Identify potential risk and protective factors that may influence Essay

Identify potential risk and protective factors that may influence adolescents drug and alcohol use, and why do we need to consider these. Discuss - Essay Example These programs and services provided by the professionals meet the rigorous standards of the nations. They are considered to be the vertebral column of the public health reaction required to address this universal epidemic. The variation in treatment and the revitalization programs are considerable. However, it has been observed that these treatment programs are still not inclusive, accessible or affordable for everyone. Those individuals who genuinely need proper care and treatment must get access to it. In reality, out of five million individuals, nearly two million, who are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, have the benefit of receiving proper and adequate treatment. Thus, about 60 percent of the drug and alcohol patients are deprived of proper treatment. One indisputable fact remains for the individuals who receive adequate treatment. This includes the assistance of families, pals and the society. They play a significant role in the overall recovery process. We should no t underestimate their timely involvement, encouragement, support to get out the addiction and help them to maintain sobriety (Facts about Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Treatment, Recovery and Use, n.d.). According to the European Union, the main reasons that provoke young Europeans to go for drug addiction are curiosity, peer pressure, thrill seeking and problems at home. The other reasons are loneliness, recreation, problems at schools or workplace, lack of willpower, expected effect of the drug and social or economic problems (Young people and drugs, 2004, p. 25). Figure 1 shows the trend in the causes behind drug abuse between 2002 and 2004. It has been estimated that nearly 3 percent of the total population of the world (that is, about 185 million people) have abused drugs during the period of June 2003 to June 2004. This report has been submitted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). About 13 million of the world