Effect of Drug Addictions on Juvenile


 


            Traffic in drug constitutes a major problem for authorities and, because of the alarming increase in youthful or juvenile addicts, for parents and other members of the community as well. Juvenile substance abuse is implicated in all types of juvenile crime, including violent offenses, property offenses and other offenses such as assaults, vandalism and disorderly conduct. Although juvenile arrest rates overall have declined in recent years, the arrest rate for juvenile drug law violations is on the rise. This increase in drug law violation arrests has cascaded through juvenile justice systems, raising the number of drug law violation cases referred to juvenile court, in detention, incarcerated, in other out-of-home placement and on probation ( 2006).


The loss of the power of self control through drug addiction is not only harmful to the individual concerned but also to society. For example, a drug addict has such an overwhelming craving for the drug that he does not count the cost of getting it; crime, violence, and murder have been the price all too often. The addict develops a tolerance to the drug so that increasing doses are necessary in order to produce the desired affect.


            When not under the influence of the drug, the juvenile addict tends more and more to manifest typical disturbances of the nervous system. If drugs are withdrawn from the addict, characteristic withdrawal symptoms appear, with acute physical pain in addition to such symptoms as severe cramps in the abdomen and legs, muscular twitching, vomiting, and diarrhea. The addict will be irritable, restless, and unable to relax, and will break out in sweat and “goose pimples.” Rest and sleep are difficult or impossible to achieve.


            The chief drugs used by addicts are opium and its derivatives, morphine and heroin; cocaine; hashish; and marijuana made from hemp. The widespread use of bromides and barbiturates, sedatives, and sleeping pills available to the general public, has also raised concerns and problems.  


            Treatment for drug addiction is quite drastic and should be attempted only by qualified medical personnel with adequate facilities. The first step in treatment is withdrawal of the drug, abruptly, rapidly, or gradually, followed by a period of psychotherapy and rehabilitation. The final period should last at least four months, otherwise there is an even greater danger of relapse to the addiction among most patients.


            In the country, there are many programs that focus on treatment for drug addiction. Juvenile drugs courts exist to help treat drug addiction. While not every one is the same, juvenile drug courts across the United States share several key components that have led to their overwhelming success. The first component is its use of a non-adversarial approach to integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with the justice system’s traditional case proceedings. This involves the use of alcohol and drug treatment clinicians in almost every phase of the drug court’s proceedings in order to help the juveniles confront and eventually to overcome their addiction and abuse problems. The next crucial step in almost all drug courts is to identify potential participants who may be eligible for the drug court program and quickly place them into the program’s treatment process. Due to the individualized treatment of each drug court participant, quick placement of an eligible juvenile helps that youth receive necessary treatment as soon as possible.


Juvenile drug courts often receive many applicants because the participation and completion of the drug court program often lead to a complete dismissal of all charges brought against the juvenile offender. Due to this appealing potential outcome, juvenile drug courts must be carefully selective when choosing who participates in the program, especially in light of the very finite resources that many drug court programs are forced to deal with (2004).


            The implication for health workers is that it is their responsibility to ensure continuity of services in the community. The average stay in detention centers is 2 weeks (1999); many youths then return to the same high-risk environment where substance use began. Most communities lack sufficient treatment programs for youths after detention. In the general population, approximately half of all youths, and even more minority youths, who need services do not receive them (2001). Clinicians can help eliminate these disparities by working with juvenile courts and detention centers to ensure successful transitions into treatment in the community.


 


 


 



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