Written by: Aunty UbongAbasi Victor | State Coordinator – TOM AKS
Introduction
1 Corinthians 6:12–20 (ESV)
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I, therefore, take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh.” But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
This will amaze you, in 2014 In general, the use of marijuana, alcohol among teens has been drifting higher in recent years following a decade or more of fairly steady decline. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA)
Statistics show that drug abuse is a growing problem among teens. In addition to cocaine, Ecstasy and other club drugs, a recent Monitoring the Future Study showed that the top six most abused drugs by teens are: marijuana (31.5%), Vicodin (9.7%), amphetamines (8.1%), cough medicine (6.9%), sedatives & tranquilizers (6.6% each).
Almost three-quarters (73%) of teen females and 58% of males reported having their first sexual experience with a steady partner.
· 16% of females and 28% of males reported their first having sex with someone they had just met or who was just a friend. (Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics,
Adolescence is a confusing and complex period in life, a time of questioning, exploring, and risk-taking. Drug experimentation is becoming an increasingly prevalent part of an adolescent’s rite of passage. Young people are responding en masse to the alluring promise of today’s chemical culture, which seems to promise quick relief and instant gratification, popularity, and an attractive peer group, not to mention sexual prowess and financial success. All of these offerings, which represent primary adolescent issues and desires, are enhanced further through television, one of the primary reference sources for the adolescent population (Morrison, 1990).
What Is Addiction?
Addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or in a behavior for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeatedly pursue the behavior despite detrimental consequences. Addiction may involve the use of substances such as alcohol, inhalants, opioids, cocaine, nicotine, and others, or behaviors such as gambling; there is scientific evidence that the addictive substances and behaviors share a key neurobiological feature—they intensely activate brain pathways of reward and reinforcement, many of which involve the neurotransmitter dopamine(Psychology Today © 2018).
FORMS OF ADDICTION
Addictions can be grouped into the following forms namely;
1. Substances/Drugs Addiction
Addiction occurs when repeated use of drugs changes how a person’s brain functions over time. The transition from voluntary to compulsive drug use reflects changes in the brain’s natural inhibition and reward centers.
Some people are more vulnerable to this process than others, due to a range of possible risk factors. Stressful early life experiences such as being abused or suffering other forms of trauma are one important risk factor. Adolescents with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse are more likely to be diagnosed with substance use disorders. Many other risk factors, including genetic vulnerability, prenatal exposure to alcohol or other drugs, lack of parental supervision or monitoring, and association with drug-using peers also play an important role.
i. Alcohol: A beverage that is produced by the fermentation of grains and fruits and causes euphoria, reduces anxiety and sociability and in high doses causes drunkenness, stupor, and unconsciousness.
ii. Nicotine: a potent colorless, poisonous stimulant e.g. tobacco
iii. Hallucinogens: a drug that causes hallucinations e.g. marijuana
iv. Cannabis: a psychoactive drug. E.g. marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.
v. Hypnosedatives: Valium 5, Xanax etc.
vi. Inhalant:Aerosols: sprays that contain propellant and solvents such as paint thinners, glues, fuel, deodorants, and hair spray), Gases (chloroform, nitrous oxide – laughing gas found in butane lighters and propane tanks)
vii. OpioidPrescription Drug: Tramadol
2. Behavioral Addiction
A. Sex
b. Fantasy sex: Fantasy sex is a preoccupying obsession with sexual fantasy, rather than the reality of genuine sexual feelings, sexual behavior, and sexual relationships.
c. Seductive Role Sex: Seductive sex focuses on charming, persuading or manipulating others into sexual contact.
d. Anonymous Sex: Anonymous sex is having sex with strangers, including one night stands you find on Tinder. Anonymous sex helps the addict avoid developing genuine loving feelings.
e. Paying For Sex: Paying for sex also inhibits genuine connection, because of the implied business arrangement. The person you pay is looking for financial gain, not a loving relationship.
f. Trading Sex: The other side of the paying-for-sex transaction is receiving money or goods for sex or using sex as a business. Sex becomes a commodity, rather than a personal experience, and the emotional connection diminishes.
I. Voyeuristic sex: focuses on watching others engage in sexual activity. You get sexually aroused by looking at pornography from books and magazines, the computer and films, peep-shows (secretly observing other people, like a peeping Tom), going to sex clubs to watch in person and Excessive masturbation, even to the point of injury, is common for voyeurs. They engage in solitary activities, rather than connecting with another person, ensuring intimacy and love are not an option.
j. Exhibitionist sex: includes flashing “forbidden” body parts in public, sometimes while wearing clothes designed to expose.
k. Intrusive sex involves touching others without permission. It may involve abusing your position of power or authority, such as the role of priest, supervisor or teacher, to sexually exploit others. Intrusive sex is inherently exploitative, making it impossible to form the basis for trust or love. Victims may experience feelings of loyalty towards the perpetrator.
l. Exploitative Sex: Rape and paedophilic are types of exploitative sex. Because one person violates the human rights of the other, there is no possibility for genuine love or intimacy.
3. Using computers / the internet
It is any online-related compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, work and academics
4. Playing Video Games
Is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive or compulsive use of video games that interferes with a person’s every day’s life
5. Food Addiction
It is a very serious problem and one of the main reasons some teenagers can’t control themselves around certain food no matter how hard they try. And is being addicted to junk foods the same way drug addicts are addicted to drugs.
5. Gambling Addiction
Teenage gambling is the fastest rising addiction today. About 1 in 8 of 8million gamblers are teenagers. E.g. white paper, bet-naija. Researchers in a new study have found out that about 26.1% of secondary school students in rural areas in Nigeria have developed gambling disorder.
6. Anger Addiction
This is otherwise known as aggression addiction and is characterized by an individual dealing with his or her problems using anger. It’s a damaging coping strategy, and its potentially addictive nature earns it a place on the list.
WHY TEENAGERS GET INVOLVED IN ADDICTION
3. Curiosity/Media: Curiosity is a natural part of life and teenagers are not immune to the urge. Many teens begin experimenting with substances and behavioral addiction simply because we are curious and want to know what it feels like. As teenagers, we have the delusion that we are invincible. Even if we know that drugs are bad, we don’t believe that anything bad can actually happen to us. Educating your child on the repercussions of drug and alcohol abuse may extinguish this curiosity. Advertisement on the media also plays a significant role in teens getting involved in addiction.
4. Peer pressure: We all learn about it and think it won’t happen to us, but often the classic tale of peer pressure is the reason we experiment with drugs and alcohol. This peer pressure happens most often between the ages of sixteen and eighteen when teenagers begin to think “everyone else is doing it,” so we should too. At a party, after prom, with friends or significant others—these are all common situations in which we feel like we need to join in to be able to fit in. This peer pressure is more obvious than the pressure to make friends and is sometimes instigated by older friends.
5. Acceptance/Bonding Experience: Many teenagers, usually in high school, are shy and have trouble making friends (especially at a new school with older students). They turn to drugs and alcohol to help them feel more confident or to bond with a social group that is known for using these substances. This isn’t the same as direct peer pressure; it stems from the need to bond and make friends. Encouraging your children to join clubs and sports can help them make friends in a healthy way.
6. Defiance: Teenagers often feel a social imperative to experiment and experience all that adults can while they are still young. They feel like it is a “now or never” situation. We have to try drugs now before we become adults and have responsibilities. We feel like if we don’t try it now, we will be missing out. We feel like it won’t be a big deal if we try everything once… or twice. They want to rebel against rules placed on them.
7. Risk-taking behavior: They want to send out a call for help.
8. Thrill Seeking Activity: They want to experience something more than numbness (exciting behavior, explore new grounds). They want to have a clear picture of what they want and what others do and feel.
9. Boredom: One of the most common reasons that teenagers begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol is that we are simply bored and have no deeper interests. We see drugs and alcohol as a pastime to be explored. Try giving your teenager more responsibilities or extra-curricular activities to get involved with so that he or she doesn’t have the time to think about substance use.
10. Independence: They want to make their own decisions and assert their own independence.
11. Seeking Pleasure: They want to feel good. Teens are dealing with a heavy mix of emotions and think that substance and behavioral addictions can make them numb any pain and make them feel better, even when times are tough.
12. Accessibility to Substances
13. Parental/role Models Examples
HOW TO HELP TEENS OVERCOME ADDICTION
a) Help the Teen in Deciding to Quit: Write down the harmful effects of your addiction, Make a list of positive changes you want in your life, Write down your quitting commitment
b) Help the Teen in Making a Plan: Set a date to quit, seek personal and professional support, Identify your triggers, Start ramping down your addictive habit, Get your environment ready
c) Help the Teen in Quitting and Handling Withdrawal: Stop the addictive behavior as planned, Fill your time, Keep clear of your triggers, don’t give in to rationalizations, Don’t let a relapse be the end of your journey, Celebrate your accomplishments
d). Create Belongingness – get to know them more
e). Have Small group discussions
f). Attend Christian Clubs/camp meetings
g). Be open, frank, trustworthy and realistic
h). Share experiences
i). Intimate relationship with meaningful adults (Mentorship)
j). Re-focused attention to nurturing organizations and programs E.g. TOM, TOM’S CAMP, BOOT CAMP, & Church based clubs for teens, SU, SCM, etc.
k). Seek help (Treatment Centres, professional counselors, Hospitals in the event of complication).
l). In-depth Counselling: Just because a teen is smart does not mean that he/she is mature enough to have sound judgment about his/her decision. The part of one’s brain that is responsible for judgment doesn’t’ fully mature until one is in mid-twenties. So counseling must be counselor initiated counseling. In dealing with addictions, there are three parts to this:
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, to help teenagers in addiction and all the complications of addiction, those who work with teenagers should be trained in the changing teen’s culture, those who serve adolescents must work together and must understand teenagers and provide boundaries. Finally, parents need to be equipped and encouraged to parent the changing teenager and adolescents. Communities/Churches must make sure that each teenager has a few adult advocates who know him/her and care for them.
REFERENCES
Psychology Today © 2018 Sussex Publishers, LLC
http://www.techaddiction.ca/internet_addiction_statistics.html
Tina Burrell, M.A., Connie Cahalan, Barbara Cimaglio, Michael L. Dennis, Ph.D., Rochelle Head-Dunham, M.D., Scott W. Henggeler, Ph.D., Sharon Levy, M.D., M.P.H., Kenneth J. Martz, Psy.D., CAS, Kathy Paxton, M.S., Paula D. Riggs, M.D., (2014). Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication Number.
Hurt 2.0 by Chap Clark (c) 2011
www.verywellmind.com
www.healthline.com
· U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA): 800-662-HELP (4357)
· Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Miech, R.A., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2014). Monitoring the future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2013. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Institute for Social Research, the University of Michigan.
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3 Kann, L. (2016). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2015. MMWR Surveill Summ, 63(4). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2015/ss6506_updated.pdf
4 Kost, K., & Maddow-Zimet, I. (2016). U.S. teenage pregnancies, births and abortions, 2011: National trends by age, race, and ethnicity. Guttmacher Institute. Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/us-teen-pregnancy-trends-2011_0.pdf