Substance Abuse and Youth: An Overview and the Role of Educators

Trudi Gaines, Robert Markowitz, William Evans

Abstract


Substance abuse among youth remains a serious issue that directly impacts teachers, schools, and the community. It is incumbent upon educators to update their awareness of the nature of the problem and to devise and implement substance abuse policies to clearly delineate procedures for teachers and all stakeholders according to best practices and research. This article defines the issue through an examination of the existing data and new developments with respect to substance abuse, discusses the role of educators in the context of this issue, and presents recommendations and guidelines from the literature for policy development and review.


Keywords


students at-risk, substance abuse, prevention

Full Text:

PDF

References


References

Adlaf, E. M., Hamilton, H. A., Wu, F., & Noh, S. (2009). Adolescent stigma towards drug addiction: Effects of age and drug use behavior. Addictive Behaviors, 34(4), 360-364.

Ali, S., Mouton, C. P., Jabeen, S., Ofoemezie, E. K., Bailey, R. K., Shahid, M. & Zeng, Q. (2011). Early detection of illicit drug use in teenagers. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 8(12), 24-28.

Arthur, M. W., Hawkins, J. D., Pollard, J. A., Catalano, R. F., & Baglioni, Jr., A. J. (2002). Measuring risk and protective factors for substance use, delinquency, and other adolescent problem behaviors. Evaluation Review, 26(6), 575-601.

Associated Press. (2014, April 5). Snapshot of heroin use, deaths in 26 states, including Louisiana. The Times-Picayune. Retrieved from http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/04/snapshot_of_heroin_use_deaths.html

Berman, G., & Fox, A. (2009). Lessons from the battle over D.A.R.E.: The complicated relationship between research and practice. U.S. Department of Justice: Washington, D.C.

Bertrand, K., Richer, I., Brunelle, N., Beaudoin. I., Lemieux, A., & Menard, J. (2013). Substance abuse treatment for adolescents: How are family factors related to substance use change? Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 45(1), 238-38.

Birckmayer, J. D., Holder, H. D., Yacoubian, G. S., & Friend, K. B. (2004). A general causal model to guide alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug prevention: Assessing the research evidence. Journal of Drug Education, 34(2), 121-153.

Brook, D. W., Brook, J. S., Rubenstone, E., Zhang, C., & Saar, N. (2011). Developmental associations between externalizing behaviors, peer delinquency, drug use, perceived neighborhood crime, and violent behavior in urban communities. Aggressive Behavior, 37(4), 349-361.

Burrow-Sanchez, J. J., Jenson, W. R., & Clark, E. (2009). School-based interventions for students with substance abuse. Psychology in the Schools, 46(3), 238-245.

Case S., & Haines, K. R. (2008). Factors shaping substance use by young people in Wales. Journal of Substance Use, 13(1), 1-15.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Retrieved from

Cerda, M., Johnson-Lawrence, V. D., & Galea, S. (2011). Lifetime income patterns and alcohol consumption: Investigating the association between long- and short-term income trajectories and drinking. Social Science & Medicine, 73(8), 1178-1185.

Colorado Department of Education. (2015). 10-Year Trend Data: Colorado State Suspension and Expulsion Incidents. Retrieved from https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/suspend-expelcurrent

DeWit, D. J., Adlaf, E. M., Offord, D. R., & Ogborne, A. C. (2000). Age at first alcohol use: A risk factor for the development of alcohol disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(5), 745-750.

Donovan, J. E. (2004). Adolescent alcohol initiation: A review of psychosocial risk factors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35(6), 529.

Falck, R. S., Nahhas, R. W., Li, L., & Carlson, R. G. (2012). Surveying teens in school to assess the prevalence of problematic drug use. Journal of School Health, 82(5), 217-224.

Ford, J. A., & Watkins, W. C. (2012). Adolescent nonmedical prescription drug use. Prevention Researcher, 19(1), 3-6.

Gallimberti, L., Chindamo, S., Buja, A., Forza, G., Tognazzo, F., Dalasso, L., … & Baldo, V. (2011). Underage drinking on Saturday nights, sociodemographic and environmental risk factors: A cross-sectional study. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, & Policy, 6(1), 15-22.

Ganim, S., & Zamost, S. (2015). Vaping: The latest scourge in drug abuse. Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/04/us/vaping-abuse

Garland, E. L., Pettus-Davis, C., & Howard, M. O. (2013). Self-medication among traumatized youth: Structural equation modeling of pathways between trauma history, substance misuse, and psychological distress. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 36(2), 175-185.

Gates, P. J., Norberg, M. M., Dillon, P., & Manocha, R. (2013). Perceived role legitimacy and role importance of Australian school staff in addressing student cannabis use. Journal of Drug Education, 43(1), 65-79l.

Griffith, A. K. (2010). The use of a behavioral parent training program for parents of adolescents. Journal of At-Risk Issues, 15(2), 1-8.

Gudjonsson, G. H., Sigurdsson, J. F., Sigfusdottir, I. D., & Young, S. (2012). An epidemiological study of ADHD symptoms among young persons and the relationship with cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 53(3), 304-312.

Hanson, D. J. (2013). Drug Abuse Resistance Education: The effectiveness of DARE. Retrieved from http://www. alcoholfacts.org/DARE.html

Henry, K. L. (2009). Academic achievement and adolescent drug use: An examination of reciprocal effects and correlated growth trajectories. Journal of School Health, 80(1), 38-43.

Henry, K. L., Knight, K. E., & Thronberry, T. P. (2011). School disengagement as a predictor of dropout, delinquency, and problem substance use during adolescence and early adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(2), 156-166.

Humensky, J. L. (2010). Are adolescents with high socioeconomic status more likely to engage in alcohol and illicit drug use in early adulthood? Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention & Policy, 5, 19-28.

Kelly, A. B., Evans-Whipp, T. J., Smith, R., Chan, G. C., Toumbourou, J. W., Patton, G. C., Hemphill, S. A., Hall, W. D., & Catalano, R. F. (2015). A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school noncompletion. Addiction, 110(4), 627-635.

Kristjansson, A. L., Sigfusdottir, I. D., & Allegrante, J. P. (2013). Adolescent substance use and peer use: A multilevel analysis of cross-sectional population data. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention & Policy, 8(1), 1-10.

Lamont, J. H. (2013). Out-of-school suspension and expulstion. Pediatrics, 131(3), 1000-1007.

Li, Y., Zhang, W., Liu, J., Arbeit, M. R. Schwartz, S. J., Bowers, E. P., & Lerner, R. M. (2011). The role of school engagement in preventing delinquency and substance use: A survival analysis. Journal of Adolescence, 34(6), 1181-1192.

Luoma, J. B., Twohig, M. P., Wlatz, T., Hayes, S. C., Roget, N., Padilla, M., & Fisher, G. (2007) An investigation of stigma in individuals receiving treatment for substance abuse. Addictive Behavior, 32(7), 1331-1346.

Maine Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Your substance abuse policy: A comprehensive guide for schools. Office of Substance Abuse: State of Maine.

Maryland State Department of Education. (2014). Maryland public school suspensions by school and major offense category and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions 2013-2014. Division of Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability: State of Maryland.

Miller, W. R., & Carroll, K. M. (2010). Rethinking substance abuse: What the science shows, and what we should do. New York City: Guilford Press.

Morean, M. E., Kong, G., Camenga, D. R., Cavallo, D. A., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2015). High school students’ use of electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis. Pediatrics, 136,(4), 611-616.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2015). Drug facts: Nationwide trends. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends

Newark Public Schools. (2009. Newark public schools discipline plan and policy. Retrieved from http://content.nps.k12.nj.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/58/2014/08/DrugsAlcoholTobacc.pdf

Parkay, F. W. (2015). Becoming a teacher. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Ratterman, M. J. (2014). Measuring the impact of substance abuse on student academic achievement and academic growth. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 7(2), 123-135.

Robertson, E. B., David, S. L., & Rao, S. A. (2003). Preventing drug use among children and adolescents: A research-based guide for parents, educators, and community leaders. National Institute on Drug Abuse: Bethesda, MD.

Rudasil, K. M., Reio, Jr., T. G., Stipanovic, N., & Taylor, J. E. (2010). Journal of School Psychology, 48(5), 389-412.

Sabri, B. (2012). Severity of victimization and co-occurring mental health disorders among substance using adolescents. Child & Youth Care Forum, 41(1), 37-55.

Salm, T., Sevigny, P., Mulholland, V., & Greenberg, H. (2011). Prevalence and pedagogy: Understanding substance abuse in schools. Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education, 55(1), 70-92.

Schwarz, A. (2012, June 9). Risky rise of the good-grade pill. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/sites/childrenssafetynetwork.org/files/seeking-academic-ed.pdf

Shillington, A. M., Lehman, S. J., Clapp, J. D., Hovell, M. F., Blumberg, E. J., & Sipan, E. (2005). Parental monitoring: Can it continue to be protective among high-risk adolescents? Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 15(1), 1-16.

Shlosberg, D., Zalsman, G., & Shoval, G. (2014). Emerging issues in the relationship between adolescent substance use and suicidal behavior. The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 51(4), 262-269.

Sloboda, Z., Stephens, R. C., Stephens, P. C., Grey, S. F., Teasdale, B., Hawthorne, R. D., … Marquette, J. F. (2009). The adolescent substance abuse prevention study: A randomized field trial of universal substance abuse prevention program. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 102(1-3), 1-10.

Swendson, J., Burstein, M., Case, B., Conway, K. P., Dierker, L., He, J., & Merikangas, K. R. (2012). Use and abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs in US adolescents: Results of the National Comorbidity Survey—Adolescent Supplement. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(4), 390-398.

Trenz, R. C., Dunne, E. M., Zur, J., & Latimer, W. W. (2015). An investigation of school-related variables as risk and protective factors associated with problematic substance use among vulnerable urban adolescents. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies,10(2), 131-140.

Unger, J. B., Ritt-Olson, A., Soto, D. W., & Baezconde-Garbanati. L. (2009). Parent-child acculturations discrepancies as a risk-factor for substqance use among Hispanic adolescents in southern California. Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health, 11(3), 149-157.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). Treatment episode data set (TEDS) 2000-2010: National admissions to substance abuse treatment services. (HHS Publication No. [SMA] 12-4701. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/TEDS2010N/TEDS2010NWeb.pdf

Vincus, A. A., Ringwalt, C., Harris, M. S., & Shamblen, S. R. (2010). A short-term, quasi-experimental evaluation of D.A.R.E.s revised elementary school curriculum. Journal of Drug Education, 40(1), 37-49.

Warner, L. A., & White, H. R. (2003). Longitudinal effects of age at onset and first drinking situations on problem drinking. Substance Use & Misuse, 38(14), 1983-2016.

Yi, S., Poudel, K. C., Yasuoka, J., Palmer, P. H., & Jimba, M. (2011). Risk vs. protective factors for substance use among adolescents in Cambodia. Journal of Substance Use, 16(1), 14-26


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493