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Prevention Program for At-Risk Youth
- 1. PREVENTION PROGRAM PREPARED FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHILDREN WITH ALCOHOLIC PARENTS
- 2. TARGET POPULATION IS CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDER. 8.7 million children aged 17 or younger live with at least one parent with a SUD. • Children are at risk for negative: • Social Environments • Emotional Trauma • Developmental Outcomes • Increased likelihood of developing SUD. • Children of parents with an alcohol use disorder are at greater risk for: • Depression • Anxiety Disorders • Problems with Cognitive and Verbal Skills • Parental Abuse or Neglect.
- 3. Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects. Recurrent alcohol use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home. Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of alcohol. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use. ALCOHOL USE DISORDER (AUD) RATE INCREASES 3 TO 4 TIMES HIGHER IN CHILDREN OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUD ALCOHOL USE DISORDER RUNS IN FAMILIES, WITH 40% TO 60% OF THE VARIANCE RISK EXPLAINED BY GENETIC FACTORS CRITERIA FOR AUD INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: (AMERICANPSYCHIATRICASSOCIATION,2013)
- 4. IMPACT OF ALCOHOL USE DISORDER Effects on children Isolation Low self- esteem Fear of abandonment Become caretakers for others, sacrificing personal well-being Difficulty with intimacy Confuse toxic behavior as normal behavior Become alcoholics, marry an alcoholic, or both Issues affecting the Parent Physical (e.g. blackouts, liver disease) Psychological (e.g. depression) Social (e.g. loss of friends, employment) Interpersonal (e.g. violence, child abuse) Increased risk of child maltreatment and child welfare involvement.
- 5. SOCIAL FRAMEWORKS ALCOHOL USE DISORDER April is Alcohol Awareness Month • Established 1987 • National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) • Drug-Free New Hampshire Alateen • 12-step for teens affected by AUD • Ages 13 - 18 • Online Chat Recovery Centers • Address the needs of both the child and the addict
- 6. PREVENTION PROGRAM ● TIME: MONTH OF APRIL ● LOCATION: LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY CENTER ● FACILITATORS: SCHOOL COUNSELOR(S) (ADDICTION COUNSELOR) ● PURPOSE: PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO CHILDREN WITH ALCOHOLIC PARENTS ● AGES: 13 - 18 ● REFERRED TO AFTERSCHOOL GROUP ○ CONSENT FROM PARENTS ● SCHOOL/ADDICTION COUNSELOR ○ EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ○ GROUP SUPPORT ○ PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES
- 7. MARKETING AND FUNDING Marketing School Counseling Center Monthly School Newsletter Adolescent Treatment Centers Funding School Board NCADD
- 8. SUCCESS AND APPLICATION • Questionnaires • Therapy Notes Measuring Success • Local High School • Internship Application
- 9. REFERENCES
Editor's Notes
- At risk population is identified as children of alcoholics. This population is significant as 8.7 million children in the United States have at least one parent that suffers from a substance abuse disorder (Lipari & Van Horn, 2017). This large population is at risk for developing a substance abuse disorder themselves both through genetical ties and environmental influences. These children are exposed to poor and neglectful social environment that revolve around the abuse substance. These children also incur emotional trauma due to child abuse and neglect. Additionally, alcoholism can have detrimental effects on the development of youth physically, emotionally and socially (Dwyer, McShane & Usher, 2015). Graph depicts the number of children (by age) who have at least one parent that suffers from a SUD.
- A few criteria of Alcohol Use Disorder is listed to account for the source and history of the addiction. This criteria is the most relevant and comes directly from the DSM-V. Not only is the criteria of interest, but the risk factors associated with the disorder, specifically the impact on children, are also listed. Sadly, alcohol use disorder runs in families, with 40% to 60% of the variance risk explained by genetic factors. Additionally, the children of alcoholics have four times the likelihood of developing AUD than children without a parent wit AUD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These risk factors create a chain of alcoholics throughout family trees. Without the implementation of care for the alcoholic and their families, alcoholism will thrive in their children and grandchildren.
- The DSM-V also highlights the implications of Alcohol Use Disorder. The effects of this disorder impact that individual and their relationships on multiple levels. Physically the alcoholic may suffer from blackouts and liver disease as well as develop psychological issues such as depression. Their drinking may also drive away family members who cannot enable the addiction or result in the loss of employment due to irresponsible behavior caused by drinking. Likewise, violence and abuse of others, even children, may occur as a result of intoxication and stress of the addiction (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). As adults, the children of alcoholics suffer from a plethora of issues. The organization Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) elucidates that these issues have a significant impact on their adult lives. The effects that alcoholism has on children can manifest as….. (Buddy, 2020).
- Three of the current social frameworks addressing alcohol use disorder and its effects on children include alcohol awareness month, Alateen and recovery centers focused on family-based treatment. Alcohol awareness month, first established in 1987, is a national educational movement to enlighten children, parents and communities about the effects of alcohol abuse (Alliance for Children and Families, 2018). The first weekend of April, participants pledge to abstain from drinking alcohol to show support for the cause. The primary focus of this movement is educational outreach, little can be done to target individual families. Rather this approach focuses on community outreach and participation. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence sponsors this event to reach individuals, families, businesses and communities. Locally, Drug-Free New Hampshire works with NCADD to reach both adults and children to educated them about tobacco, alcohol, drug abuse and the implication of social influences. Likewise, Alateen is a 12-step program addressing alcohol and drug abuse specifically for teens ages 13 – 18 (Al-Anon Family Groups, 2017). Alateen provides a safe environment for teens to share their experiences and encourage each other as a group. This programs uses the 12-steps and traditions modeled after Al-Anon. Teens can participate online or in person and are often referred by teachers, counselors or find the support themselves (Al-Anon Family Groups, 2017). Similarly, recovery centers also provide support for treatment of children affected by alcohol use disorder. This approach is usually done with the parent seeking treatment. Therefore, drawbacks of this framework include parents who are not ready to seek sobriety and children suffer as a result. However, benefits include personalized family plans to not only help the child cope with the addiction but treat the addict as well. This approach addresses both the needs of the child and of the addict resulting in a family healing process.
- In support of alcohol awareness month, the prevention plan modeled for the at-risk population would be an afterschool program run by a licensed school counselor(s). Having staff trained specifically in addiction psychology would provide the most benefit to the participants. This program would take place after-school with a high-school population that would benefit from educational resources, group support and psychotherapeutic activities. Prior to engaging in this group, children would have to obtain consent from their parents if under 18. Referral to this program could be through the counseling center, personal interest, or through concerned staff. Prior to joining the group, participants would meet with a counselor for an intake to address the relevancy of the program and possible benefits/consequences. This program is designed to educate youth about addiction as a disease and its impact on them. Alcoholism effects not only the lives of the children but places them at risk for developing the addiction themselves. Providing educational material to emphasize this prior to engaging in at-risk situations is paramount to prevention. Additionally, emphasizing options for future treatment is a goal should maladaptive addictive behaviors manifest. Group support will offer a community to the youth to discuss their experiences and other options for treatment if needed. Psychotherapeutic activities through art, roleplay, music, etc. will provide another method of expression and education for youth as they progress through the prevention program.
- Marketing for this program will be through the school counseling center, monthly school newsletter and/or adolescent treatment centers. The at-risk youth may already attend counseling sessions with a school counselor to help them cope with family life. This would provide the counselor with knowledge about the potential client and whether this program would be a good fit. Counselors could easily recommend that the at-risk youth participate in the program if they see potential benefit. Likewise, since this program is in support of alcohol awareness month, advertising the prevention program in the monthly school newsletter would be beneficial. This marketing technique has the potential to inform students, staff and parents about the purpose of the program as well as potential benefits. If needed, school counselors can advertise the program with counselors who work directly with at-risk adolescents. This partnership would provide an additional treatment option for youth already participating in individualized therapy. It is necessary that the counselor have knowledge of the school/community center that this program is taking place as well as their client's willingness to participate in the program. Funding for this prevention program may come from the school board if the program is designed specifically for students from that district. School funding can extend from the counseling center to this prevention program. Otherwise, in support of alcohol awareness month, funding can be acquired through a donation from NCADD. NCADD spearheads alcohol abuse awareness and would support a program for at-risk youth.
- The success of this program is difficult to measure based on its nature of an applicable program. The goal of this prevention program is to educate youth about alcoholism and their potential to develop the addiction themselves. The success of the program can be evaluated through feedback questionnaires filled out by the participants regarding the material learned, the material that interested them, the material that was most impactful, planned application of material and what they didn’t enjoy about the program. This feedback will help to ameliorate the program and to improve its effectiveness. However, measuring if the program had an impact on preventing the children from developing an alcohol addiction themselves is difficult. This program is not longitudinal, therefore upon its completion there is no method to record further data. However, the counselors that facilitate the program may choose to use general responses via therapy notes from the participants to determine the program’s effectiveness. Currently, application of the program is not possible. As an individual, I have no ties to the local community center, addiction counselors or to the local high school. However, as I explore potential options for internships, the local high school is a point of interest. If I choose to pursue my internship via the counseling center at the high school, suggesting a prevention program similar to the one propose would be possible.