Discussion

Reply: Reply to 2 other classmates by offering 1 new piece of information to add to their discussion of family systems.

As you provide feedback to peers, you are not grading their assignment, but you are enlarging the conversation to prod a bit more on what could be added to clarify the paper substantively.  Please be very specific and share what you would like to see added or what was not clear as you read the paper of your peers.  Additionally, please note that I will be providing corrective information for each student to take the assignment to the “finish line”. The feedback is not an act of judgment nor an indication of grade.  It is simply feedback that each of you can use moving forward.

250 words or more for each feedback along with one reference

Discussion board feedback #1:

As a person reaches the age of adolescence the knowledge of drugs exposure, and the pressure to use them becomes inevitable.  Introduction to drugs and alcohol can originate from parents, friends, or even strangers as early as fourth to sixth grade (Broderick &Blewitt, 2015). Drug and alcohol addiction occurs over time and usually comes in four stages experimentation, regular use substance abuse, risky behavior, and addiction or chemical dependency. Since, the brain of a person in adolescents is still developing, depending on the drug used and longevity the brain can be permanently damaged. A strong spiritual development may help the adolescents to either avoid drug use altogether or to overcome an addiction.

                        The brain of the adolescents is still in the process of developing. The use of teratogens in adolescents can hinder this process. Hippocampal volumes are decreased in correlation to the amount drug usage (Lubman, Yucel, Hall, 2007). Other impairments such as weakened cognitive functioning, cortical damage, and white and grey matter reductions can occur bringing permanent damage (Lubman, Yucel, Hall, 2007). Thus the development of the adolescent brain be altered greatly during formative years.

Since drug and alcohol introductions can begin at such as young age the Department of Education and Safe and Drug Free Communities program has collaborated and created an educational and prevention program (Merill, Pinsky, Killeya-Jones, Sloboda, & Dilascio, 2006). The program Drug Abuse Resistant Education or D.A.R.E partners with local law enforcement who visit a fifth grade classrooms weekly teaching them about the dangers of drugs, violence, and dangerous behaviors. DARE teaches children to learn how to say no to these behaviors and teaches them about the dangers associated if they do not. Upon completion of the program the students sign a contract stating they will not use any forms of illegal drugs; when they sign the contract they receive a certificate for the program and a Tee shirt with the logo on the front side.

            A drug that was recently in the news in my area for teenagers abusing is Opana. Opana is the name brand for oxymorphone. An opioid that was designed to work as a strong analgesic and anti-anxiety medicine.  This medication comes with an extended release coating causing medication to be released over a 12 hour period. Drug abusers instead have found a way to remove the extended release coating, and allow the drug to be intravenously injected all at once. The problem with this is it was creating such a high high in these teenagers that when they came down it would put them into a deep state of depression. This led to the teen either accidentally overdosing trying to reach the once felt euphoria, or for committing suicide because of the lows that they felt coming down from the drug.

            Spiritual commitment to God can help a teen feel accountable for their actions.  Staying true to their convictions, and not wanting to disappoint God can aid in the adolescents decision to refrain from drug usage. Connection to God can support the adolescent with a feeling of togetherness and help them feel as they are not alone in abstinence when they are pressured by their peers.  “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalms 48:14). The influence of a strong spiritual development can have a positive effect on the developing mind as drug abuse and addiction can have a negative one.

 In all, adolescent is a time where peers can greatly influence the still developing brain. Peer imitation or influence can lead to the start of drug experimentation with in turn leads to drug addiction and brain damage. With the aid of community and school programs teens can see the true effects of the drug usage. These programs can prepare them for occurrence of drug exposure in the future and train the teen to have a voice against drugs. A strong spiritual development can positively influence the teen during this developmental transition period from childhood to adulthood.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for   helping professionals (4th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Merill, J. C., Pinsky, I., Killeya-Jones, L. A.,   Sloboda, Z., & Dilascio, T. (2006). Substance abuse prevention infrastructure.  Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,   and Policy, 1-25.

Lubman, D.I., Murat, Y., Hall, W.D. (2007) Substance use and the adolescent brain: A toxic combination? Journal of Psychopharmacology, 792-794

Discussion board feedback #2:

Peer pressure amongst adolescents is a constant struggle that happens every day. The adolescent stage is one that has many challenges physically, mentally, and socially. As one reaches their adolescent years and reach puberty, they not only have to understand why and how their bodies are naturally changing, but also have to face the taunting and teasing of their peers because one may develop faster or slower than others physically. Once the trauma of that experience weakens, one may now face the mental strain of attempting to do well in school while trying to fit in with the other children socially. According to Broderick and Broderick, “recent discoveries about the adolescent brain have revealed changes that are less obvious externally but no less dramatic.” This is typically the era of peer pressure and trying to be accepted socially which are very detrimental to children of this age.

In the news a few months ago, we see where a young girl lost her life due to a fight amongst her peers in the restroom. While the specifics of this incident will not be reviewed, I bring this tragedy up to make a statement about the dangers of some clique situations. We often think of cliques as groups of people that share common interests and enjoy each other’s company.  What I have learned and remember experiencing during this growth period is that while common interests are shared, with young females, when one young lady does not like another, the entire clique or group has an issue with that individual. One usually loses sight of self in hopes to fit into the group. With that being said, the young lady that lost her life in earlier this year in the news, possibly only had a confrontation originally with one of the other young ladies, but because of cliques, several other girls jumped this young lady. Now not only has she lost her life, but in a sense, so have the other young ladies. This is one of the downfalls of trying to fit in and being part of a clique.

Another sad challenge that young adolescents face, is the use of drugs and alcohol. There are so many ways that today’s youth can easily obtain drugs and alcohol. Growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone, I recall days where my peers could easily get drugs and alcohol during our middle school and junior high school days. This tends to be the norm and not the exception with “approximately 30% of children in 4th through 6th grades reported being offered drugs…” as reported by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America for the year of 1997. Research shows that these numbers steadily increase annually. What has also become popular is the use of prescribed pharmaceuticals for recreational drug use.

Spirituality or even a strong sense of self, definitely has a positive effect on how youth carry themselves when with others. I think as Christians, a strong sense of protecting the flesh is always important. Romans 13:14 says, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (NIV) Youth that are active in the church and have a personal relationship with God will be more likely to refrain from the temptations of the world.

In conclusion, adolescents have different demons that they are faced with daily. The way they perceive themselves and feel others see them contribute to how they carry themselves. A personal relationship with God will help to give them strength to refrain from certain activities. Peer pressure to act a certain way or to use drugs and alcohol have increased over the years, but Philippians 4:13 lets us know, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (NIV)

References

Broderick, P.C. & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson

Brooks, J. (2016). Adolescence. Liberty Univeristy. Video.

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