SOCIAL PROBLEMS AMONG TEENAGERS

A social problem is a condition that at least some people in a community view as

being undesirable. Everyone would agree about some social problems, such as
murders and DWI traffic deaths. Other social problems may be viewed as such
by certain groups of people. Teenagers who play loud music in a public park
obviously do not view it as a problem, but some other people may consider it an
undesirable social condition. Some nonsmokers view smoking as an undesirable
social condition that should be banned or restricted in public buildings.
Every newspaper is filled with stories about undesirable social conditions.
Examples include crime, violence, drug abuse, and environmental problems.
Such social problems can be found at the local, state, national and international
levels.
There are many social problems that teenagers go threw. Drugs and
Teenagers Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in todays high
schools. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years
most crucial in the maturation process. During these years adolescents are faced
with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles,
assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals
that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily, adolescents are curious
and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there us a
temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result
of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability.
Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn leads to depression and suicide.
One of the most important reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure.
Peer pressure represents social influences that effect adolescents, it can have a
positive or a negative effect, depending on persons social group and one can
follow one path of the other. We are greatly influenced by the people around us.
According to the lecturer from Faculty of Leadership and Management (FKP),
Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM), Madam Marina Muneera Abdul
Muttalib said that, in todays schools drugs are very common, peer pressure
usually is the reason for their usage. If the people in the social group use drugs
there will be pressure a direct or indirect pressure from them. A person may be
offered to try drugs, which is direct pressure. Indirect pressure is when someone
sees everyone around him using drugs and he might think that there is nothing
wrong with using drugs. Person might try drugs just to fit in the social norms,
even if a person had no intentions of using drugs one might do it just to be
considered cool by his friends.
Today drugs are considered to be an acceptable social phenomenon by many
teenagers. Here is a personal example of drug use from a teenager, When I
started using, was only on weekends, at parties. I used drugs recreationally and

therefore thought I had no addiction problem. I used drugs like nicotine,

marijuana or LSD to be happy or to have fun. I needed drugs. I kept using drugs,
I used drugs like marijuana to fit socially. I had problems in my life, emotionally,
that drugs only seemed to solve. Drugs made my problems worse. I started
snorting cocaine. I injected heroin into my veins. I almost died. I was addicted.
In todays highs schools the availability and variety of drugs is widespread.
There is a demand for drugs and the supply is plentiful. Since drugs are so easy
accessible, a natural interest in them may develop. Many teenagers today
believe that the first use of drugs is safe. However even though there is no
instant addiction with the first try, youngsters tend to experiment further. Soon a
person could actively seek the euphoric effects of drugs. Drug addiction is the
result of intense preoccupation with the dicer to experience the mental and bodily
changes with drug use. The final and the most disastrous stage are when a
person needs drugs in order to function adequately. Therefore availability,
curiosity and experimentation could result in drug addiction among teenagers.
According to the staff of government, Mohd Azuan Hussin, 26, said that, one
of the most devastating side effects of drug addiction and abuse is depression.
Depression is the result of chemical imbalance, environmental influence, or a
combination of both. Using heavy and very highly addictive drugs as heroin,
cocaine, opium and many others will cause sudden mood changes, deterioration
of the immune system, nervous breakdowns, unusual flares of temper and many
other side effects. Besides physical side effects, drug addiction can create
problems in a persons social circles. The person may run into many conflicts
with his family and friends, resulting in desire for isolation. This in turn will create
more problems since the person will have no social support. Furthermore, drug
addiction is a financial strain especially for teenagers. When a person is addicted
to drugs he will do anything to obtain money to fulfill his needs. Drug addiction is
the results of 3 Is. Teenagers may think of their problems as Inescapable,
Interminable and Intolerable. Life may seem bleak and miserable. Seeing no way
out feeling lonely and no prospects for improvement leads to depression. This
can further lead to attempted suicide.
Many studies have found that drugs are a contributing factor to suicide. Using
drugs may reduce inhibitions and impair judgments, suicide is a possibility. As
one statistic illustrates 70% of all young people who attempted suicide used
drugs. Illegal drugs, for example, weed, speed, acid, or ecstasy has always been
a problem among the younger folks, the problems gets even more serious if it
involves additive substances such as cocaine. The most common seen illegal
drug around teens in BC is Ecstasy, or generally called E. Es are usually
involved in rave parties; people take Es and dance overnight. The academic
name for E is hallucinogenic stimulant, it generally affects the concentration of
the brain, and it can change ones mood, sleep, sexual behavior, body
temperature and appetite. The sensation sight, sound and touch are enhanced,
thats why its usually used at discos and parties. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes

to get high and about three to four hours to wear off. Side effects include heart
and blood pressure problems, blurred vision, chills and sweating. The tablet
changes every week and counterfeits are always around, it is not addictive. It is
illegal to buy, sell, produce or posses any amount of E.
The problems of teenage drug use, depression and suicide are evident in our
society. These are very real and threatening issues that have to be dealt with.
Going into the 21st century we have to face to problems of our future generations.
There are many non-profitable organizations that help teenagers to cope with
drug use. There are help lines, community services that offer information about
drugs, and individual counseling is available almost in every education institution.
There is help available to those who seek it.
Unplanned pregnancy and the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases
continue to be prevalent problems among adolescents. These problems often
result in adverse health, social, and economic consequences for teenagers and
their families.
Currently, there is little practice-based information concerning interventions
designed to improve communication comfort about sexually related issues within
families, especially between parents and their adolescents. Adolescents often
engage in a wide range of high-risk sexual behaviors that can result in adverse
health, social, and economic consequences for themselves and their families.
Many of the programs serving teens and their families do not utilize social
learning or other similar approaches to facilitate effective communication about
sex between parents and their adolescents. In addition, many programs do not
emphasize effective familial communication about adolescent sexuality,
specifically the prevention of pregnancy and STIs, and this lack of attention may
explain why changes in adolescents knowledge, attitudes, and skills have not
always resulted in corresponding changes in their risk-taking sexual behaviors.
According to the student from Faculty of Syariah and Law (FSU), Islamic
Science University of Malaysia (USIM), Nur Nabihah Johari,22, said that parents
need accurate information and support to feel more comfortable and confident
that they possess the necessary communication skills to be effective in
discussing risk-taking sexual behaviors with their adolescents. Although effective
familial sex communication can lead to decreased adolescent risk-taking sexual
behaviors, discomfort experienced by parents and their adolescents in speaking
about adolescent sexuality can prevent effective sex education from occurring.
In terms of communication an emphasis on comfort needs to be given to
helping parents increase communication skills while strengthening relationships.
Adolescents who are sexually active are more likely to report poor
communication with their parents. Sex education that provides skills training
based on social-learning principles can be an important type of practice-based
educational approach. Social-learning theory suggests that the norms and

behavior of the people around teenagers, particularly parents, influence their

behavior. Most sex education programs communicate that it is desirable to
postpone sexual intercourse and that unprotected sex should be avoided. These
programs may take place in school or community settings such as hospitals.
They usually combine information on human sexuality with specific, concrete
skills-building sessions on how to resist influences encouraging sexual activity.
Some of these programs also work to increase parentchild communication on
sexuality and sexual choices. Although evaluations of these programs have not
provided conclusive evidence, they do appear to be effective in postponing
sexual activity among virgins. It is important to note that while they do not appear
to influence the level of sexual activity of those already sexually active, these
programs may help these teens use contraceptives more effectively. Teens not
only need information about their sexuality, but they also need to know how to
apply this information in daily life. For most people, including adolescents, there is
usually a gap between what people know and what they do. Therefore, sex
education programs need to place emphasis on teaching decision-making skills,
life skills, and life planning.
Social workers and other helping professionals need to take leadership roles
in designing, implementing, directing, and evaluating comprehensive and
effective practice interventions in all areas of practice, including those that involve
familial sex education approaches and programs. However, practitioners must
first recognize and then acknowledge that parents have a vital role to play in
prevention efforts. Preventative sex education efforts of most programs still
largely exclude parents as agents of change in agency-based interventions
intended to reduce adolescent risk-taking sexual behaviors. Sex education
information has been shown to be more effective when combined with familial
sex communication. It seems reasonable to believe that parental involvement
could be successfully incorporated into existing sex education programs. Doing
so may result in both reduced risk-taking sexual behaviors by adolescents and
increased levels of comfort during familial sex communication.
For the conclusion, one of the most important goals is to prevent children
from violating any further so they can become responsible and successful adults.
The second most important goal is to protect society from the criminal acts of
children. Parents need to teach children self-control by monitoring the childs
behavior, recognizing the different behaviors when they occur, and punishing
those which are unacceptable. Through education, treatment, and affection,
prevention of criminal acts reaches juveniles and assists them into a healthier
and better life. To be able to use these components at the earliest stage possible
is to keep these teenagers away from ever entering the juvenile justice system in
the first place. With the help of education, training, and support for the staff,
probation officers can be better prepared to take on diverse cases of all types.
The juvenile justice system needs improvement. Probation officers, judges, and
family members need to make effective decisions about who should really be
incarcerated and/or receive probation. If an offense made is not extremely

serious and the client and officer can agree on a punishment, the child does not
need to present himself upon a judge. If either the client or officer wants to make
an appearance in court, an agreement cannot be reached, or threats have been
made involving either parties or others, a court decision is most suggested. In
addition, to making the correct choices, good community programs are also
necessary to place delinquents in a better environment to be able to succeed.
Though juveniles tend to steal, trespass, fight, drink, take drugs, use profanity,
run away from home, and miss school, many solutions were being thought about
to prevent these flaws. The first has already been mentioned and deals with
toughening up and placing juveniles in adult courts. The removing offenders
from society for longer periods of time will reduce crime. Those who have not
committed a serious crime will come to the realization of the possible
punishments such as life in prison, the death penalty, and others. Violent
offenders would be less likely to repeat their crimes by learning from their first
lesson
http://www.articlesbase.com/mens-issues-articles/social-issues-2384059.html

Nowadays, drug addiction is a serious social issue happens in Malaysia especially to the
youth. This problem will lead to the serious complex brain system when a person is
starting to addict a drug. The statistics shows from Pemadam (Malaysia Society Drug
Prevention) that 32141 more male teenagers involve into this issue than the 667 female
teenagers with the total difference is 31474. So, actually what are the main factors,
implications and the prevention to this problem?
The first main factor is about the family history of addiction. It is due to the interested to
try for once time when look to the siblings or parents that addicted to the drug. Besides
that, the persuasion from them and it is very difficult to refuse it. Other than that, the
second factor is from the peer influence. If we are befriending to the drug addict one day
we also will be a drug addict too. Means to say here is the closest friend can bring heavily
influence to the person because we want to do the same thing, we have the same
enthusiasm and we can share all the secrets and problems to them. Furthermore, the stress
of his life also can lead to this addiction. The easiest way to solve all the problems in his
life, he just take the drug. When the problems happen again, he will do the same thing
and become a drug addict soon.
What are the implications of the drug addiction? Obviously, it can lead to death. First, it
will damage nerve of the brain system and destroy slowly the body system. After all,
contain in the drug if we take it exceed will bring us serious diseases such as AIDS and
HIV. Then, drug addiction indeed wasting our money. The price to buy the drug now is
very expensive also hard to get it and the drug addicts will do anything to prevent the
addiction. In addition, this social issue totally causes many other problems such as rob,
rape, and murder cases.
The ways to prevent this problem are the family of the drug addict needs to give all the
supports to the drug addicts so that they have the spirit to change themselves. It is very

prominence to the person from involve to the problem again. Furthermore, a drug addict
should be send to the rehabilitation home for the treatments and recover from the drug.
Besides that, the imposing laws need to be coherent and all the actions must do quickly to
reduce the numbers of drug addicts.
Lastly, everybody should avoid from being involves with the drug addiction and do as we
can to prevent this problem from being worse to our country and next generation.