Drug abuse is rising dramatically around the country and no one seems to know how to stem the tide. Over the past ten years, the percentage of employees testing positive for drug use has reached an all-time high, with heroin use and amphetamine use skyrocketing over this period. These trends have carried over into all parts of society, from the boardroom to the classroom, impacting both working professionals and students alike.
While the reasoning behind the increase in substance use disorders and substance addiction cannot be pinpointed, the need to improve methods of addressing the problem have become rather apparent. The following statistics highlight the growing health crisis in dramatic fashion:
- Recent studies conducted by the CDC indicate that over 24.6 million Americans over the age of 12 admitted to using an illegal substance within the last month.
- The number of heroin users within the United States hit a 20-year high over that same timeframe and has shown no sign of slowing down.
With statistics like these surging, and the number of active substance users expanding exponentially, it is more important than ever to begin working to address this issue through improved, preemptive measures.
Providing comprehensive therapeutic interventions to individuals looking for substance abuse help is a great method of addressing an existing substance addiction. But how can we begin to address the problem of substance abuse before it erupts into a full-blown addiction?
Identifying effective preemptive methods of addressing substance use, and the dangers associated with all levels of addiction, is a necessary first step in the fight. This process can begin by:
- Posing the right questions to address the rising flood of drug addiction
- Educating those individuals unaware of its addictive and dangerous qualities
Is Drug Education Important?
Improved methods of drug education can have a significant impact on individuals and aid in the battle against substance addiction on a number of levels:
- It provides knowledge necessary to avoid risky situations and information to make healthier personal choices.
- It aids in creating personal strategies for avoiding both negative peers and the inherent social pressures associated with substance use in social scenarios.
Working to inform individuals of the physical dangers associated with substance use and equipping them with effective strategies for avoiding challenging situations arms people with the knowledge necessary to justify their substance avoidance.
Would Drug Education in Schools Prove Effective?
Recent studies have shown that early-intervention drug education within schools can provide students with a variety of positive social skills.
- It educates them on the dangers of substance use, even isolated incidents.
- It equips them with effective refusal skills to implement when confronted with negative peer pressures associated with illicit drug use.
- It addresses possible cultural issues associated with substance addiction.
- It provides an improved foundation of knowledge for younger individuals to approach the topic of drug use within the community.
This type of early intervention aids in developing students’ personal life skills and identifying an appropriate range of relationships in which students should engage. It also identifies the influence the media and entertainment industry has on personal substance use and improves students’ perspective on positive social acceptance and maladaptive social influences.
What Should Drug Education Focus On?
The key to providing impactful drug education to people is to include content relevant to current experiences and interests. Implementing highly interactive pedagogies that engage individuals in problem solving and critical thinking allows them to work through pertinent scenarios and learn methods of improved self-awareness and positive assertiveness.
Providing the educational information in a manner that positions drug education with broader health and personal learning curriculum focused on mental health issues – such as stress and anxiety – aids in personalizing the information and increases the likelihood that the participants will connect with the information.
Key Takeaway Points on Drug Education
- Approaching the problem from a proactive perspective creates a scenario in which levels of substance abuse education can be applied to an ever-expanding demographic of people struggling with addiction.
- Teaching someone how to avoid, stop or get help for their substance use disorder empowers them to not only address their substance use issues, but also overcome their addiction entirely.
- Substance abuse education is important for children, teenagers and adults alike; providing effective knowledge before an addiction is allowed to fully grip an individual may help to address this growing issue.
- Being proactive in the fight against substance addiction creates a better lifeline for individuals contending with temptations of substance use without understanding the slippery slope connected to substance use.
Christian-Based Addiction Treatment at Covenant Hills
Drug abuse is a serious, life-threatening epidemic. If you suspect your loved one is abusing drugs, the time is now to get to the bottom of what’s going on. Crucial steps must be taken to help your loved one learn the dangers of drugs and get clean.
At Covenant Hills, we believe that every addiction can be stopped. It is our utmost mission to help your loved one return to the person they were made to be.
Through our Christian-based addiction rehab program, we work one-on-one with your loved one and help them center their mind, revive their body and awaken their soul. We help them put an end to their drug epidemic.
Learn about our gender-specific, Christian-based alcohol addiction treatment programs, or contact us for a free and confidential assessment.
Resources:
Quest Diagnostics. Drug Positivity in U.S. Workforce Rises to Nearly Highest Level in a Decade, Quest Diagnostics Analysis Finds. Accessed August 20, 2018. http://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/2016-09-15-Drug-Positivity-in-U-S-Workforce-Rises-to-Nearly-Highest-Level-in-a-Decade-Quest-Diagnostics-Analysis-Finds.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New research reveals the trends and risk factors behind America’s growing heroin epidemic. Accessed August 20, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0707-heroin-epidemic.html.
Reuters. Heroin use at 20-year high in U.S. drug ‘epidemic’, U.N. says. Accessed August 20, 2018.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-drugs-usa-heroin-idUSKCN0Z90UX.
