Over the past few years, drug abuse and alcohol intake among the youth has increased at an alarming rate around the globe. Preventing drug and substance use among adolescents is a critical issue in today’s society because prevention is better than cure. As an educator, I would take the role of a school counselor to prevent the growing tendency that is leaving the world at an edge of dismay. A counselor’s duty is to plan and implement all-inclusive school counseling programs for every student to assist them in attaining educational, career, personal, and social goals. One task is to promote the general wellness of all students, especially the adolescents because wellness is vital in tracking behavior change, drugs prevention, and protection of health. Adolescent is an important transition time of great neurobiological development. Different researches have clearly indicated that this stage of development influences the tendency of adolescents to test and practice alcohol and drug abuse, and this might carry on even to adulthood. Thus, addressing these changes positively as a school counselor will help in the adoption of good morals among the youths, assist in the prevention of drug abuse, and generate a healthy future generation.
Modernization and current events have heightened the desire of adolescents and youths to fit in the society because they want to feel good, but end in drug as well as alcohol abuse. This is due to stress and depression they encounter, anxiety to experiment and take risk, challenges of self-esteem and physical changes thus resulting in drug and alcohol abuse. As a counselor, I would address the issue of self-esteem by maintaining good and close relationship with all students because by building their self-esteem, they will not have any challenges in dealing with any environment or changes that come along with their development. Maintaining high standard values of communication, being trustworthy and confident, I will win their trust and thus help them in dealing with their maturational changes.
In collaboration with other education staff and parents, we will join hand in speaking openly about sensitive issues in adolescence stage during learning sessions and encourage students to speak about sexual relationship openly. It will also enable fast track thrill-seeking behavior among students, school performance, problems with peer and family relationship in order to understand affecting issues. In addition, I will cooperate with drug and substance prevention agencies to hold campaigns and conferences at schools, which will enable professionals to intervene and talk to students on the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse. Although adolescence is a challenging period, for a counselor, one is required to be knowledgeable on assessing and providing assistance for the exceptional psychological and emotional problems in adolescence, and having the knowhow of building relationship and interaction, which are open and full of trust with the youth. This will help in preventing drugs and substance abuse among adolescents and build a healthy future generation.
If a student were suspected of abusing drugs and substances, as a school counselor, I would scan his report before meeting the student in order to maximize time for counseling and guidance. I would call the student, welcome him/her warmly, and clearly emphasize that our conversation is confidential. In addition, I would have open-ended questions with the student to clarify the issue, scan the problem, identify the want, and guide the student on the way forward. I would carry out a physical examination and provide anticipatory guidance. Finally, I would put the emphasis on the significance of the issue, give him/her handout on dangers of drug and substance abuse for his own reading, offer another session, and refer him/her to a specialist. If the problem is critical or family-related, I would involve parents and advise them to support the adolescent.
About the author: Alice Grey is a bachelor in English philology and sociology at California University. She is currently working as one of the best writers at the place where you can find information about affiliate program She also studies feminine psychology.
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