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5 Health and Diseases
also affect vulnerability to addiction. Some of the social risk factors are bullying,
negative peer pressure, and gang affiliation. Bullying is a risk factor as individuals of
both gender are victims. They have more likelihood to use hard drugs, inhalants, and
marijuana. Negative peer influence also plays a crucial role in enhancing addiction.
Association with peers who are addicted to drugs is a significant risk factor for
substance abuse. Peer pressure also contributes to higher proportions of alcohol and
cigarette use. For example, scholars report that adolescents who use alcohol and
other drugs before the age of 13 stated that their peers’ opinion was important to
them. They rank these opinions more influential than the opinions of their mothers.
Finally, gang affiliation is an antisocial behavior that entails engaging in risky
behavior. Whereas not all gang-involved individuals may use drugs, there is the
likelihood that gang affiliation encourages the use of drugs.
What other social factors promote drug abuse?
5.6.6 Prevention of Drug Abuse and Misuse
Substance abuse prevention is a process geared at preventing the start of substance
use or reducing the development of issues related to the use of substances, and most
efforts mainly target minors. Some of the substances that preventive efforts target are
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and opioids. According to experts, an optimal
combination of prevention strategies is needed for addressing substance abuse and
misuse problems at the individual and community level (Galanter et al. 2014). There
is also a need for early intervention to treat mental illness associated with drug use.
Communication, education, and enforcement are ideal strategies that can be used
for preventing substance misuse. Prevention can be carried out at the family level,
community level, and individual level. Family-based programs can be instrumental
in strengthening protective factors. They teach parents better communication skills,
the right discipline styles, as well as family management approaches. Communitybased programs can also be detrimental for empowering communities to deal with
drug abuse.
How do family-based programs help in preventing substance abuse?
5.6.7 The Placebo Effect
Also referred to as the placebo response, it is a phenomenon where a placebo can
occasionally enhance the condition because the individual expects it to be beneficial.
5 Health and Diseases
also affect vulnerability to addiction. Some of the social risk factors are bullying,
negative peer pressure, and gang affiliation. Bullying is a risk factor as individuals of
both gender are victims. They have more likelihood to use hard drugs, inhalants, and
marijuana. Negative peer influence also plays a crucial role in enhancing addiction.
Association with peers who are addicted to drugs is a significant risk factor for
substance abuse. Peer pressure also contributes to higher proportions of alcohol and
cigarette use. For example, scholars report that adolescents who use alcohol and
other drugs before the age of 13 stated that their peers’ opinion was important to
them. They rank these opinions more influential than the opinions of their mothers.
Finally, gang affiliation is an antisocial behavior that entails engaging in risky
behavior. Whereas not all gang-involved individuals may use drugs, there is the
likelihood that gang affiliation encourages the use of drugs.
What other social factors promote drug abuse?
5.6.6 Prevention of Drug Abuse and Misuse
Substance abuse prevention is a process geared at preventing the start of substance
use or reducing the development of issues related to the use of substances, and most
efforts mainly target minors. Some of the substances that preventive efforts target are
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and opioids. According to experts, an optimal
combination of prevention strategies is needed for addressing substance abuse and
misuse problems at the individual and community level (Galanter et al. 2014). There
is also a need for early intervention to treat mental illness associated with drug use.
Communication, education, and enforcement are ideal strategies that can be used
for preventing substance misuse. Prevention can be carried out at the family level,
community level, and individual level. Family-based programs can be instrumental
in strengthening protective factors. They teach parents better communication skills,
the right discipline styles, as well as family management approaches. Communitybased programs can also be detrimental for empowering communities to deal with
drug abuse.
How do family-based programs help in preventing substance abuse?
5.6.7 The Placebo Effect
Also referred to as the placebo response, it is a phenomenon where a placebo can
occasionally enhance the condition because the individual expects it to be beneficial.
