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Harm Reduction Programs

 

Dickenson, L., Derevensky, J. & Gupta, R. (2004, March). "Harm reduction for the prevention of youth gambling problems: Lessons learned from adolescent high-risk behavior prevention programs". Journal of Adolescent Research.

 

OVERVIEW

Gambling is a widely sanctioned by the Canadian and United States governments as a form of adult entertainment and revenue. However, underage adolescents often have access to gambling, which can negatively impact the lives of our youth along with illicit drug use, risky driving, and delinquency. As a public health issue, problem gambling is shown to be linked to suicide, depression, and bankruptcy. Youth engaged in gambling are not immune to these risks.

The subject of how to curb teen gambling is an important one to consider – but what is the best approach? This research focuses on the role of “harm reduction” as an alternative to more traditional prevention and nonuse approaches such as abstinence. The Harm Reduction strategies have been shown to have positive results These prevention plans seek to help adolescents “reduce harmful negative consequences incurred through involvement with risky behaviors.” They focus on providing awareness and education, fostering positive peer support, and helping teens develop decision-making skills.

DESIGN

The researchers use the harm reduction approach that is traditionally used for alcohol and substance abuse as a framework to design a youth problem gambling harm reduction program.

FINDINGS

Empirical research on Harm Reduction programs support the following:

  • These programs help foster the value of responsible behavior by acknowledging that youth are permitted to make their own choices.
  • They help adolescents to foster a sense of self by becoming responsible for their health and behavior.
  • Research suggests that a general mental health prevention program is most effective if it integrates principles from both abstinence and harm reduction principles.

CONCLUSIONS

  1. Youth ministers, teachers, and social workers must prepare adolescents to cope in a society that sanctions gambling.
  2. Teachers and youth workers must work together to advocate for effective programs in schools that encourage dialogue to help equip youth with knowledge, skills, and peer support, and responsible decision-making.

 

IMPLICATIONS

Youth ministry can benefit from the effectiveness that some Harm Reduction programs have shown in reducing risky behavior among youth. By dialoguing with youth, workers can affect change and prevent some of the long-term consequences of problem gambling.

Jessica Teague c2004 CYS

Adolescent problem behavior and problem driving in young adulthood

Bingham, C., & Shope, J. (2004, March). Adolescent problem behavior and problem driving in young adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Research.

 

 

 

OVERVIEW

 

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among people under the age of 35. This constitutes a major public health concern that society needs to address. In order to have an effective intervention strategy, we must first know the factors that contribute to the problem.   In this article, Bingham and Shope found that  “Risky driving behaviors are found to be predicted by little parental monitoring, substance, use, and weak ties to social institutions.”

 

 

 

DESIGN

 

 

This study tracked a group of 1,845 young men and women  who had Michigan driver’s licenses, each of whom was given a survey during their tenth grade year (around age 16) and then again at age 23. The assessment measured such aspects as their use of substances, feelings about their parents, driving habits, and accident history.

 

 

 

FINDINGS

 

 

Two major findings emerged from this study:

·          Parental permissiveness and low levels of monitoring were linked indirectly to the prediction of problem driving behavior.

·          Young men reported more problem driving, less substance abuse (except for marijuana), lower parental monitoring, and poorer school performance than women.

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

 

 

1.       Inexperience, anger, depression, thrill-seeking, personality factors, and the use of drugs all contribute to problem driving.

 

2.       Weak social bonds with family, school, community, and religious groups make it more likely for teens to break social rules such as problem driving.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR RELECTION AND DISCUSSION

 

 

        1.      Have you personally experienced the effects of dangerous driving among adolescents and young adults?  
                Do you know anyone who engages in such behavior?  Have you seen people hurt by such driving?

 

 

        2.      Why do you think that risky behaviors such as driving dangerously is such an attraction for some people?

 

 

3.       Why do you think that the listed predictors of such behavior (such as low parental monitoring or substance use) affects the way one drives?  What other behaviors might be results of these things?

4.       What can we do about this?  If accidents are taking so many lives, what can society do about it?  What can I do about it personally? 

 

 

 

IMPLICATIONS

 

Teens will experiment with worldviews and behaviors as part of their increasing independence. Youth ministry can help provide strong social bonds and positive avenues for exploration that would decrease chances of life-threatening behaviors such as problem driving.

 

 

Jessica Teague cCYS


Adolescent problem behavior and problem driving in young adulthood

Bingham, C., & Shope, J. (2004, March). Adolescent problem behavior and problem driving in young adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Research.

 

 

 

OVERVIEW

 

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among people under the age of 35. This constitutes a major public health concern that society needs to address. In order to have an effective intervention strategy, we must first know the factors that contribute to the problem.   In this article, Bingham and Shope found that  “Risky driving behaviors are found to be predicted by little parental monitoring, substance, use, and weak ties to social institutions.”

 

 

 

DESIGN

 

 

This study tracked a group of 1,845 young men and women  who had Michigan driver’s licenses, each of whom was given a survey during their tenth grade year (around age 16) and then again at age 23. The assessment measured such aspects as their use of substances, feelings about their parents, driving habits, and accident history.

 

 

 

FINDINGS

 

 

Two major findings emerged from this study:

·          Parental permissiveness and low levels of monitoring were linked indirectly to the prediction of problem driving behavior.

·          Young men reported more problem driving, less substance abuse (except for marijuana), lower parental monitoring, and poorer school performance than women.

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

 

 

1.       Inexperience, anger, depression, thrill-seeking, personality factors, and the use of drugs all contribute to problem driving.

 

2.       Weak social bonds with family, school, community, and religious groups make it more likely for teens to break social rules such as problem driving.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR RELECTION AND DISCUSSION

 

 

        1.      Have you personally experienced the effects of dangerous driving among adolescents and young adults?  
                Do you know anyone who engages in such behavior?  Have you seen people hurt by such driving?

 

 

        2.      Why do you think that risky behaviors such as driving dangerously is such an attraction for some people?

 

 

3.       Why do you think that the listed predictors of such behavior (such as low parental monitoring or substance use) affects the way one drives?  What other behaviors might be results of these things?

4.       What can we do about this?  If accidents are taking so many lives, what can society do about it?  What can I do about it personally? 

 

 

 

IMPLICATIONS

 

Teens will experiment with worldviews and behaviors as part of their increasing independence. Youth ministry can help provide strong social bonds and positive avenues for exploration that would decrease chances of life-threatening behaviors such as problem driving.

 

 

Jessica Teague cCYS


Harm Reduction Programs

 

Dickenson, L., Derevensky, J. & Gupta, R. (2004, March). "Harm reduction for the prevention of youth gambling problems: Lessons learned from adolescent high-risk behavior prevention programs". Journal of Adolescent Research.

 

OVERVIEW

Gambling is a widely sanctioned by the Canadian and United States governments as a form of adult entertainment and revenue. However, underage adolescents often have access to gambling, which can negatively impact the lives of our youth along with illicit drug use, risky driving, and delinquency. As a public health issue, problem gambling is shown to be linked to suicide, depression, and bankruptcy. Youth engaged in gambling are not immune to these risks.

The subject of how to curb teen gambling is an important one to consider – but what is the best approach? This research focuses on the role of “harm reduction” as an alternative to more traditional prevention and nonuse approaches such as abstinence. The Harm Reduction strategies have been shown to have positive results These prevention plans seek to help adolescents “reduce harmful negative consequences incurred through involvement with risky behaviors.” They focus on providing awareness and education, fostering positive peer support, and helping teens develop decision-making skills.

DESIGN

The researchers use the harm reduction approach that is traditionally used for alcohol and substance abuse as a framework to design a youth problem gambling harm reduction program.

FINDINGS

Empirical research on Harm Reduction programs support the following:

  • These programs help foster the value of responsible behavior by acknowledging that youth are permitted to make their own choices.
  • They help adolescents to foster a sense of self by becoming responsible for their health and behavior.
  • Research suggests that a general mental health prevention program is most effective if it integrates principles from both abstinence and harm reduction principles.

CONCLUSIONS

  1. Youth ministers, teachers, and social workers must prepare adolescents to cope in a society that sanctions gambling.
  2. Teachers and youth workers must work together to advocate for effective programs in schools that encourage dialogue to help equip youth with knowledge, skills, and peer support, and responsible decision-making.

 

IMPLICATIONS

Youth ministry can benefit from the effectiveness that some Harm Reduction programs have shown in reducing risky behavior among youth. By dialoguing with youth, workers can affect change and prevent some of the long-term consequences of problem gambling.

Jessica Teague c2004 CYS
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