?
• How Does Drug Abuse Affect Our Society?
• How Can We Prevent Drug Abuse?
• Why Is It Essential to Prevent Drugs?
• What Are the Ten Most Abused Drugs?
• How Do Drugs Affect Mental Health?
• What Are the Effects of Drug Abuse on Youths?
• What Is the Connection Between Adolescents From Divorced Families and Drug Abuse?
• Are Alcohol and Drug Abuse the Most Common Issues of Today?
• What Is Athletes’ Motivation for Performance-Enhancement Drug Abuse?
• What Is the Correlation Between Parietal and Adolescent Drug Abuse?
• How Is Dealing With Teenage Drug Abuse?
• What Is the Difference Between Drug Use and Drug Abuse?
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IvyPanda . "108 Drug Abuse Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/drug-abuse-essay-examples/.