Proposal for Change Paper” - Drug & Alcohol Abuse Introduction
There are quite a number of problems that usage of drugs have on the well being of teenagers. The main concern is addiction of drugs whereby the affected parties end up having problems coordinating their mental stabilities. From the foregoing, it is imperative that effective measures be taken to address this issue since the future of the nation is primarily dependent on them. As such, it is important that these groups of individuals be educated on the effects of addiction and how to live a purposeful life.
Going by the current statistics, it is evident that indeed there is a major problem as far as alcohol and substance abuse is concerned with statistics indicating that 78.2% of teenagers who have reached late adolescence have already consumed alcohol, and another 47.1% having developed an addiction to alcohol(Burstein et al., 2012). In addition to this problem of alcoholism, almost 16.4% of the teenagers have also been reported to involve in drug abuse at some point, the average age in which these teenagers start indulging in these drugs is 14 years, and the situation remains the same for the rest of their lives(Burstein et al., 2012). The compounding reasons for these teenagers involving in these drugs have been attributed to peer-pressure and issues related to families.
Literature review
Alcohol and substance abuse have been viewed to have effects on the age of the users; alcoholrelated disorders making the bulk of these problems. One of the major disorderswith which drug usage has been associated with is mental illnesses(DeWit et al., 2000). Individuals that have been found to have developed mental disorders tend to have suicidal thoughts if they are not provided with the required course of care(DeWit et al., 2000).
Long hospitalization rates, increased incidences of violence, and the risks of developing anxiety disorders are, therefore, likely to result from the indulgence in these drugs(Barrowclough et al., 2001). In some cases, teenagers are exposed to this predicament from a tender age in the sense that, if while still young they develop Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), their likelihood of abusing drugs like nicotine, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol will increase(Lee et al., 2011). Additionally, exposure to stressing environments is a probable precursor for them developing difficulties in coping up with such situationsthereby leading them to end up in taking alcohol, and substance abuse as a way of finding solace(Enoch, 2014).A specific case in which drug usage has been observed as a leader in the development of mental disorders is the usage of marijuana. Contrary to the opinion that marijuana has got no effects on the health of an individual, studies have actually shown that its usage has been a major cause of neuropsychological abnormalities(Meier et al., 2012). The mortality rates that have been reported from the usage of cocaine have also been on the rise with studies indicating that an increase of between four to eight times of drug related cases have been associated with cocaine usage(Degenhardt et al., 2011).
Rationale of the change
Fromthese studies, it is evident that indeed a problem exists and there is need to put in place structures to solve this predicament.The rationale for adopting a change model comes from the fact that most of the teenagers may be willing to have a change of behavior, but do not have a better understanding of the required process and the available avenues that can be followed to get the required help.
Implementation plan using Kotter’s change model
The 8-step Kotter’s change model will be instrumental in achieving the much needed transformation concerning drug abuse
The nurse manager needs to recognize that indeed there is a problem, and as such, there is the need to have urgent measures to address the issue(Mishra, 2013).
Step two: Create a strong partnership
The stakeholders ought to acknowledgethat change is necessary (Mishra, 2013).Thus, leading the teenagers to have an emotional commitment to this cause is crucial.
Step three: Create a vision for transformation
It is important that the teenagers who have been involved in drug usage be shown the vision and reasons why they have to get involved in rehabilitative initiatives to assist them in quit the vice (Mishra, 2013).
Step four: Communicating the vision
The created vision ought to be communicated frequently to the affected parties to make it embedded intheir minds(Mishra, 2013). This step will make it easy to have the teens have a commitment towards cessation from drug usage (Mishra, 2013).
Step five: Removal of obstacles
The nurse manager has to identify barriers to the change(Mishra, 2013). Any impediment towards achieving the objective should be removed (Mishra, 2013). All the participants in change process should visualize the benefits associated with the change process.
Step six: Creation of short term wins
Having clear objectives in the implementation process is vital for the affected teenagers to be in a better position in visualizing that they are reforming(Mishra, 2013). As such, it is important to have rewarding systems like being elected team leaders to motivate others towards reforming(Mishra, 2013).
Step seven: Building on the change
It is crucial for the program to be evaluated on its achievements (Mishra, 2013).Thus, goals should be set by each teenager under rehabilitation for them to see the gains they will have made with time(Mishra, 2013).
Step eight: Institutionalizing the changes
Incorporating the gains achieved in the change process to the community will be a vital step towards preventing any possibilities of future drug usages(Mishra, 2013). Therefore, it is important to openly talk about the success stories coming out of the reforms process: a step which will be important in preventing any further drug usagesamongst the teenagers(Mishra, 2013).
Communication and Community strategies in effecting the change model
Owing to the fact that most teenagers are school going children, the most appropriate strategies in effecting this change need to be carried out in schools (Cosgrove et al., 2013). As such, there is the need to incorporate after-school programs and drug education into the school curricular. It is also critical that parents be well informed regarding counselling and how to detect changes in the temperament of their children so that early interventions can be undertaken(Cosgrove et al. 2013). Additionally, school health centres are supposed to have the required capacities essential for counselling teenagers. These efforts are directed at ensuring that the change model is effective and workable(Cosgrove et al., 2013). The need for involving schools in effecting the change model is embedded on the fact that schools are the best places where educational foundations on how to deal with substance abuse can be practiced. Therefore, having teenagers addressed in schools serves as the best communication strategy in effecting the change model since many of the would-be victims are likely to be found in these settings (Cosgrove et al., 2013) Schools are also the most effective gateways through which young people and specifically teenagers can be reached.
The advantage of using Kotter’s model of change bases its strengths on the fact since the victims and would-be victims to this drug problem will be actively involved in this change process, it will now be easier to effect changes on the way these teenagers carry out themselves. As such, incidences of drug usage will reduce significantly translating to reduced cases of mental disorders which have been proved to be associated with alcohol and substance abuse. However, there is no real disadvantage associated with this model thus, there is the need to incorporate it in the efforts aimed at eradicating alcohol, and substance abuse.
Conclusively, there is the need to have in place proactive measures that can be used to address the problems that are associated with the abuse of drugs. Having the correct change model which in our case is the Kotter’s change model will be important in ensuring that ther is a clear cut paradigm shift in the way teenagers’ viewpoint of life.
Reference
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Burstein, M., Swendsen, J., Case, B., Conway, K., Dierker, L., He, J., & Merikangas, K. (2012). Use and Abuse of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in US Adolescents. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 69(4), 390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.1503
Cosgrove, D. M., Fisher, M., Gabow, P., Gottlieb, G., Halvorson, G. C., James, B. C., & Toussaint, J. S. (2013). Ten strategies to lower costs, improve quality, and engage patients: the view from leading health system CEOs. Health affairs, 32(2), 321-327.
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