Social Science: Exploring Prevention Strategies for Teen Drug Abuse

This essay examines the issue of teen drug abuse through a social science lens, highlighting peer pressure as a significant contributing factor. It discusses various prevention strategies, including recreational activities, parental involvement, monitoring teen friendships, and setting positive examples. The essay also explores rehabilitation methods such as counseling (individual and group), medication, and cognitive behavioral therapy, emphasizing the importance of building a meaningful, drug-free life for teenagers. References to relevant academic sources are included to support the discussion. Desklib provides this and other solved assignments for students.

Running Head: SOCIAL SCIENCE 1
Social science
Name
Institution

SOCIAL SCIENCE 2
Peer pressure is the main reason why teenagers get involved in drug abuse; There are several
practices which can be used to reduce drug abuse in teenagers. These incudes; recreational and
leisure activities which ensure that the teenagers got engaged and don’t have time to involve in
drug abuse (Smetana, 2010). When participating in recreational activities, teenagers can do
something constructive which may be useful to them. Knowing the teen’s friends is almost very
import. They need to know types of the friends they associate with. Parents also have the
mandate to monitor their teen’s day to day activities so that they do not get involve in negative
behaviors. Parents should set a good example to their children since children tend to imitate their
parent.
Counseling is a method of rehabilitation on the issue of drug abuse. It should be done on daily
or weekly basis and this involve individual or group counseling. Counseling can help teenagers
to establish healthy behaviors and even build them on how they can overcome challenges which
might face them (Charney, 2013). Another rehabilitation method is medication. This involve
treatment using drugs which are recommended by medical expats. Drug abuse for instance, use
of cocaine, interfere with brain and may also bring about depression hence need of treatment.
Cognitive behavioral is also a method of rehabilitation. This is where the teens can be trained
negative thoughts can be changed to positive once. Low self-esteemed teenagers get
encouragement this method.
Through cognitive behavior, teenagers learn hoe to manage time well and even know when to
do every activity. Teenagers should be advised to build a meaningful drug free life. When the life
of a teenager if filled with rewarding activities, the addiction will just disappear.

SOCIAL SCIENCE 3
References
Charney, D. S., Nestler, E. J., Sklar, P., & Buxbaum, J. D. (2013). Neurobiology of Mental
Illness. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Smetana, J. G. (2010). Adolescents, Families, and Social Development: How Teens Construct
Their Worlds. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons