The frequent use of methamphetamine is linked to mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia. ● Cocaine: In 2019, about 5.5 million people 12 years of age or older were past users of cocaine. Overdose deaths involving cocaine increased by 33% from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, the use of cocaine can cause an elevation in blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe
medical complications such as heart attacks and seizures can occur. ● Kratom: In 2019, approximately 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia. Its leaves can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently not regulated and can cause nausea, pruritis, seizures, and hallucinations. (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019). Assessment of the adolescent depends on understanding the development of four domains: Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. Consideration of these domains should be part of the assessment process.
ASSESSMENT OF THE ADOLESCENT
Adolescents make up almost 25% of the overall U.S. population. The period of adolescence begins with the onset of puberty and ends in the mid-20s. It is a critical time of development during which primary areas of the brain mature. Adolescence is a period during which the adolescent forms new relationships with peers and adults and explores the possibilities of future adulthood Physical Domain/Development Physical development consists of physical maturation, including changes in the muscles, bones, and organ systems. Physical development generally comprises sensory development (the organ systems underlying the senses and perception), motor development (the actions of the muscles), and nervous system development (the coordination of both perception and Cognitive Domain Cognitive development is sometimes referred to as intellectual or mental development. Cognitive activities include thinking, perception, memory, reasoning, concept development, problem solving, and abstract thinking. According to Knoll and colleagues (2016), most early adolescents still think predominantly in concrete terms. They relate information and experiences to what they currently know and find it difficult to think about the future or other concepts to which they have never been exposed. The ability to think abstractly—to project into the future and Social Domain Social development includes the adolescent’s interactions with other people and their involvement in social groups. The earliest social task is attachment, and the presence or absence of effective parental attachment is a strong predictor of the health and resilience of the child. Developing relationships with adults and peers, assuming a moral system, and eventually assuming a productive role in society are all social tasks (Cooke et al., 2016). While each of these four developmental domains can be examined individually, it is misleading to suggest that development occurs separately in each of the four domains. Development in any domain affects—and is affected by— development in each of the other domains. The developmental milestones of adolescence include puberty (drastic maturing of physical and sexual self), a shift from parents to peer groups as the primary influence, and growing independence in thoughts and actions (Meadows-Oliver, 2019). Even though middle-stage adolescents typically have developed intellectually to a degree comparable to adults, their erroneous beliefs and perceptions often contribute to high-risk behaviors Emotional Domain Adolescents typically experience more frequent high-intensity emotions and fewer low-intensity emotions compared to adults. Adolescents begin to assert their independence and interact less with parents and family and more with peers. Family conflict also increases during this stage of life. The intensity and fluctuations of various emotions contribute to the risk of developing emotional stress and mental health disorders. General characteristics of emotional development of the adolescent encompass the following issues (Meadows-Oliver, 2019). ● Early adolescence: The young teenager begins to develop interest in the opposite sex. However, the peer group is typically composed of same-sex friends.
DOMAINS
movement). In adolescence, puberty marks intense physical as well as sexual awareness and related social imperatives (Cleveland Clinic, 2018; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019). Hormonal and body image changes may also affect adolescent behavior.
to understand intangible concepts—develops as adolescence progresses. The fact that most early adolescents cannot think abstractly has important implications for program planning and necessitates different program approaches from those that would be created for older adolescents. For example, drug prevention programs that ask early adolescents to picture what future opportunities would be lost by using substances would be an ineffective strategy with young people. that can include experimenting with drugs, breaking laws, and engaging in frivolous or dangerous sexual encounters (such as sex without protecting against sexually transmitted infections and/or pregnancy). Also during these times, life events such as family problems of divorce, separation, and drug abuse can further impact the experiences and behaviors of the adolescent (Meadows-Oliver, 2019). Healthcare Professional Consideration: When assessing adolescents, it is critical to consider the pubertal development of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth. Individuals who are gender nonconforming may identify as transgender, genderqueer, gender fluid, gender expansive, or nonbinary. Puberty for this population can be especially stressful. The development of secondary sexual characteristics that do not correlate with an adolescent’s gender identity can be overwhelming and intense (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019). ● Middle adolescence: Self-assurance increases. Independence in making decisions is valued. Of critical importance is conformity with the adolescent’s peer group. The peer group has more influence and leverage compared to parents and other family members. The middle stage adolescent often questions parental and other adult authority, which can lead to rebellion and undesirable behaviors. Risk-taking behaviors, such as substance use and engaging in activities that are dangerous (e.g., driving very fast with a disregard for safety) may appear, especially if the peer group encourages such behaviors.
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Book Code: SWUS1524B
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