Substance and Drug Abuse

Running Head: SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ABUSE
SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ABUSE
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SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ABUSE
Abstract
Drug and substance abuse is a growing concern for many governments around the world.
According to the World Health Organization, the most affected group are the youths. The
WHO puts it that both the developed and developing countries are faced with the challenge of
drug abuse and addiction among their youths (Bonar & Rosenberg, 2015). The prolonged use
of drugs usually leads to the problem of addiction where an individual constantly and
excessively uses the drug. It is important to note that certain drugs are detrimental to our
health when overused. It has been reported that in 2015 alone, more than 27 million
Americans were currently using illicit drugs or misusing prescribed drugs.

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SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ABUSE
Introduction
Screening for substance and drug misuse is a fundamental undertaking in health care settings.
It involves primary response, psychiatric, urgent, and emergency care which are the
immediate step in the identification of behavior lapses that are actively involved in the
development of drug abuse and disorder (Hawk & D’Onofrio, 2018). Screening for substance
and drug abuse has been recommended to be handled by major health organizations for adults
and youths. There is a clear line of difference between screening and assessment for drug and
substance abuse victims. Screening involves immediate identification and health needs,
further evaluation and treatment (MacArthur, Harrison, Caldwell, Hickman & Campbell,
2016). On the other hand, assessment is concerned with comprehensive aspects about the
problem which help in the gathering of information and identification of health issues.
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) of 2013 reported that the percentage of young
people indulging in drug and substance abuse was bigger than that of old adults, with an
alarming rate of abuse in hard drugs like marijuana and cocaine (Boumparis, Karyotaki,
Schaub, Cuijpers & Riper, 2017).
Screening for the youths and the youths especially for girls
The procedure for screening the youths (girls) who are involved in heroin, cocaine, or
marijuana usage would be structured in forms of questions such as; ‘have you ever used
drugs marijuana, cocaine, or heroin?’, If yes, ‘how frequent do you use any of the drugs?’,
‘how much quantity do you use?’, ‘have ever used any drug through injection?’, among