Essay: Risk Factors for Adolescent Substance Abuse

Sample Essay

Words 1,320

“Cultural factors also deserve strong consideration as risk factors for adolescent substance abuse. Various studies have demonstrated that the risk of substance abuse is associated with immigrant status, with increases in prevalence in different populations after immigration from their countries of origin.” “Other social or environmental factors associated with substance use include deprivation, children who care for themselves after school if parents work, a low socioeconomic status, a history of sexual abuse or dating violence, and employment during the school year.” (Lowinson, 1997, p. 1021)

This highly affects the lives of immigrants and their family members because they are at a higher risk of developing a substance abuse habit. Adapting to a new society is a difficult transition that includes being stressed in the initial stages of the move. People who have a hard time finding jobs and face difficulties in the moving process sometimes resort to drugs. “The impact of trauma experiences of adolescents of particular racial and ethnic groups is often associated with higher risk for adolescent substance abuse.” “Other social or environmental factors associated with substance use include deprivation, children who care for themselves after school if parents work, a low socioeconomic status, a history of sexual abuse or dating violence, and employment during the school year.” (Lowinson, 1997, p. 1027) Race and ethnicity play a big role in drug use. People who are the victims of racist attacks sometimes succumb to drug abuse because they see no other way of escape. This is also associated with depression and trauma from racist attack related experiences. The movie Crash is a good example of the issues of criminal justice, race, and drug and alcohol abuse. The movie depicts people of different races being the victims of racist attacks by the Los Angeles police. One of the characters in the movie says he does drugs and steals because of the unfairness of the justice system and the racism epidemic. He has been the victim or racial prejudice so he takes part in deviant behavior to overcome his tragedy.

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