Effects of Alcohol and Drug Use Among Youths

This report discusses the effects of alcohol and drug use among youths, including the social determinants that contribute to addiction. It also examines how the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan addresses these issues.

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ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE
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REPORT ON THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AMONG THE YOUTHS
Introduction
The reports discusses the effects of use of alcohol and drugs among the youths. It also
discusses on the social determinants that causes inequalities among the youths which end up
promoting the use of alcohol and drugs among them. For example, the environment that one
lives in may greatly influence one to start alcohol and drug use. For example friends and
family may influence one to begin drug use additionally, the economic status of an individual
and general life quality. Causes such as peer pressure, abuse both sexually and physically,
early drug exposure, parental guidance and stress can highly influences a person’s decision of
alcohol use and drug use addiction. Buy and selling of drugs requires high cost which affects
the individual, social and economic financial stability. This is because the money is
irresponsibly spent. The report also concentrate how well Victorian Public Health and
Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019 addresses this determinants among the youths and the different
gaps and strengths that they have.
Discussion
In most cases a lot of people do not understand how individuals in the society become addicts
to drugs or alcohol. People in most societies think that individuals that use drugs and alcohol
lack moral goodwill or principles which is not the case. Additionally individuals also think
that the groups of people that use drugs can choose to stop or not which is very difficult if
one has become an addict (Manning, Smith, &Mazerolle, P., 2013).
Drug use and alcohol use is considered a disease (complex disease), and normally, trying to
quit the use takes more than just willpower and intentions that are good (Cockerham, Hamby,
&Oates, 2017). Use of drugs and alcohol changes the way the brain operate, which makes
quitting very difficult even though one wishes to. Researchers however are able to understand
how the brain is affected by the use of drugs and alcohol and thus come up with proper ways
of treatment to solve the problem (Manning, Smith, &Mazerolle, P., 2013). Thus drug use
addiction can be defined as a chronic disease that comprise of seeking of drugs and
compulsive use, or challenging to control regardless of its harmful outcomes. For drug and
alcohol users changes in the brain can be persistent, for this reason drug and alcohol addiction
is a seen as a relapse disease. This implies that individuals that use drugs and alcohol are at a

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higher risk of returning to the use even after a long period of time of not using the drug
(White, Chan, Quek, Connor, Saunders et al., 2013)It is normal for a person to relapse and
this does not imply that the treatment does not work. Just like other chronic illness treatment
should be adjusted and ongoing founded on the response of the patient to that treatment. The
plans involved in treatment should be appraised and improved to suit the patient’s mutable
needs (Roxburgh, Lea, de Wit, & Degenhardt, 2016).
Drugs and alcohol normally affect the circuit of the brain which ends up causing what is
known as euphoria, additionally it ends up filling the brain with a chemical known as
dopamine. A proper brain circuit motivates individual to repeat certain behaviors required to
thrive for example having a good time with the family or even eating (Roxburgh, Lea, de
Wit, & Degenhardt, 2016). The chemical dopamine on the other hand, makes individuals the
same effect however the habits are unhealthy, thus the drug and alcohol users keep on taking
drugs because they find pleasure in doing so. The more one continues to use the drug, then
brain is able to adapt and therefore reduces the cells ability in the circuit to respond to it. This
decreases the high that the individual feels paralleled to the high they sensed when first they
took the drug, an outcome known as tolerance. The users might continue to take the drug or
alcohol attempt and attain the same high (Livingston, Dietze, P., Ferris, Pennay, Hayes, &
Lenton, 2013). These adaptations of the brain often lead to the individual becoming less and
less able to develop desire from other things they once loved, for example food, sex, or social
activities.
Drug and alcohol use has server effects to the body and also the social life of the individual
for example the user of the drug finds it difficult to relate with people around, it also affects
one’s ability to learn, make decisions, judge what is wrong and right, memory loss and
change in behavior of a person (Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013).In addition the use of
alcohol and drugs may result to stress. The users might be aware of the harmful outcomes but
they continue to use the drugs which is the nature of addiction. Drug use can be successfully
cured and managed. For example visiting rehabilitation facilities and therapy sessions
(Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013).
What promotes the use of drugs? The environment that one lives in may greatly influence one
to start alcohol and drug use. For example friends and family may influence one to begin
drug use additionally, the economic status of an individual and general life quality (Manning,
Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013). Causes such as peer pressure, abuse both sexually and physically,

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early drug exposure, parental guidance and stress can highly influences a person’s decision of
alcohol use and drug use addiction. Buy and selling of drugs requires high cost which affects
the individual, social and economic financial stability. This is because the money is
irresponsibly spent.
Drug use is a major problem facing the world which needs critical attention to be able to
solve the problem adequately. Most affected groups are the young adults because of their
daily changing habits placing them at a greater risk. Australia, when it comes to drug
addiction cannot escape this world problem (Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013).
According to statistics Australia is ranked the number one country of drug users. Most users
of drug and alcohol in Australia are the young adults. Consequently the most used drugs in
Australia is cannabis sativa, followed by painkillers, amphetamines and lastly cocaine. Other
drugs include hallucinogens such as Magic Mushrooms and LSD (BANKING, 2014). This
illicit drugs are easy to find on the streets and places that are popular, Australia being a nation
that is thriving and holiday resort nation around the globe. Studies also depict that the most
abused drugs are not the illegal but the legal ones for example over the counter drugs such as
painkillers. Most teens start drug use at the age of 15-19 (Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle,
2013). Most painkillers are used for purposes of recreation. Subsequently, more than 4500
students in Victoria of age 12-17 years use drugs for example alcohol, over the counter drugs,
tobacco and other illicit substances. It is also seen from the study that most children in
Victoria tend to steal painkillers from their homes to try out new experiences, as a result they
develop drug addiction at a very young age. The government in Australia has design out
programs to deal with the effect of drug use especially by young adult being the most
vulnerable. They should also create and spread awareness in schools where most youths are
found (Esbati, Barnes, Henderson, &Taylor, , 2018).
Vulnerable population group
The youths are the most vulnerable group to drug and alcohol use. This is because during this
life stage, it is a period where the young adults want to experiment, irrespective of the
nurturing influence and skills (de Andrade, Pellegrini Filho, Solar, Rígoli et al., 2015). The
most commonly use drugs by the youths is cannabis sativa (with around one in five having
tried it at least once) (Bachman, Wadsworth, Malley, Johnston et al, .2013). Most parents
across different countries across the world are worried about their children alcohol and drug
ues (mostly illegal substances such as cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamines, heroin and

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ecstasy). Nonetheless, the most used drugs threatening youth life is the legal drugs such as
tobacco and counter drugs such as painkillers. Young adults in most cases use drugs and
alcohol to change how they feel and also in order to feel different from the rest and be better.
Most factors promoting this include: friends and family may influence one to begin drug use
additionally, the economic status of an individual and general life quality (Bachman,
Wadsworth, Malley, Johnston et al, .2013). Causes such as peer pressure, abuse both
sexually and physically, early drug exposure, parental guidance and stress can highly
influences a person’s decision of alcohol use and drug use addiction (Krumpal, 2013).
According to National Drug Strategy Household Survey, Young adults mostly use alcohol,
tobacco and cannabis especially in Australia (age between 12-17 years) (Dasgupta, Beletsky,
& Ciccarone, 2018). According to statistics 72.3% choose to avoid drinking and 8.7 % at
least in a month take more than four standard drinks. At least 14.8% of have tried youths
marijuana , young adults that have not used tobacco range from 94.7 % and 3.7% smoke on a
daily basis (Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013).
The environment especially in the City of Darebin greatly influence once ability to start
alcohol and drug use. For example friends and family influence one to begin drug use
additionally, the economic status of an individual and general life quality (Benotsch, Snipes,
Martin, & Bull, 2013). Young adults using the drug finds it difficult to relate with people
around, it also affects one’s ability to learn, make decisions, judge what is wrong and right,
memory loss and change in behavior of a person. In addition the alcohol and drug use may
result to stress.
In order to avoid the use of drugs among the young adults’ parents and guardians should
create a strong bond with their children from an early age for the purpose of creating and
supporting positive behaviors (Benotsch, Snipes, Martin, & Bull, 2013). Additionally,
creating and spreading awareness in schools where most youths are found. The government
should design out programs to deal with the effect of drug use especially by young adult
being the most vulnerable.
Figure 1. The link between determinants drugs use and youths

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Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP)
City of Darebin
The government funds in Victoria has a catchment based entry points to drugs and alcohol
services across the state. People can both access intake and treatment. It includes receiving
counselling and referral 24-hour, for 7-day (Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013).
Teenagers in the City of Darebin can receive treatment from local providers (from a range of
human and health service providers. The services of the youth gives out support and
treatment to the young adults at risk mostly age between 12-25 years. It also includes their
families and friends to assist in addressing their drugs and alcohol issues. This also integrates
a series of other different services such as education, housing, mental health, family services
health and child protection found (Esbati, Barnes, Henderson, &Taylor, 2018).
The government in the City aim to reduce consumption of harm alcohol to young individuals,
it also aim to reduce use of illegal drugs by the young adults and alcohol consumption during
pregnancy. Additionally, they minimize the impacts of use of illicit drugs and misuse of
pharmaceutical drugs. Different actions in City of Darebin include: assisting schools through
their achievement programs to impact changes in their environment, policies and cultures to
encourage responsible consumption of alcohol, bringing a series of creativities using Vic
Health so that extra individuals and backgrounds upkeep an in effect decrease in unsafe use
of alcohol, operating with individuals that have mental illness that is co-occurring and
dangerous drug use and alcohol use, their supporters and relatives, to offer superlative run-
through care and sustenance found (Esbati, Barnes, Henderson, &Taylor, , 2018).
The Victoria Public Health and Wellbeing Plan looks at different determinants affecting the
youth adults when it comes to drug use and alcohol use. People’s health in City of Darebin is
not only affected by behaviors, lifestyle and genetics, individuals health is affected by where
the individual was born, grew up, studies, works and even age. The Victoria Public Health
and Wellbeing Plan concentrate and also modifies healthcare services, housing, and
education, social and ecological factors to influence the well-being of the youth. To address
the population group which are the youths found (Esbati, Barnes, Henderson, &Taylor,
2018). The Victoria Public Health and Wellbeing Plan identifies the status and the needs of
the whole population. This permits improvement and application of intermediations to
encourage health and minimize unhealthiness across the entire population. Once the
Source: Hanson et al. [8]. Figure reprinted with permission by the Health Promotion Journal of Australia.

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interventions of public health looks at the economic, cultural, social and environmental
determinants of health, utmost inhabitant’s wellbeing consequences can be
accomplished .They experience Several gaps which they try to close up to improve the life of
youths. This will encourage better future for young adults. Additionally, have several
strengths which include community consultations, plan review, and data analysis of the
information acquired which helps to understand and encourage better future for young adults
(Manning, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2013).
Conclusion
In most cases a lot of people do not understand how individuals in the society become addicts
to drugs or alcohol. People in most societies think that individuals that use drugs and alcohol
lack moral goodwill or principles which is not the case. The most affected groups are the
young adults because of their daily changing habits placing them at a greater risk as discussed
above. Several determinants causes inequalities among the youths which end up promoting
the alcohol and drug use among them. This include environment that one lives in. other social
determinant include friends and family, the economic status of an individual and general life
quality. Causes such as peer pressure, abuse both sexually and physically, early drug
exposure, parental guidance and stress can highly influences a person’s decision of alcohol
use and drug use addiction. The Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan address this
issues adequately to solve the occurring from drug and alcohol use.
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