Models of Practice for Drug Rehabilitation Program for Teenagers

This article discusses the drug rehabilitation program for teenagers and the models of practice that can be used to educate and support them. It also highlights the ill-effects of drug abuse and the resources required to conduct the program.

Running head: MODELS OF PRACTICE
Models of Practice
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1MODELS OF PRACTICE
Drug addiction is a disease which is characterized by a compulsive behaviour of seeking
and craving for drugs.
The group comprises of teenage students who take drugs. The drug rehabilitation
program is meant to support these students.
Teen substance abuse is a pertinent problem throughout Australia and in many other
countries as well. The term ‘teen substance abuse’ encompasses a gamut of behaviours,
including drug abuse and alcohol abuse (Johnston 2016). The abuse of drugs include illegal
drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin and the abuse of over the counter medicines.
Teenagers and young people use drugs out of curiosity and fun, to fit in with their peers and
they resort to taking drugs because their friends are also doing the same. Youngsters also take
drugs in order to feel better or different. Children usually tend to experiment during the teenage
years. Cannabis is the most common drug taken by teenagers with one in five teenagers having
had it at least once. Youngsters take recourse to drugs because they want to feel better than how
they are feeling at the moment or because they want to feel different. The other reasons may
include socializing with friends, the need to feel part of a group, for relaxation or fun, to negate
the feelings of boredom, to escape from psychological pain or physiological pain. And the
reason for taking drugs is also fuelled by curiosity, experimentation or the need to take risks.
According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, one in six individuals i.e.
14.8 percent of Australians aged between twelve to seventeen years had experimented with
drugs and had tried cannabis. Three percent had tried amphetamines; three percent had ecstasy;
around one in six persons between the ages of twelve to seventeen had sniffed inhalants like
glue, petrol and solvents and 1.9 percent between the ages of twelve to seventeen had taken

2MODELS OF PRACTICE
cocaine and had used it once or twice. 1.5 percent of children between the ages of twelve to
seventeen had taken heroin (Johnston 2016). Thus, this drug rehabilitation program is intended
to address these teenagers and educate them and make them aware of the ill-effects of drugs so
that they are able to get rid of this addiction and lead proper lives.
The model of practice includes an introductory session of one hour, wherein students
would be encouraged to talk about their experiences. After that, there would be another session
wherein students would be educated about the ill effects of taking drugs and the detrimental
effects that it has on the body and life of a person. This educative session will be followed by a
half an hour break wherein students would be given refreshments after which there will be
screening of a film wherein the negative effects of taking drugs will be highlighted. After the
film there will be a question and answer session between the director of the film and the
students wherein the director along with the other members of the cast would describe the
harmful effect of taking drugs and its negative implications. The session would end by an hour
long counseling of the students by professional counselors and doctors who would listen to the
students, give them a patient hearing and offer suggestions to combat this problem and take
charge of one’s life and not resort to drugs or any other substance abuse. Students would then be
given books and brochures offering help to teenagers who are afflicted with this problem of
taking drugs. The brochures will also have contact numbers of several organizations that deal
with drug abuse should the student want or seek any help in the future regarding drug abuse.
This model of practice is justified because students need to confide to people who are
non-judgmental and who will not judge them for taking drugs. They need someone who will be
kind and give them a patient hearing. The students need to know that they are not alone in this
fight against drug abuse and that there are a lot of people out there who are in a similar situation

3MODELS OF PRACTICE
and are battling against drug abuse. They need the help of doctors and counselors and a caring
supportive family and friends.
The program will educate the students about the ill effects of taking drugs and will impart
knowledge on how drugs have a detrimental effect on the body of a person. The resources that
would be needed to conduct this entire program against drug abuse include financial resources,
that will go in paying the doctors and the counselors for their counseling and therapy sessions
with the students. One would also require financial resources for refreshment for the students
and the cast and crew of the film, and also the cost of conveyance for the cast and crew of the
film. One would require financial resources for hiring a place that would be the venue of the
program and one would also need to hire a place that has an auditorium where the film on drug
abuse will be screened. One would also require financial resources to purchase books that would
be given to the children after their session with the doctors and counselors.
The stakeholders would be the parents of the children, the principal of the school, the
teachers and other staff members of the school and the students themselves.
During their time with the counselors and doctors, the teenagers were told to read daily
and incorporate reading into their daily routine, as reading facilitates both education and
relaxation. They were also told pursue their hobbies and engage in crafts which require great
focus. They were also told to practice art as art has always been a therapeutic tool and a process
by which one can express oneself. Art is also cathartic. They were also told to start writing as
writing can also help one to express oneself and is also cathartic in nature. The children were
also told to engage in physical activities to help them channelize their energies. The teenagers
were also told to exercise and indulge in physical outdoor activities, such as walking,

4MODELS OF PRACTICE
swimming, joining a sports club among other things. They were also asked to volunteer and
take part in voluntary work in the community.
There are various ways to prevent drug abuse in teenagers. One should foster a caring and
trusting relationship with the child from a tender age and encourage and support positive
behaviour. One should establish guidelines about what is acceptable behaviour. One should
encourage a healthy approach to life by taking proper good, doing regular exercises and sports.
One should encourage youngsters to make new friends. One should also allow children to
shoulder responsibility and develop proper decision making skills from an early age. Parents
and educators should keep themselves informed about drugs and educate a child on the dangers
of drug abuse (Fisher 2015). Parents, teachers and educators should have open and honest
discussion about drugs. Last but not the least, parents, teachers, educators and friends of a
youngster taking drugs should be caring and supportive to the youngster taking drugs and help
them come out of this addiction. The presence of a strong support system is always needed, but
especially so in cases where the child concerned is battling against drugs, alcohol and any other
addiction.

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