ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY EDUCATION

USE OF DRUGS AND INTOXICANTS

AMONG STUDENTS
DRUG ABUSE IS THE NON PERMISSIVE
CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCE
THAT MAY LEAD TO PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE.
POPULARIZED IN THE 1960S BY MUSIC AND
MASS MEDIA, THEY INVADE ALL ASPECTS
OF SOCIETY.
USE AND ABUSE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL BY TEENS
IS VERY COMMON AND CAN HAVE SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES. IN THE 15-24 YEAR AGE RANGE,
50% OF DEATHS (FROM ACCIDENTS, HOMICIDES, 
SUICIDES) INVOLVE ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO
PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL AGGRESSION SUCH AS
ASSAULT OR RAPE. POSSIBLE STAGES OF TEENAGE
EXPERIENCE WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS INCLUDE
ABSTINENCE (NON-USE), EXPERIMENTATION,
REGULAR USE (BOTH RECREATIONAL AND
COMPENSATORY FOR OTHER PROBLEMS), ABUSE,
AND DEPENDENCY. REPEATED AND REGULAR
RECREATIONAL USE CAN LEAD TO OTHER
PROBLEMS LIKE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.
WARNING SIGNS OF TEENAGE DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE MAY INCLUDE:
• A DROP IN SCHOOL PERFORMANCE,
• A CHANGE IN GROUPS OF FRIENDS,
• DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, AND
• DETERIORATION IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
THERE MAY ALSO BE PHYSICAL SIGNS SUCH AS RED EYES, A PERSISTENT COUGH,
AND CHANGE IN EATING AND SLEEPING HABITS. ALCOHOL OR DRUG DEPENDENCY
MAY INCLUDE BLACKOUTS, WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, AND FURTHER PROBLEMS IN
FUNCTIONING AT HOME, SCHOOL, OR WORK.
INTOXICANTS CAN BE CLASSIFIED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, E.G. ACCORDING TO
THEIR MECHANISM OF ACTION OR LEGAL STATUS. LEGAL INTOXICANTS IN FINLAND
ARE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND CAFFEINE, WHEREAS DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL
INTOXICANTS. DRUGS CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO CANNABINOIDS, OPIOIDS,
STIMULANTS AND HALLUCINOGENS ACCORDING TO THEIR MECHANISM OF ACTION.
 THERE ARE TWO MAIN APPROACHES TO
DEMAND REDUCTION FOR DRUGS IN THE
SCHOOL SETTING.
1. PROGRAMMES INCORPORATING A “CHILD DEVELOPMENT” APPROACH IN
WHICH A CHILD’S CHARACTERISTICS, CONDITIONS AND PROCESSES
OBSERVED AT ONE STAGE IN LIFE MIGHT ATTEMPTED TO BE MODIFIED, IN
ORDER TO ACHIEVE HEALTHIER BEHAVIOUR LATER IN LIFE. SUCH
PROGRAMMES ARE GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS “DEVELOPMENTALLY
INSPIRED” PROGRAMMES.
2. PROGRAMMES CONTAINING DRUG-SPECIFIC CONTENT: THESE
PROGRAMMES DEAL MORE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE DRUG USE INITIATION
AGE AND CONSIST OF INTERVENTIONS DESIGNED TO PREVENT AND DELAY
THE COMMENCEMENT OF DRUG USE.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL TO DRUG ADDICTION!
AVOID UNDUE PEER PRESSURE
▫ A CHILD SHOULD NOT BE PRESSED UNDULY TO DO BEYOND
HIS/ HER CAPACITIES, BE IT STUDIES, SPORTS ETC.

EDUCATION AND COUNSELLING ORGANIZING YOUTH CENTERS

▫ DRUG ADDICTION MAY BE CAUSED DUE TO THE FEELINGS OF
ISOLATION, LONELINESS, ANXIETY ETC. HENCE, SOCIAL SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND NGOS SHOULD ESTABLISH YOUTH CENTERS TO
OVERCOME SUCH FEELINGS
DRUG ABUSE IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM THOUGHT
TO RESULT FROM A COMBINATION OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.
INFANTS OF ABUSERS MAY SUFFER FROM NEGLECT
OR THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL DRUG USE. AS THEY
GROW INTO CHILDHOOD, THEY MAY
DEMONSTRATE ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, AND
SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION, POOR SELF-ESTEEM,
DEPRESSION, OR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER.
THE END