Ken and Mary are the parents of two preteens. They know families who are struggling to cope with adolescent drug use, and they are concerned about how to avoid substance abuse issues with their own children. Outline factors involved in adolescent substance abuse, and discuss possible preventive strategies that Ken and Mary should consider.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
1. Biological: The teenage brain may be more vulnerable to alcohol abuse due to changes in the reward network. Teens are also more interested in trying new things and experiencing new sensations, such as from alcohol and drugs.
2. Developmental cascade: Substance abuse is most likely when multiple risk factors are present. Coercive or lax parenting may lead to higher aggressive behavior levels, which may lead to rejection by mainstream peers, which may lead to gravitating to a deviant group of peers, which in turn may lead to greater consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
3. Teens who are less closely monitored by their parents are more likely to abuse substances.
4. Possible preventive strategies include improving parent-child relationships in early and middle childhood, increasing parental involvement in children's activities, teaching preteens methods of coping with stress and peer pressure, and educating youth on the risks of substance abuse.