B) Development of the At-Risk Teen:
As mentioned above, many of the theories of development suggest that there are numerous tasks to accomplish and conflicts and crises to resolve in order for development to proceed in a normative manner. When these developmental processes are not accomplished, or are resolved negatively, then it has a profound impact on the continued development of the individual.
As Freud said, adolescence is a period when unresolved issues begin to manifest through behavior. This, coupled with the increase in hormones, and the need to achieve a group and individual identity, makes normative adolescence an emotional rollercoaster with highs of anxiety and lows of depression.
Adding other powerful factors can push a teen, who lacks the experience and coping skills an adult has, over the edge. Disabilities and disorders make development difficult, and without the proper interventions, a teenager will look for their own methods to ensure their continued development. An experienced trauma and/or loss can raise the level of emotional sensitivity for teens, making them more impulsive than is customary.
Other risk factors include lack of necessities, poor role-models, absence of discipline, stress, family disorganization, divorce, abuse, and neglect (Holmes, 2001). Without support, structure, or boundaries, adolescents that experience these factors will begin At Risk behaviors to vent anger and/or to cry for help. Many risk behaviors are motivated by a desire to self-medicate from the pain adolescents feel. A good example of this type of response is Substance Abuse.
Substance Abuse is characteristic of teens-at-risk, and is defined by the DSM-IV-TR (2000) as a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following features:
1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.
2. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous.
3. Recurrent substance-related legal problems.
4. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance.
Despite the problems that Substance Abuse causes its users, they continue to use it. Lacking resources, many teens, as well as other users, find their own way to alleviate their pain and symptoms, self-medicating, which in turn can cause them more pain through dependence and withdrawal, and ultimately creates a downward spiral. Another explanation of Substance Abuse is that it is a learned behavior. By lowering anxiety and providing pleasure, a person can become conditioned to Substance Abuse (Abadinsky, 2001).
When working with such teens it is even more imperative to use multiple theories and views in understanding who they are, where they come from, and how they think, feel, and function. Using this information to comprehend all aspects of the teen, proper interventions can be used to facilitate change. Incorporating these theories is a distinct challenge in working with teens. In the article, I will share some of my own specific experiences working with teens-at-risk.
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