Teen Drug Use Group Intervention

The United States has experienced an increase in drug addiction in almost every age group in the recent past. This social work challenge focused on drug addiction among the youth under the topic of Ensure Healthy Development for all youth. Teenagers with co-occurring disorders tend to be dismissed as bad kids or problem kids instead of getting to the root of the problem. Most of these teens turn to drugs because of the challenges they experience in coping with societal norms. Research into this issue will demonstrate that while initially these teens believe that drugs help them forget about their problems, they end up having an opposite impact. Therefore, it is increasingly important to address teen drug use as a means of dealing with the mental health issues they experience.

Presenting Issue, Rationale, Purpose, and Type of Group

Teen drug abuse and addiction is one of the most serious substance abuse problems in the United States. Drug use and addiction among teenagers is regarded as one of the most serious detrimental risk behaviors that threaten the present and future well-being of young people (Oh, Salas-Wright & Vaughan, 2017). While the deleterious effects of drugs on the well-being of youths is known, the rates of drug use have among teenagers have remained relatively stable in the last few years. Studies have shown that drug use is typically initiated during teenage years. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug by teenagers as 64% of adolescents aged 18 years endorse lifetime use of alcohol. Marijuana and cigarette use follow at 45% and 31% respectively (Gray & Squeglia, 2017). Even though cigarette use among teenagers has declined significantly over the past decade, e-cigarette use has become more prevalent. The increase in marijuana use over the recent past is associated with the changing attitudes toward greater acceptance.

As previously indicated, some teenagers turn to drugs to help cope with the difficulties and challenges brought by various issues they experience. For example, adolescents with co-occurring disorders turn to drugs because of being dismissed as problematic or bad kids. While they believe that drugs would help address their problem, these substances end up having the opposite effect resulting in mental health problems. Substance abuse among teenagers is linked to various mental health and behavioral disorders. Drug use and addition has been found to be a major risk factor for mental health issues and behavioral disorders among teenagers (Winstanley et al., 2012). These issues extend beyond teenage years into adulthood since most of them endorse lifetime substance use. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health (2019), most adults facing mental health and substance use issues began their initial struggles as teenagers, or even earlier in life. In fact, more than half of mental health symptoms emerge by age 14. The Born This...

According to Winstanley et al. (2012), it is estimated that only 11-40% of teenagers in need of mental health and behavioral health treatment receive services.

Rationale for the Study

Recent surveys and studies indicate a strong connection between drug use and mental health issues among teenagers. Therefore, addressing teen drug use at an early age is critical in enhancing their mental health and well-being. Being able to identify and address these mental health issues early on, can significantly change the future of these youths in a positive way, leading to healthier relationships, better quality of life and could make them less likely to use illegal substances. The use of a group format as an intervention for this issue would be...

…issues

4. Teenage Drug Use and Mental Health Problems

Relationship between drug use and mental health problems

5. Coping Strategies

Avoiding teenage drug use

Dealing with mental health problems

Developing healthier relationships

6. Assessment and Termination

Members feedback

Commitment to lifetime coping strategies for better quality of life

Evaluation and Termination

The effectiveness of the group in achieving its purpose and desired objectives will be determined by carrying out an evaluation. Toseland & Rivas (2017) propose different methods of conducting group evaluation including progress notes, self-reports and observation, questionnaires, and assessment of reports or other group products. For this group, self-reports and observation and questionnaires will be used for evaluation. Each participant will be required to provide a self-report after every two weeks regarding insights they have obtained from the group and their applicability in their lives. The social worker will also make observations on group dynamics and develop progress notes in relation to the purpose of the group. A questionnaire on the group experience in relation to the purpose of the group will be administered in the final session. The questionnaire will provide insights on members feedback regarding the group experience. Data obtained from the self-reports and observation as well as the questionnaire will be compared to the purpose of the group to determine its effectiveness individually and overall. Some of the benchmarks or deliverables that will be used for evaluation include enhanced understanding of the link between teenage drug use and mental health problems, development of coping strategies, and practicability of these strategies in daily life. Goal attainment scaling and efficiency evaluations will be used to determine the achievement of these goals and plan for termination. The termination process will involve helping members deal with feelings about ending the group and making referrals. Organizational support and future planning will involve extending treatment through follow-up…