Substance Abuse in Adolescents 1 Substance Abuse in Adolescents I chose the Addictions psychology field The highlights of substance abuse in adolescents is the period of life that starts with physical changes of puberty and ends at the age at which an individual attains a stable independent role in society. Adolescents are the ages between 13 years of age and 18 Adolescents are vulnerable for engaging risky behaviors. Substance Abuse in Adolescents Substance abuse is one such behavior according to 2011 youth risk behavior survey surveillance. 44.7 % of high school students have smoked 18.1% of students were reported to be currently using cigarettes 7.7% of students use smokeless tobacco ( e.g. chewing tobacco ,snuff or dip) 70.8% of students reported to have drank alcohol 39.9% of students had used marijuana 6.8% students had used cocaine All these statistics point to growing epidemic of substance abuse in adolescents Personal Experience My personal experience with substance abuse teens is when I worked in the hospital in the mental health unit dealing with patients that were detoxing from cocaine, meth, marijuana, Heroin etc. Almost all of the time when a patient is using heroin or is shooting up drugs they run the risk of Hepatitis C which studies show that in 2014 there were 2.3 cases per 100,000 people that had become infected with acute hepatitis C Acute Hepatitis: Hepatitis that lasts less then 6 months Chronic Hepatitis: Hepatitis that lasts longer then 6 months Studies show that 68% of people that do IV drug use responded with that they had injected drugs within the past 6 months prior to onset of symptoms. Personal Experience As a Phlebotomist of 5 years you can tell when a patient is IV drug using. Examples include: Statements like “I wrecked my veins.” “Good luck finding a vein.” “You can go here and no where else.” Other examples include: Scar tissue, Red swollen hands, fingers, arms no vein sites to take blood from and or taking 5-6 tries before getting blood going through multiple phlebotomists, I also find patients that come in through the emergency room that have cellulitis which is an infection most common with using are ashamed because they are in pain and cant believe they have gotten to the point of drug use. Treatment Substance Abuse in Adolescents Research and studies show that most of these users had initiated some sort of substance abuse during the ages of 15-18 years of ages with peer influence, curiosity, and the sense of growing being the chief reason for initiation. A majority of users were aware of the negative potential side effects of the substances and yet they chose to use them anyways. These users continued use of the substance abuse habits reasons that were given included “feeling good” and the ability to socialize. Users also stated the reasons for maintaining drug habits consist of getting high and escaping stress but also not limited to a sense of belongingness with a pee ...

1. Substance Abuse in Adolescents
1
Substance Abuse in Adolescents
I chose the Addictions psychology field
The highlights of substance abuse in adolescents is the period of
life that starts with physical changes of puberty and ends at the
age at which an individual attains a stable independent role in
society.
Adolescents are the ages between 13 years of age and 18
Adolescents are vulnerable for engaging risky behaviors.
Substance Abuse in Adolescents
Substance abuse is one such behavior according to 2011 youth
risk behavior survey surveillance.
44.7 % of high school students have smoked
18.1% of students were reported to be currently using cigarettes
7.7% of students use smokeless tobacco ( e.g. chewing tobacco
,snuff or dip)
70.8% of students reported to have drank alcohol
39.9% of students had used marijuana
6.8% students had used cocaine
All these statistics point to growing epidemic of substance
abuse in adolescents

2. Personal Experience
My personal experience with substance abuse teens is when I
worked in the hospital in the mental health unit dealing with
patients that were detoxing from cocaine, meth, marijuana,
Heroin etc.
Almost all of the time when a patient is using heroin or is
shooting up drugs they run the risk of Hepatitis C which studies
show that in 2014 there were 2.3 cases per 100,000 people that
had become infected with acute hepatitis C
Acute Hepatitis: Hepatitis that lasts less then 6 months
Chronic Hepatitis: Hepatitis that lasts longer then 6 months
Studies show that 68% of people that do IV drug use responded
with that they had injected drugs within the past 6 months prior
to onset of symptoms.
Personal Experience
As a Phlebotomist of 5 years you can tell when a patient is IV
drug using.
Examples include: Statements like “I wrecked my veins.” “Good
luck finding a vein.” “You can go here and no where else.”
Other examples include: Scar tissue, Red swollen hands,
fingers, arms no vein sites to take blood from and or taking 5-6
tries before getting blood going through multiple phlebotomists,
I also find patients that come in through the emergency room
that have cellulitis which is an infection most common with
using are ashamed because they are in pain and cant believe
they have gotten to the point of drug use.
Treatment

3. Substance Abuse in Adolescents
Research and studies show that most of these users had initiated
some sort of substance abuse during the ages of 15-18 years of
ages with peer influence, curiosity, and the sense of growing
being the chief reason for initiation.
A majority of users were aware of the negative potential side
effects of the substances and yet they chose to use them
anyways.
These users continued use of the substance abuse habits reasons
that were given included “feeling good” and the ability to
socialize.
Users also stated the reasons for maintaining drug habits consist
of getting high and escaping stress but also not limited to a
sense of belongingness with a peer group.
Non users never started substance abuse because of personal
values and awareness of the impact on health and family values.
Studies in Certain Youths
Studies in Latino Youth found that Peer use, Parental
monitoring, Parental emotional involvement played a huge role
in substance abuse.
Another study showed studied the relationship between low self
esteem and illegal drug abuse and found significant association
between low self esteem scores, smoking and illegal drug abuse
like heroin, alcohol, and other substances.
More studies are needed that explicate the reasons for substance
abuse in adolescents.
Treatment Options
Several Treatment options have been evaluated in treating
adolescents with substance abuse problems.

4. Cognitive behavioral therapy: Type of psychotherapy in which
negative patterns of thought about self and the world are
challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior and treat mood
disorders.
It was found that cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents
with co-occuring alcohol and other drug use disorder in a
randomized clinical trial.
It was shown that cognitive behavior was significant in use with
drugs and alcohol use.
This study shows that theory based approaches are effective in
treating substance abuse problems among adolescents.
Information implementation
I think we should have needle banks places to get rid of dirty
needles for people that are diabetic and or drug users.
Needle banks should be monitored to see what type of people
are dropping off needles and how many and what they look like
When realizing same people coming in with tract marks should
council that person into checking into a rehab of some sort.
This would keep HIV and Hepatitis C statistics down by
handing out clean needles
Should tell the so called drug user its going to be ok we can get
you help.
Should have a Psychiatrist present as well as police.
Information Implementation cont.
Spread the word about the growing problems about Hepatitis
and HIV
Monitor drug abuse patients
Have an MD talk to the drug users about Health problems with
whatever drug they are using.

5. Keep the drug abuse rate down.
Keep death rates down from suicide.
Get the word out about Drugs.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to review my project
References
Balocchini, E.,Chiamenti, G., & Lamborghini, A. (2013).
Adolescents: Which risks for their life and Health? Journal of
preventative medicine and hygiene, 54(4), 191-194
Eaton, D. K., Kann, L., Kinchin, S., Shanklin, S., Flint, K. H.,
Hawkins, J., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)(2012). Youth risk behavior surveillance- United states
2011 Morbidity and Mortality weekly report, 61(4), 1-162
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-
disease/epi/publications/2014-HCV_SurvReport_2.pdf
Infectious Disease (2015)
Sharma, Manoj; Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education,
Apr2015; 59(1): 3-6. 4p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN:
0090-1482, Database: CINAHL Plus with Full Text
Atascocita South Roads
Kaysi McCurry
Kaplan University
CM220 College Composition

6. March 3, 2016
The streets in the neighborhood of Atascocita South have no
storm drains or gutters which is preventing water from flowing
off of the streets. When the City of Humble, Texas receives
heavy rainfall or storms the roads of Atascocita South flood
immensely. The morning after heavy rainfall, people throughout
the neighborhood heading off to work are in traffic jams,
parents walking their children to school are sprayed with water
from passing vehicles and children riding their bikes to school
are not able to pass walkers on the sidewalks since the streets
are flooded, causing traffic on the sidewalks. Not having storm
drains and street gutters in the neighborhood of Atascocita
South is causing the residents chaos and inconvenience in their
daily routines after rainfall. The residents of the neighborhood
must stand together to fix their problem.
Creating a Plan of Action
Appointing residents of the neighborhood as leaders for the
issue at hand.
Finding out the cost of installing storm drains and gutters on to
the streets.
Gathering evidence to prove the issue exists.
Gathering witnesses and people directly involved with the

7. flooding issues.
Creating a petition and getting it signed by the residents of
Atascocita South.
A massive reconstruction involves street milling, curb/gutter
installation and also some parts of the street may need new
driveway dips if they are damaged during the repairs. Removing
part of the street and resurfacing it on average will cost $75 per
foot (Karch, 2014). Curb and gutter installation for one side of
a street, on average costs $40 per foot (Karch, 2014). Each
street being repaired will need both sides to have curbs and
gutters installed. If the curb and gutter installation affects parts
of a driveway, driveway dips will need be fixed and on average
that costs $20 per foot (Karch, 2014). This process will have to
be done to each street in the neighborhood needing to be
repaired. The prices do not include labor or anything extra that
will have to be done, such as cutting down trees.
Mrs. Frances Hurd, a 7 year resident of Atascocita South and
Mrs. Taylor Pinder, a 2 year resident of Atascocita South, has
first hand experiences with the disturbance it causes not having
storm drains or gutters. Frances’ vehicle has had water damage
from sitting and driving through the water on the streets. She

8. has also witnessed the troubles other residents have been
through. Taylor has experienced flooding sidewalks when
walking her daughter to and from school. Taylor’s daughter has
also experienced issues while riding her bike to school. The
flooding after storms and heavy rainfall affects both of their
commutes to work.
Residents will have to create a petition for new or repaired
roads to present to the City Council. The petition must include
pictures, a detailed description of the problem, signatures from
the residents of the neighborhood and residents willing to attend
the meeting to give insight on personal experiences endured
from the issue (Reinhart, 2014). After the petition is created
residents will have to go door-to-door and explain to their
fellow residents why they need this petition signed.
Residents of Atascocita South will have to contact the Mayor,
Donnie McMannes, of Humble, Texas, the Street Department of
Humble, the Humble Department of Public Works and
frequently attend City Council meetings for their issue in the
neighborhood to be heard.
References