Families coping with substance abuse or addiction have a difficult time getting an addict to accept help. Statistics have shown that the best way to confront an addiction is through an intervention. Most people perceive an intervention as an incredibly hostile event that can be disastrous. This perception is often derived from what we learn from popular culture. The truth is there are several different styles of intervention. Interventions are wonderful tools for addressing an addiction issue. Those suffering from an addiction often do not realize the damage they are causing themselves or those around them. These tools open an addict’s eyes to those dangers. Binge drinking is the most popular dangerous substance abuse issue facing young adults today. This dangerous behavior is defined as consuming four or more drinks and hour for females and five an hour for males. The purpose of binge drinking is to achieve drunkenness. This is incredibly dangerous because it puts young adults in a vulnerable position. A large percentage of physical and sexual assaults was committed as a direct result of binge drinking. Not to mention, car accidents and other physical accidents that are directly related to intoxication from binge drinking.
Personality Based Interventions
New studies have shown that preventative interventions for young adults yield great results. Young adults in the United States and several other countries are engaging in the dangerous practice of binge drinking. Preventative interventions work to reduce the chance of binge drinking and the long term effects of dangerous alcohol use. These interventions are geared towards teenagers between 13 and 15 years old. They work towards the developing adolescent personalities regarding sensitivity to anxiety, preference for highly stimulating experiences, tendencies to act impulsively and feelings of hopelessness. These personality characteristics of young adults make them more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors like binge drinking. Teenagers personality traits are measured and those who show signs of potential alcohol abuse, in accordance with these categories, take part in two brief intervention sessions that are created for that personality.
Results of Personality based Preventative Interventions
Unfortunately, the study did not produce the mind blowing results it was hoping for. The study found that these interventions did not stop short-term binge drinking in young adults. It found that the intervention will not reduce alcohol consumption in any capacity. What it did find was that preventative interventions can reduce long-term involvement in binge drinking practices. The study also found that young adults who took part in preventative interventions abused alcohol at the rate of being defined as binge drinking at a much lower frequency. Overall, doing nothing does nothing. Regardless of the results it is important to speak with children about the dangers of alcohol abuse. Keeping an open and honest communication with kids is the best way to prevent dangerous substance use and abuse habits.
What Parents Can Do
It is paramount that parents have open and honest conversations with their teens before they leave for school. Child of parents who conduct these types of conversations over dinner are less likely to engage in dangerous alcohol consuming practices. Teenagers must understand the dangers that are at stake when they engage in such risky behaviors. The part of the brain the weighs consequences and makes decisions is not fully developed when they are in college. Parents who speak to their children opening and honestly are more likely to help their teenagers understand the danger they can place themselves in. Dangerous drinking habits that begin in high school can develop into major issues when young adults move away from home and into a society that almost encourages alcohol abuse: college life.
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