Risk Factors Refined for Substance Abuse Disorders in Children
October 29th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Headline
Substance abuse disorders, including difficulties with the regulation of alcohol intake and retaled behaviors, affect many people at different stages of life, though a significant portion of those who grapple with these issues are in their mid to late years. It may seem inconsistent, then, that a study supported by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has searched for signs of substance abuse risks in children, but the gathered data may serve the primary purpose of helping to identify children who may benefit from additional education and training to prevent substance abuse issues later in life. Risk factors considering both environment and neurobiological factors were studied.
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9 comments so far
Every child deserves to be taught about substance abuse at a young age, so that nobody, hopefully, actually gets into substance abuse…
Children are prone to disorders because their immuno system is not as developed and also, they are not matured enough mentally.
But is there the money to do this in every community? What kids are going to be left behind again?
What age group of kids was this study based on? How does one know the tell tale signs?
There will definitely be signs that every parent can keep in mind, like a sudden dip in academics and some other stuff… although it may not definitively mean there is substance abuse, enquiring about it at the right time will show the care towards their kids.
Peer group, I think, is the single biggest factor that determines the possibility of a child getting into substance-abuse and it would do a world of good if parents all over would keep a tab on the peer-group of their child.
Its not possible to choose your child’s friends, but constantly enquiring about the child’s friends, discouraging the child from mingling with not-so-good groups would go a long way.
I work in a community where substance abuse, gangsterism and violence is the norm rather than the exception and fetal alcholhol syndrome is rife amongst children. I am not sure that a study of this nature would be relevant in poorer socio-economic areas where “later in life” starts in primary schools.
I live in a community where guns drugs and booze is a way of life. I cant feel the same as sharon does.
What kind of substance abuse is most common in children and how does one know where to start when there are no tell tale signs?