The youth are natural risk-takers. They need to experiment and to examine limits –others' and their own. It's assumed that they can manage their own lives and take their own decisions. However, because of their limited experience, their judgement can at times be faulty.
Teenage drug use is a serious social issue and can directly impact academic achievement. Some symptoms include high-school dropout, early sexual initiation, and troubled interpersonal relationships, amongst other consequences.
Some factors leading to it are:-
• Absence of close family ties
• Family conflict and dysfunctional state
• Violent behaviour at school, college or in their community
• Peer pressure
• Learning problems and academic difficulties
• Poor social coping skills
• Having friends who smoke or associate with drug circuits
• Curiosity
• Weight loss too
• False hope
• Substitute to love
• Abuse ,neglect or other traumatic experiences in childhood
Myths about drug abuse:-
• Relieves stress, tension, or depression
• Enhance work, play performance
• Relieves pain or symptoms of illness
• Enhances social experiences
• A "magic bullet" for all problems
Prevention is the cure
Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs that involve the family, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse.
• Parental awareness
• Collaborating with media
• Providing scientific information about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use
• Discuss risk behaviours associated with driving and sexual behaviours under the influence of drugs
• Confidential and non-judgemental –when and where and under what circumstances drugs are used
• Majority of students who do not indulge should be glorified
• Motivation not to use is an important prevention technique.
By:-
Devika Rana
Senior psychologist ( ksh-usa)
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