In today’s society, more than ever, so many different groups are targeted for different purposes with the intention to grasp the attention of the group for participation. This is especially true for youth. In many ways, political stances, drug use, social media, and other influences can alter an otherwise steady course for teens and manipulate the impressionable minds of youth. Even today, mass media is manipulating the minds of young adults by altering their thought processes regarding everyday events. But, even more than the media, peers and social pressures for teens to engage in activities they probably wouldn’t have considered before, is destroying the youth of not just tomorrow, but of today as well.
Too often in the news we hear about teens and young adults who have succumbed to their addictions, be it drugs, alcohol or even sex. What’s more, even though the detrimental effects of drug use are widely known, overdose deaths and drug use is still on the rise. What is causing this vast epidemic? Why are teens turning more and more to drug use even though awareness is everywhere? Could it be lack of parental involvement? Peer pressure? Environmental upbringing? Exposure to the brief and intriguing effects that drug use brings? Is it all of these things? In an article published by Unity Behavioral Reform, a reason for this growing problem may be parental absence and mental pressures: “Other researchers have theorized about the impact of “rich kids syndrome,” where parental, social and professional obligations lead to a reduction of family-centered interactions. Psychotherapists have suggested that these affluent youths often spend more time with hired help than with their parents and lead overscheduled lives that creates mental distress and a lack of family closeness.”(www.unityrehab.com). Addiction is real. It’s roaring its ugly head, baring its teeth, and spearing its twisted euphoria into the minds of the impressionable youth leaving behind a messy trail of death and heartbroken families. So, what’s to be done?
Social change is difficult to achieve without proper research and participation from groups that are intended for the implemented changes to affect. “Rather than just focusing on efforts to change or support individuals so that they can better adapt to the problems they are confronted with, community psychologists seek to create positive change at a community level and a societal level in order to create a better world and prevent problems in the future” (Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, p. 288). Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts (2012, p. 288) refer to six different strategies for achieving social change: mass mobilization, social action, citizen participation, public advocacy, popular education, and local services development. There are many rehab and support centers around the country but there are not enough advocates spearheading the reform that needs to take place at a social level. There are many attempts to change laws and create harsher punishment for drug offenders but this may not create the motivation needed to not begin drugs at all. Too many teens are watching their own parents suffer from the effects of drug use and rather than turn from the problem, many are finding themselves following the example they have in front of them. Unfortunately, what is happening now is trying to control the problem instead of change the problem at a social level. Creating new programs that would motivate youth to stay away from drugs through the use of motivation, leadership opportunities, scholarship programs, clean record incentives etc might be the way to do it. Using empirical grounding in research, that is the idea that research is an important component in community psychology and that research and action are seen as strongly interconnected (Schneider, Gruman & Coutts, p. 289), to help create new programs is a great starting point to bring about the social change needed.
Regardless of how it is done, it is through social change at the community and social level that more work can be done to reduce addiction. Be it more education, parenting groups, support for youth, involvement in the community, or whatever, addiction must be addressed in order to save the generations for the world’s tomorrow.
References:
Schneider, Frank. Gruman, Jaime. Coutts, Larry. Applied Social Psychology. Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. 2012.
American Drug Use is on the Rise. Unity Behavioral Health. 15 April 2018. Retrieved from <https://www.unityrehab.com/blog/american-drug-use-trend-on-the-rise/>