Adolescents who consume illicit drugs, cigarettes and alcohol have lower self-esteem, a more liberal attitude toward and greater knowledge of these substances compared to adolescents who do not use these substances, according to a study published in "Patient Education and Counseling." Educating adolescents about the dangers of chemical dependency may prevent health, legal and financial problems that could affect themselves, their families and society. Adolescents may respond to creative ways of teaching them about chemical dependency.
Internet-Based Prevention
Internet and multimedia technology may be an effective method to teach adolescents about illicit drugs, cigarettes and alcohol and to prevent chemical dependency. In an effort to study the effect Internet and multimedia technology have on learning neuroscience among adolescents that are skilled at web browsing, blogs, instant messaging and online games, Rice University Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning conducted a study with a grant from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse. Their research study, titled "An Online, Interactive Approach to Teaching Neuroscience to Adolescents," was published in "CBE Life Sciences Education" in 2006. The results showed that middle-school students improve their knowledge about recreational drugs and the effect these substances have on the brain and nervous system after participating in an online multimedia game.
A different research study, titled "Teaching Adolescents About Changing Bodies," published in "Body Image" in 2010, demonstrated that Internet-based prevention programs can be effective for post-pubertal adolescent males and females with poor weight-related body image esteem and females with poor self-esteem.
Structured Teaching
Adolescents are interested in learning about sex. A.D. Dhital found that a structured teaching program can improve knowledge and attitude of adolescents on reproductive health in a study titled "Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program in Improving Knowledge and Attitude of School Going Adolescents on Reproductive Health," published in "Kathmandu University Medical Journal" in 2005. This study suggests that a structured teaching program on chemical dependency may also be effective.
Workbook Intervention
Some students learn best in a self-teaching program. A study published in the "Japanese Journal of Alcohol Studies & Drug Dependence" in 2009 demonstrated a self-teaching workbook intervention can help drug-abusing delinquents incarcerated in a juvenile home gain insights into their drug-abuse problems and the necessity for treatment. This study suggests that a self-teaching workbook on chemical dependency could prevent adolescents from using drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.
Chemical Relapse and Dependency Prevention
Many chemical-dependent adolescents get treatment to stop, yet relapse in the future. According to a study titled "Impact of Brief Interventions and Brief Treatment on Admissions to Chemical Dependency Treatment," published in "Drug and Alcohol Dependence" in 2010, individuals with substance use disorders who receive a brief intervention or treatment are more likely to enter specialized chemical dependency treatment in the subsequent year than similar individuals who do not receive a brief intervention.
Another study, titled "A Preliminary Study on Outpatient Relapse Prevention Program for Methamphetamine Dependent Patients," published in the "Japanese Journal of Alcohol Studies & Drug Dependence" in 2007, demonstrated that an outpatient relapse prevention program involving manual and workbook-based education three sessions per week can help methamphetamine abusers. Participants did not relapse for as long as they stayed in the program.
References
- "Patient Education and Counseling"; Prevalence, Attitudes High School Drugs; Brook, U.; May 2001
- "CBE Life Sci Educ"; An Online, Interactive to Teaching Neuroscience to Adolescents; Miller, L.; Summer 2006
- "Body Image"; Teaching Adolescents About Changing Bodies; T.M.; Jul 16 2010
- "Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ)"; Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program; Dhital, A.D.; Oct-Dec 2005
- "Japanese Journal of Alcohol Studies & Drug Dependence"; Development Relapse; Matsumoto, T.; Jun 2009
