Adolescence is considered as specific developmental stage, from teenage years to early twenties. Adolescence is a changing time young people go through. It is a time where a young person no longer considers themselves as child, yet some are still short of skills needed to successfully cope with adult situations. During this time, adolescents move toward maturity and often develop different values, interests and attitudes. Young people often confront difficult choices, like less freedom of expression.
These categorise what young people are searching for:.
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THE NEED FOR POWER.
THE NEED TO CHALLENGE.
THE NEED FOR FREEDOM.
THE NEED FOR ARRANGEMENT.
THE NEED FOR PEER ACCEPTANCE.
These needs can sometimes be so strong that they overpower the sense of principles and family influence.
Throughout this time they also go through some developmental tasks that young people are trying to achieve:.
SELF IDENTITY.
SELF DETERMINATION.
ABILITY TO FORM CLOSE EFFECTIONATE BONDS.
SEXUAL IDENTITY.
ABSTRACT THOUGHT.
This is where drugs become a part of these young people's lives .
Drugs cause lots of problems which we are all aware eg. Accidents and injury, sickness and disease, truancy, premature death, crime, violence and antisocial behaviour, as well as personal and social disruption, loss of quality of life, and loss of economic costs.
Australians have had a delight for drug taking, often reaching high levels of abuse, since the beginning of settlement.
(Reasons why youth take drugs).
INCREASE SELF ESTEEM.
REDUCE BOREDOM.
ESCAPE WORRIES AND PROBLEMS.
REDUCE DEPRESSION.
INCREASE ENERGY.
FEEL ACCEPTED.
OVERCOME SHYNESS.
ESCAPE LONLINESS .
STAY ALERT.
NEW SENSATION.
BLOCK PAIN.
ESCAPE FAMILY SITUATIONS.
PART OF CULTURE.
CURIOSITY.
AVOID MAKING DECISIONS.
INCREASE SELF CONFIDENCE.
TO SLEEP.
So no matter what we do to help teens, it's never going to be enough. We can love them and help them with school work and get them into counselling and even put them on antidepressants, but despite all efforts they will continue to use.