Substance Abuse and Suicide Risk Among Adolescents Adolescents are at high risk for suicidal ideations, behaviors, attempts, and suicide. Adolescent needs for independence, identity formation, and peer acceptance increase risk-taking behavior. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. Suicide is the main reason for referrals for child and adolescent emergency psychiatric services. There has been a steady increase in adolescent drug abuse in the United States since 1960. Substance abuse has been

However, in understanding the factors that exist in most substance abuse cases, preemptive solutions to the problem such as education and awareness, as well as early interventions in recently-onset cases can help to curb the issue significantly. Proposed Solutions The key to preventing substance abuse, as proposed by researchers and laymen alike, is awareness and education regarding substance abuse. Beginning in schools, religious organizations, and at home, individuals are better adept

Adolescent Substance Use Screening Instruments: 10-Year Critical Review of the Research Literature Over ten million teenagers in the United States admit in a national survey that they drink alcohol, although it is illegal under the age of 21 in all states. In some studies, nearly one-quarter of school-age children both smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol. Over four thousand adolescents every day try marijuana for the first time. The dangers of use,

There were also facilities that conducted both random tests and tests based on reasonable suspicion (Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Juvenile Correctional Facilities, 2002). In addition, of the facilities that responded to the survey 17% tested residents at the time that they were admitted to the facility, and 8% of the facilities tested the juveniles when they were released (Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Juvenile Correctional Facilities, 2002). The survey

Part 1: Treatment Planning and Individual Treatment Assessment Process Assessing for substance abuse can be tricky, given the client’s potential for denial, their perception of social stigma related to substance abuse, and even the therapist’s own biases. Therefore, structured interviews and collateral interviews offer “a more complete picture of both the user and the impact they are having on others in their environment,” (Chapter 5, Slide 4). A diagnostic interview will yield

Adolescent Substance Abuse and Delinquent Behavior The incidence of adolescent substance abuse is a significant public health issue. More and more, statistics show that substance abuse in the United States is not only widespread but growing. It has been reported that approximately 15% of all teenagers have experimented with drugs by the time they have graduated from high school (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, and this survey data is most