Addiction in the Media

About 21 percent of elementary school children and 51 percent of 12th graders have tried alcohol. Around 20 percent of 8th graders have tried tobacco. Of today’s smokers, 90 percent began by age 19. Also, 50 percent of adolescents have experimented with marijuana, which is associated with other illicit drug use, poor school performance and depression (John Hopkins Children's Center, 2011). Children are using drugs and alcohol at high rates. This may be due to the high amount of drugs and alcohol portrayed in the media. Based on research, adolescents spend about 8.6 hours a day engaged with electronic media (John Hopkins Children's Center, 2011). Of movies adolescents tend to watch, 93 percent portray alcohol use and 22 percent reference illicit drugs. On television, alcohol is the number one drug portrayed, appearing on 77 percent of TV episodes, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (John Hopkins Children's Center, 2011)  Music videos and lyrics also commonly show and describe alcohol and drugs.

A survey conducted in 2000 by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America shows 42% of teens say rap or rock music makes drugs seem okay (Pozniak, 2012). As for television, 40 percent of teens in 2000 said programs make drugs seem okay (Pozniak, 2012). The media is giving kids mixed signals about drug use. Most parents and adults are telling kids that drugs are bad but many forms of media are depicting them in a light that makes them look safe and "cool." "Research we have done shows that television and music, and movies in particular, really normalize certain kinds of unhealthy behavior," says Alan Levitt, director of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign in New York (Pozniak, 2012).

Music is listened to over and over again and it repeatedly puts the idea of drug use into adolescents’ minds. Television also normalizes drug use.  Shows, like movies, show many of scenes of drug and alcohol use and they are becoming increasingly more edgy. Celebrities are showing that drug use is alright too. Movie stars and sports celebrities beat people up or crash their car because they were under the influence or used drugs, and still make $20 million a year (Pozniak, 2012).

It is troubling that adolescents are so frequently exposed to drugs and alcohol by the media. Fortunately, there are forms of media that show the negative consequences of drugs and alcohol. I am a huge fan of the Above the Influence campaign. Their website: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com is a huge resource for the truth about drugs and alcohol. They also have commercials on television and videos all over the internet.

Hopefully with more media coverage of the negatives of drugs and more parental guidance, the statistics that I presented at the beginning of this blog will decrease.

Resources:

John Hopkins Children's Center. (2011, March 16). Media and adolescent substance abuse. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/media-and-adolescent-substance-abuse.aspx

Pozniak, A. (2012, February 25). Part 1: Media portrayal of drugs. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=116947&page=1

Summary of Habit Change

At the beginning of this semester, I decided on a habit I was willing to change for the duration of the semester.  I chose to give up eating desserts and sweets. 


How did you select the behavior you were willing to change?
I wanted to give up a behavior that would be beneficial in the long run. I am very self conscious of my body figure, and I am working towards weight loss goals. Giving up sweets would help cut unnecessary calories out of my diet and help achieve my goals. Giving up this habit would also help me to become more healthy overall. 

How easy or difficult was it to abstain from engaging in that behavior?
Some days were much harder than others and some days were a breeze. I was doing very well for the majority of the semester, but I did have my relapses. I am currently back on the right path, and I am more motivated than ever now. Beach season is right around the corner, and I intend to shed the pounds that I want to. 

Did you have any help/support?  If so, from who?  Did that make (or would it have made) a difference in your success?
I had great support from my best friend Seth who was with me every step of the way. At school, we eat almost every meal together, and he would make sure I did not grab any desserts after my meal. Some of my other friends here at school were also very helpful. However, when I was at home, my boyfriend and family were not as helpful. They would offer me desserts because they forgot that I gave them up or would want to go out to eat to places like Rita's. When I was home, it was very hard to avoid sweets, especially around Easter time. I will need to work on this for the summer and make sure these individuals are more supportive of my goal and push me to succeed. 

What were some things you learned about yourself through this assignment?
I learned that I do not have as much self control as I had previously thought. However, if I am motived to achieve something, I will do it. I have also learned that my friends are a great support system.

How does your experience connect to information you have learned through assigned readings and in-class discussions?
After participating in this experience, I better understand what am addict experiences. I believe it would be extremely hard for an addict to change their behavior. I could not make it a whole semester with out dessert, and I would not consider than any where close to addiction. I just really like certain desserts. An addiction affects an individual physically and mentally. It is an extreme dependency. It is clear, even in the case of my habit change, that people, places, and things can act as huge triggers. Knowing what triggers to avoid would be beneficial to someone who is trying to change a behavior. I absolutely believe that habits can be broken. With enough support and determination, it can be done. I do not think addictions can be cured. I believe that an individual will always be addicted to their addiction. However, individuals can stop their addiction behaviors. Like habits, addictions can be broken but the addictive tendencies and feeling will always be present.

Chapter 13 Article Summary

Chapter 13 highlights a number of different issues, but I decided to focus on the legalization of marijuana since it was the focus of this week's discussion question. An article I found titled Medical Marijuana Policy in the United States helps to explain the history involved with the legalization of marijuana for medical use and the enforcement of laws surrounding marijuana. 

The prescription of marijuana for medical use was legal until 1970. The federal government then passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, which is now known as the Federal Controlled Substance Act. This law classified controlled substances into five “schedules”. Marijuana was categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning that it was now illegal for physicians to prescribe the drug to their patients.

After much fight, medical marijuana is now legalized or in process in 17 states. These laws were passed on a state-by-state basis so laws vary. Because of this, enforcing laws surrounding marijuana can be a challenge, so in 2009, the Department of Justice issued a memorandum to all U.S. Attorneys informing them that prosecuting individuals who use medical marijuana in compliance with state laws should not be a priority. However, federal law enforcement agencies have continued to raid marijuana dispensaries, demonstrating a continuing commitment to enforcing the federal Controlled Substance Act.

I believe that a nationwide law must be set dealing with the issue of legalizing medical marijuana. Because unless the federal government takes steps to reschedule marijuana or legalize it for medical use, or the states which have decriminalized the drug move to reverse these actions, the legality of medical marijuana will be hard to define and enforce.

Lu, Y. Medical marijuana policy in the United States. (2012). HOPES, Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/wordpress/2012/05/medical-marijuana-policy-in-the-united-states/

Interview

What type of agency did you select and with whom did you speak?

I went to The Factory Ministries in Paradise, PA. It is a faith-based organization that works to empowering people to overcome their circumstances and strengthen their community. Most of the clients they deal with fall at or bellow the poverty line. They offer a youth center program. I spoke with a woman named Kendra Martin who is a social worker for the youth center and family services. The center has a partnership with the Pequea Valley school district. I would consider this a school-based Student Assistance Program. 

What types of services are provided to individuals who may be struggling with an addiction?

The program works to prevent kids from being involved with drugs by offering alterative activities to be involved with. They have Open Door Nights and after-school programs where students in grades 6-12 are invited to hangout with their peers while being offered encouragement. All lessons are culturally relevant, contain a message of hope, and teach healthy coping skills. Mentoring/counseling sessions are also available to offer emotional support to teenagers while building their confidence.
If any teens are suffering with an addiction, they are directed to the appropriate sources of help in the community. The Factory has social workers who counsel families and individuals. Many of them do suffer with a substance abuse problem or are impacted by one.

What is the agency’s framework for providing services?   

The youth program really focuses on prevention and education for teens in the community. It is community-based and offers counseling. 

How many clients does the agency serve on an annual basis?

The youth center has about 30 kids who regularly attend all events. Exact numbers were not available but around 200 children have attended at least one event this year. 

What are the legal and ethical guidelines that impact the work they do with clients struggling with addiction?

One major ethical and legal guideline is confidentiality. All things said in counseling sessions must be kept private unless someone threatens to hurt themselves or another. Kendra also stressed the importance of boundaries. It is important to know how much you can do for individuals and how close you can get with clients. Sometimes home visits are done and safety can be a huge concern. If drugs or weapons are present, counselors should not enter the home.

How does your experience connect to information you have learned through assigned readings and in-class discussions?

Like we learn in class and through readings, addictions can affect anyone. I'm glad programs like this youth program are available to offer teens in low-income areas and families activities and counseling to cope with their emotional stresses. Getting them into the center keeps them off the streets, dealing or doing drugs. Prevention is a large part of stopping drug addiction and this program seems to be making a huge difference. 

Chapter 9 Article Summary

Chapter 9 deals with family risks and resiliencies. Families are composed of members who have constant and dynamic relationships with each other and they form a system. An addict affects this system and each member of the family affects the addict in one way or another. 

The article, Familial Risk Factors Favoring Addiction Onset, explains a study that shows how family plays a large role in the addiction cycle. This study sought to identify familial risk factors that influence the onset of drug addiction. Research was conducted throughout 2008 and 2009. This was a fairly large study with 146 addicts and 134 control subjects. The results of the study showed that the addicts were born into families that influenced their psychosocial development to favor drugs or alcohol during adolescence or childhood. Certain risk factors were encountered more by those who are addicts compared to the control group. Among these factors, those that were found to have the greatest impact and influence on addiction are early separation from the parents, unfavorable perception of the father figure or his absence from the family, and conflicting, cold and distant relations with the parents. This article defines the family as a core community that is primarily responsible for the upbringing of its offspring, expected to show continuous care for children’s psychophysical development, may be considered essential for personality shaping and viewed as a primary social group. The way someone is raised has been shown to play a crucial role in the development of addiction. Addictions are also known to run in families, so children of addicts are more likely to become an addict too.

This article and what we have learned in class and read in the textbook place a high importance on the family as part of the recovery process. Currently, it is thought that the implementation of family-based approaches to therapy and addiction are the best ways to treat addiction. This way, family influences and risk factors are also addressed. However, this study indicates the need for further research into how family interrelations and structure affect addicts. Also, family-oriented drug addiction preventions are a relatively unexplored area and a challenge that should be addressed in the years to come. 


Article:  Zimić, J., & Jukić, V. (2012). Familial risk factors favoring drug addiction onset. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 44(2), 173-185. 

Picture: http://www.klugerkaplan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/family.jpg

Movie Review: Thirteen

Thirteen is one of my sister’s favorite movies, and I have seen it many times since we have it on DVD. The movie portrays many forms of addiction so I knew it would be easy to relate to class.

The main character, Tracy, is a seventh grade honors student, but she is considered a loser and is bullied by girls in her class. She wants to fit in and be popular, and she will do anything to achieve popularity. She is also coping with her parents’ divorce and the fact that her father is rarely around. Her mother is a recovering alcoholic and her mother’s boyfriend is a recovering cocaine addict. Tracy befriends a girl named Evie who becomes an extremely bad influence. The girls steal, do drugs together, smoke, drink, fight, and engage in sexual behaviors with many men. Tracy gives in to peer pressure to fit in, but she is still not happy with her life. At this point, she is about to fail her grade and her and her mother have an awful relationship. Along with doing drugs and drinking to cope, she starts the behavioral addictions of self-harm and anorexia. The movie follows Tracy’s struggle as a thirteen-year-old girl.

This video is the trailer to the film.

Because I’ve seen the movie so many times, the portrayal of addiction no longer shocks me. However, the first time I saw this movie a few years ago, I was extremely uncomfortable and honestly shocked. A thirteen year old should never be engaging in the activities that Tracy was. As a teen that went through a divorce myself, I have empathy for Tracy. Divorce is a lot to handle without trying to fit in at school. I have extreme anger towards Evie. I want to reach into the television and shake her. She is not only destroying her life, but she is taking Tracy down with her. Both of these girls need help from a counselor, and it hurts to know that they are not getting the help they desperately need. Thankfully this is just a movie, but unfortunately, girls like this do exist.

The other characters in the movie did not do much to help Tracy’s addictions. She did not have very supporting friends. Her friends before Evie are nowhere to be seen. Her mother can tell that there is something wrong with her daughter, but she is too busy with her job and boyfriend to notice how extreme the problems are. She also pushes her daughter away by constantly yelling at her. Tracy’s mother needed to pay more attention to her daughter and have better communication. At one point in the film, she asks Tracy's if she ate that day. They end up fighting and Tracy’s mom does not find out that Tracy has an eating disorder. The household also lacks discipline. Tracy's father is never around and is completely clueless. Tracy’s brother knows that she is doing drugs and drinking, but doesn’t say anything to their mother because he is getting high with his friends too. Evie supports and influences Tracy’s addictions.

I believe that this movie depicts addiction pretty accurately. Many teens experiment with alcohol and drugs while giving into peer pressure.  Cutting, a behavioral addiction is also shown in this film. Teen girls who struggle with depression and big life changes like divorce often resort to self-harm to deal with their emotions. Parents of teens who suffer with these addictions do not always recognize the problems. Nothing in the movie struck me as unrealistic.

It was easy to make connections between this movie and knowledge I learned in class and through assigned readings. The movie shows how addictions impact all aspects of someone’s life. Addictions can affect relationships and interfere with daily living. Tracy has weakened relationships with her family. She is usually angry and her mother is angry with her on multiple occasions. Tracy is struggling in many aspects. She is failing out of school and engages in risky behaviors. We recently learned about how people, places, and things can trigger addiction. Evie is a trigger for Tracy. At the end of the movie, Tracy and Evie are no longer friends. This will largely help Tracy recover and turn her life around. 

Chapter 8 Article Summary

Chapter 8 explores substance misuse with a co-occurring mental disorder or disability. The article I found titled Helping Homeless Individuals with Co-occurring Disorders: The Four Components explains how individuals who suffer with co-occurring disorders, who are also homeless, are affected and how they can be best helped.

Homeless individuals with severe mental illness and substance use disorder are one of the most vulnerable populations. This article explains four key components that must be addressed to ensure that these individuals receive the best help possible:

1. It must be ensured that individuals have effective transitions from hospitals, foster care, prisons, or residential programs back into the community. 

This is very important for those who were homeless or those who are at risk for being homeless because once they leave an institution, they need a plan instead of just ending up back on the street. Clients must be set up with a complete discharge plan that includes government assistance or employment, housing options, and treatment. This component includes the other three components.

2. Access to resources must be increased.

It has ben found that not many homeless people use all of the resources that they have, including Food Stamps and Medicaid. This could be due to a few reasons: Homeless individuals have a lower sense of self-efficacy, which leads to deficient service-seeking behavior, agency and staff discrimination discourage homeless individuals from seeking services, or homeless individuals consider their housing needs the top priority and do not pursue the secondary sources of aid. Social workers must make sure homeless clients seek and apply for all government programs.

Homeless individuals with co-occurring disorders also struggle to find work due to bias in employment and trouble working with their disorders. Also, many times, these individuals do not want to lose their government assistance when they get a job. As a helper working with these clients, it is important to instill hope about a client's ability to recover and to work. Clients should be linked with job opportunities that supports recovery. The article uses bartending as an example of a job that does not support recovery. Money management needs to be taught and treatment options that do not conflict with work should be coordinated.

3. Individuals should be linked to supportive housing options.

These individuals are suffering from multiple disorders while also trying to find a place to sleep every night. To help these individuals, it is important to find them housing, whether it is public housing or not. Some studies show that housing individuals with disabilities and/or addictions before they are treated increases the chances of their treatment success. 

4. Individuals should be found the best treatment option. 

Multiple types of treatment are available for those with co-occurring disorders but the struggle is finding one that is successful. Research on treatments stress that it is a long-term process, harm reduction, outreach techniques, establishment of a trusting relationship, skills and support to manage illnesses, and relapse prevention. Methods that are commonly used include modified assertive community treatment, motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, and COD specialized self-help groups.

This article relates very closely with what we are learning in Chapter 8. We have been learning about individuals with co-occurring disorders. This article pairs this with the homeless population. I feel as though helping homeless individuals who are also affected with CODs has to be one of the hardest things social workers face. This task must be extremely challenging and complex. This article shows all of the components and tasks that must be completed for individuals to successfully complete treatment and no longer be homeless.

Sun, A. (2012). Helping homeless individuals with co-occurring disorders: The four components. Social Work, 57(1), 23-37. 

http://blog.palmpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/homeless-and-addiction.jpg