Although adolescence can be a time of enormous excitement, it can also be a time of great instability. Teenagers are particularly susceptible to sub

Although adolescence can be a time of enormous excitement, it can also be a time of great instability. Teenagers are particularly susceptible to substance use and its numerous hazards as they test the limits of their evolving environment.

In the processes of protecting and promoting the well-being of adolescents, the health sector, especially nursing, plays a significant role. It does this by looking for strategies based on a humanistic perspective and by comprehending the contexts of adolescents' lives and the reasons why they use drugs.

Adolescence presents a unique set of challenges for nurses to address because it increases adolescents' weaknesses in providing care for themselves and others. These challenges range from the very specific aspects of individual vulnerability during this stage of life to issues related to drug use.

In addition to the standard nursing responsibilities of taking vital signs, changing dressings, managing medications, and maintaining patient charts, nurses working in the field of addiction care are also in charge of preparing and scheduling patients for specialist/outside doctor appointments, guiding patients through potentially fatal detox, therapy, and educating patients about medication, the risks of addiction, and treatment options.

The following are some nursing interventions for a client who abuses drugs:

giving the client's family and friends health education. Information regarding the substance, its effects, and recovery is necessary for clients and their families.

addressing issues of family. Many family members may develop their own substance abuse difficulties if given no support and assistance in understanding and coping, which would continue the dysfunctional cycle.

fostering coping mechanisms. Nurses can assist clients in identifying problematic areas in their lives and in considering how substance abuse may have made those issues worse.