We started to hear the word addiction more and more in our daily practice. Although the first thing that comes to mind is the use of illegal substances, we increasingly see gaming, gambling and other behavioral addictions around us. Technology and the changes it brings inevitably cause this. So much so that it is possible to buy and sell items online thanks to some special internet connections (darknet/deep web). Considering that today, almost everyone is more or less an internet and computer user, it would not be wrong to say that this situation has reached frightening proportions.
Data on substance use also tells us that there are many reasons to be afraid. According to World Health Organization data, the age of starting to use substances has dropped to 11. According to the European Union Drug Report; In our country, a 9-fold increase in deaths due to substance use and a 2-fold increase in substance use-related crimes has been detected in the last 8 years. In this context, if the adolescence period along with the age of exposure to substances is taken into consideration, it would be a rational approach to accept that young people between the ages of 11-15 are at risk. Based on the principle that the best treatment for substance addiction is to never start using substances, we can conclude that this target audience can be reached most easily and effectively through schools.
There are three stages of preventing substance addiction. Primary prevention aims to prevent people who have never used alcohol or substances from using them; early recognition, treatment and necessary guidance for people who have started using alcohol or substances but have not yet become addicted are called secondary prevention; steps to prevent substance addicts from quitting the substance and starting to use it again are called tertiary prevention. is examined below. School-based prevention programs are preferred all over the world because they can involve teachers and families in prevention activities. Due to the increasing substance addiction and related problems in our country, widespread prevention programs are being carried out. In this article, some basic principles and recommendations for primary prevention will be discussed.
The simplest, easiest and cheapest method to be used in primary prevention is information. Purpose: Frequency of substance use To inform and raise awareness about the disease and its individual, social and social consequences. Leaving the decision about whether to use it or not to them after informing them is a more effective method than it seems. It is considered more effective to make your own decision rather than being suggested by someone else. The most common trend is to provide information about substances and their effects, but information alone is not sufficient. Information may even unintentionally increase substance use. Programs explaining the pharmacological effects of substances may arouse the curiosity of young people who want to experience the psychoactive effects of substances firsthand. For this reason, when giving information, it would be better not to use the names of the substances and their methods of use, or the visuals of the substances if slides are to be used. The information to be conveyed must be understandable and developmentally appropriate. For example, young people may not care much about the long-term effects of substance use. Rather than emphasizing the long-term effects of tobacco use on cancer or lungs, it is more accurate to focus on stains on the skin, hands and teeth, or poor performance during physical activity. It is common for young people to believe that using a substance once or several times will not cause addiction, and that some substances will not cause addiction at all. In information programs, it should be explained step by step how addiction develops and as many examples as possible should be given. Although a significant part of the preventive work in our country is incorrectly called "education", it actually falls within the scope of information.
There are some principles that should be followed when talking to young people. First of all, it is necessary to be well-equipped and knowledgeable about alcohol and substances. Talking about this subject without sufficient knowledge should be avoided. Of course, there is no need to be an expert on this subject, but saying "I don't know" is much better than giving fabricated information. We should stay away from imposing our own beliefs, opinions and thoughts. Real, unbiased and scientifically proven information should be provided. It should be kept in mind that our goal is to inform them, not to correct them. Thinking about the issue, discussing it, asking questions and conflicting when necessary should be allowed. The medical and social aspects of the incident should be discussed in detail.
Education is also a very effective method in primary prevention, but it is different from information. Young people in education; It is aimed to provide social skills such as decision making and rejection. Considering the 11-15 target audience just mentioned, it can be understood how important this method can be. At this stage, it is important to remember that the most common way to start using substances is "another peer using substances." Self-management skills such as developing anti-drug norms, problem solving, coping with anxiety and stress, and goal setting can only be gained in this way. These are skills that are necessary not only for preventing substance use but also for a person throughout his/her entire life. In addition, recognizing and defining one's emotions at a very early age and learning to share what one feels with another person are also skills that can be gained through education.
Mothers and fathers are responsible for building children's basic beliefs and values. They play the role. The first and most important role model for a child is his/her mother and father. It is known that having a substance-using member in the family is a serious risk factor for the child's substance use. It is also known that the risk of substance use is low in individuals who receive attention from their families, whose opinions are taken seriously, and whose behaviors, attitudes and tendencies are observed. Therefore, it is not possible to exclude the family factor when planning substance addiction prevention strategies. It should be ensured that families are aware of the reasons that push their children to use substances, that communication between family members be strengthened, that they support children in coping with the difficulties they experience, and that they repeatedly demonstrate their attitudes towards substance use clearly and decisively.
Families should be especially informed about the early signs of substance use. If he comes home late and does not inform where he is, if he has changed his group of friends, if he goes to different places than he usually goes, if he has started to spend more time outside the home, if his personal care has decreased, if he spends more money and cannot clearly explain his expenses, if he is addicted to alcohol and drugs. If the young person starts to have positive thoughts about e-use and experiences frequent emotional changes, it would be appropriate to suspect that the young person is using substances. However, if you pay attention, some of these are features that we may encounter during normal adolescence. In other words, none of the symptoms mentioned are specific to substance use. It should also be noted that parents generally tend not to accept that their children use substances.
Creating alternatives for healthy activities instead of alcohol and substance use has an important place in primary prevention. Particularly in high-risk groups, directing them to other fun activities is an effective method. Various art, sports or music activities should be chosen according to the characteristics of the target group.
Substance use is not a problem specific to our country. First of all, we must realize that we are faced with a global problem that requires a holistic approach to solve, and we must act accordingly. Despite all the measures taken, unfortunately, millions of people continue to apply for addiction treatment. Although treatment opportunities are increasing, it is a difficult process that must continue throughout life and the individual and social problems it brings remain the same. For this reason, every member of society, especially education and health professionals, has a serious responsibility for prevention.
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