Adolescent Substance Abuse

Paper Summary:

In this research, the writer provides a general overview of adolescent substance abuse, followed by a discussion of some of the more salient societal implications involved. A description of the statistics concerning adolescent substance abuse and its incidence among various groups is followed by a discussion of social identity theory, group affiliation and their respective influence on adolescent substance abuse patterns. An analysis of some of the more common types of substances currently abused by American adolescents is then followed by a discussion of the various factors that have been shown to contribute to adolescent substance abuse behaviors as well as some behaviors that have been shown to mediate such risk.

Outline:
Introduction
General Overview
Types of Substances Typically Abused by Adolescents
Marijuana Use among Adolescents
Statistics/Incidence of Adolescent Substance Abuse
Societal Implications
Treatment Programs for Adolescent Substance Abuse, Including Effectiveness or Lack Thereof
Introduction
Family-Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
12-Step Programs
Motivational Interviewing
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations

From the Paper:

"Parents and other adult caregivers therefore stand out as the primary factors that can either contribute to the incidence of adolescent substance abuse or help encourage young people to avoid such behaviors. Parents can also influence adolescent substance abuse indirectly through their impact on peer group selection. Therefore, the relational patterns that exist within the family and peer group systems appear to represent an important consideration in the development of efficacious treatment protocols for adolescent substance abuse.
"Unfortunately, many young people come from homes where adult substance abuse is a matter of course, and it would appear reasonable to assert that such adults have little incentive or the resources they need to provide their children with the guidance they need during this formative period in their lives. Moreover, there was a distinct downward spiral quality to these behaviors that make early interventions absolutely critical because the more young people engage in such behaviors, the harder it is to effect change, not to mention the increased risk these young people run of becoming yet another grim statistic related to adolescent substance abuse in the United States today."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adamczyk-Robinette, S. L., Fletcher, A. C., & Wright, K. (2002). Understanding the authoritative parenting-early adolescent tobacco use link: The mediating role of peer tobacco use. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31(4), 311.
• American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
• Ammerman, R. T., Ott, P. J., & Tarter, R. E. (1999). Prevention and societal impact of drug and alcohol abuse. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• August, G. J., Bloomquist, M. L., Braswell, L., Crosby, R. D., Realmuto, G. M., & Skare, S. S. (1997). School-based secondary prevention for children with disruptive behavior: Initial outcomes. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 25(3), 197.
• Barrett, K., Dakof, G. A., Diamond, G. S., Liddle, H. A., Parker, K., & Tejeda, M. (2001). Multidimensional family therapy for adolescent drug abuse: Results of a randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 27(4), 651.

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