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Source text - English Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem and may characterize those who take drugs as morally weak. One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction—that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of that, stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower. Through scientific advances we now know much more about how exactly drugs work in the brain, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and resume their productive lives.
What is drug addiction?
Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual that is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs.
It is because of these changes in the brain that it is so challenging for a person who is addicted to stop abusing drugs. Fortunately, there are treatments that help people to counteract addiction's powerful disruptive effects and regain control. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medications, if available, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches that are tailored to each patient's drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse.
Similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, drug addiction can be managed successfully. And, as with other chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for a person to relapse and begin abusing drugs again. Relapse, however, does not signal failure—rather, it indicates that treatment should be reinstated, adjusted, or that alternate treatment is needed to help the individual regain control and recover.
What happens to your brain when you take drugs?
Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain's communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. There are at least two ways that drugs are able to do this: (1) by imitating the brain's natural chemical messengers, and/or (2) by overstimulating the "reward circuit" of the brain.
Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, have a similar structure to chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, which are naturally produced by the brain. Because of this similarity, these drugs are able to "fool" the brain's receptors and activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages.
Other drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause the nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters, or prevent the normal recycling of these brain chemicals, which is needed to shut off the signal between neurons. This disruption produces a greatly amplified message that ultimately disrupts normal communication patterns.
Nearly all drugs, directly or indirectly, target the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over-stimulation of this system, which normally responds to natural behaviors that are linked to survival (eating, spending time with loved ones, etc), produces euphoric effects in response to the drugs. This reaction sets in motion a pattern that "teaches" people to repeat the behavior of abusing drugs.
As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine by producing less dopamine or by reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. As a result, dopamine's impact on the reward circuit is lessened, reducing the abuser's ability to enjoy the drugs and the things that previously brought pleasure. This decrease compels those addicted to drugs to keep abusing drugs in order to attempt to bring their dopamine function back to normal. And, they may now require larger amounts of the drug than they first did to achieve the dopamine high—an effect known as tolerance.
Long-term abuse causes changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that influences the reward circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate, which can impair cognitive function. Drugs of abuse facilitate nonconscious (conditioned) learning, which leads the user to experience uncontrollable cravings when they see a place or person they associate with the drug experience, even when the drug itself is not available. Brain imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals show changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decisionmaking, learning and memory, and behavior control. Together, these changes can drive an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively despite adverse consequences—in other words, to become addicted to drugs.
Why do some people become addicted, while others do not?
No single factor can predict whether or not a person will become addicted to drugs. Risk for addiction is influenced by a person's biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. The more risk factors an individual has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. For example:
* Biology. The genes that people are born with—in combination with environmental influences—account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction.
* Environment. A person's environment includes many different influences—from family and friends to socioeconomic status and quality of life in general. Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress, and parental involvement can greatly influence the course of drug abuse and addiction in a person's life.
* Development. Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person's life to affect addiction vulnerability, and adolescents experience a double challenge. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the more likely it is to progress to more serious abuse. And because adolescents' brains are still developing in the areas that govern decisionmaking, judgment, and self-control, they are especially prone to risk-taking behaviors, including trying drugs of abuse.
Prevention is the key
Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs that involve the family, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. Although many events and cultural factors affect drug abuse trends, when youths perceive drug abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug taking. It is necessary, therefore, to help youth and the general public to understand the risks of drug abuse and for teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals to keep sending the message that drug addiction can be prevented if a person never abuses drugs.
Being a teenager and raising a teenager are individually, and collectively, enormous challenges. For many teens, illicit substance use and abuse become part of the landscape of their teenage years. Although most adolescents who use drugs do not progress to become drug abusers, or drug addicts in adulthood, drug use in adolescence is a very risky proposition. Even small degrees of substance abuse (for example, alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants) can have negative consequences. Typically, school and relationships, notably family relationships, are among the life areas that are most influenced by drug use and abuse.
One of the most telling signs of a teen's increasing involvement with drugs is when drug use becomes part of the teen's daily life. Preoccupation with drugs can crowd out previously important activities, and the manner in which the teen views him or her self may change in unrealistic and inaccurate directions. Friendship groups may change, sometimes dramatically, and relationships with family members can become more distant or conflictual. Further bad signs include more frequent use or use of greater amounts of a certain drug, or use of more dangerous drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, or heroin. Persistent patterns of drug use in adolescence are a sign that problems in that teen's environment exist and need to be addressed immediately.
What causes adolescent substance abuse?
There is no single cause of adolescent drug problems. Drug abuse develops over time; it does not start as full-blown abuse or addiction. There are different pathways or routes to the development of a teen's drug problems. Some of the factors that may place teens at risk for developing drug problems include:
* insufficient parental supervision and monitoring
* lack of communication and interaction between parents and kids
* poorly defined and poorly communicated rules and expectations against drug use
* inconsistent and excessively severe discipline
* family conflict
* favorable parental attitudes toward adolescent alcohol and drug use, and parental alcoholism or drug use
It is important to also pay attention to individual risk factors. These include:
* high sensation seeking
* impulsiveness
* psychological distress
* difficulty maintaining emotional stability
* perceptions of extensive use by peers
* perceived low harmfulness to use
How do you know when to seek help?
The earlier one seeks help for their teen's behavioral or drug problems, the better. How is a parent to know if their teen is experimenting with or moving more deeply into the drug culture? Above all, a parent must be a good and careful observer, particularly of the little details that make up a teen's life. Overall signs of dramatic change in appearance, friends, or physical health may be signs of trouble. If a parent believes his or her child may be drinking or using drugs, here are some things to watch for:
* Physical evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia
* Behavior problems and poor grades in school
* Emotional distancing, isolation, depression, or fatigue
* Change in friendships or extreme influence by peers
* Hostility, irritability, or change in level of cooperation around the house
* Lying or increased evasiveness about after school or weekend whereabouts
* Decrease in interest in personal appearance
* Physical changes such as bloodshot eyes, runny nose, frequent sore throats, rapid weight loss
* Changes in mood, eating, or sleeping patterns
* Dizziness and memory problems
Being a teenager is often a confusing, challenging time, which can make teens vulnerable to falling into a destructive pattern of drug use. While most teens probably see their drug use as a casual way to have fun, there are negative effects that are a result of this use of alcohol or other drugs. Even if adolescent drug use does not necessarily lead to adult drug abuse, there are still risks and consequences of adolescent drug use. These negative effects usually include a drop in academic performance or interest, and strained relationships with family or friends.
Adolescent substance abuse can greatly alter behavior, and a new preoccupation with drugs can crowd out activities that were previously important. Drug use can also change friendships as teens begin to associate more with fellow drug users, who encourage and support one another's drug use. For adolescents, these changes as a result of substance abuse signal a problem in the teen's environment, and should be seen as a call to action for parents, teachers, or friends to seek help for their loved one.
Seeking Help
The sooner you can recognize that your teen is abusing alcohol or other drugs, the sooner you can seek help. Make sure to keep track of your teen, their friends, and where they are going. While your teen will probably call you a nag or become annoyed with the constant questions, it is more important to make sure that you know what is going on in your child's life, so that if a problem does arise you can take rapid action.
There are some things to look for in your adolescent's behavior that may be indications of drug use, which include changes in appearances, friends, behavior, and interests. Indications of substance abuse may include:
* physical evidence of drugs or drug paraphernalia
* behavior problems and a drop in academic performance
* emotional distancing, depression, or fatigue
* changes in mood, eating patterns, or sleeping patterns
* change in friendships
* increased hostility or irritability
* decrease in interest in personal appearance
* lying or increased evasiveness about school or weekend activities
If your teen exhibits these behaviors, they may have a problem with substance abuse, and the sooner you seek help for them, the better.
Treatment
Once teens start using drugs, they are not usually motivated to stop. For many teens, drugs are a pleasurable way to relax and fit in. For teens, drugs also don't represent a serious threat because teens typically have the mentality that they are invincible. Because of this, it is important that parents and friends are involved in encouraging adolescents to enter treatment in order to help them achieve a drug free lifestyle. Without this support, it is unlikely that teens will seek help for their drug problem.
There is a variety of treatment programs for adolescent substance abuse, and when seeking help for a loved one, it is important that the treatment program that you choose suits their individual needs.
Treatment for adolescent substance abuse usually includes:
* Detoxification: Detoxification is for adolescents who need safe, medically supervised relief from withdrawal symptoms when they first enter a rehabilitation program.
* Residential Rehabilitation: Residential rehabilitation is for teens who cannot stop using drugs without 24 hour supervision. Teens in residential rehab are individuals who have continued to use despite knowledge of the risks and consequences, or have continued to use despite previous attempts to stop. In a residential rehab program, these teens can learn and practice new skills that will help them in recovery. Residential programs may include individual and group therapy, 12-step programs, and relapse prevention.
* Intensive Outpatient Program: Intensive outpatient programs are for teens who have committed to staying drug free, but need treatment after school to prevent use and promote recovery. These programs can also include adolescents who have already completed residential treatment, but feel that they need further support in the transition back into daily life. These programs usually rely on support from friends and family.
* Aftercare/continuing care: These programs are a very important part of recovery, and help adolescents to maintain a drug free lifestyle. These programs usually include family support groups, or alumni support groups of people who have also completed a treatment program to provide support for the adolescent in recovery.
These treatment programs are designed to teach teens the skills that will help them to maintain their recovery and to sustain a drug-free lifestyle.
Translation - Croatian Brojni ljudi ne razumiju zbog čega individualci postaju ovisnicima ili kako droge izmijenjuju mozak tako da nastane kompulzivna zloupotreba droge. Zloupotreba droge se pogrešno smatra strogim društvenim problemom te da se ovim stavom se mogu karakterizirati korisnici droge kao moralno slabašnim. Jedno stanovište sastoji se od mišljenja da korisnici droga mogu prestati uzimate te droge kad bi samo bili voljni da promijene svoje ponašanje. To što mnogi često podcjenjuju jeste složenost ovisnosti o drogi - da je to bolest koja ima znatan učinak na mozak te da zbog toga prestanak zloupotrebe droga nije samo pitanje samovoljnosti. Putem znanstvenih napredaka sada znamo mnogo više o načinu na kojem ove droge djeluju na sami mozak, te također znamo da se ljudska ovisnost o drogama može uspješno liječiti u zaustavljanju upotrebe droga tako da ovi ljudi mogu prestati sa zloupotrebom te nastaviti s svojim produktivnim životima.
Što se podrazumijeva pod ovisnošću o drogama?
Ovisnost jeste kronična, često remitirajuća bolest mozga koja prouzročava kompulzivno potraživanje droga te upotrebu unatoč štetnim posljedicama ovisnim pojedincima i onih oko njih. Ovisnost o drogama je bolest mozga zato jer zloupotreba droga dovodi do promjena u strukturi i funkcioniranju mozga. Mada je za mnoge ljude istinito da je prvobitna odluka da se uzmu droge potpuno samovoljna, nakon izvjesnog vremena ove promjene u mozgu koje su prouzročavane od strane opetovane zloupotrebe droga može utjecati na osobnu samokontrolu kao i na samu sposobnost donošenja ispravnih odluka, te istovremeno poslati intenzivne poticaje da se droge uzimaju.
Zbog ovih samih promjena u mozgu vrlo je izazovno osobi koja je ovisnik da zaustavi sa zlouporabom droga. Na svaku sreću, postoje terapije koje ljudima pokazuju kako treba suzbijati snažne remetne efekte asocirane s ovisnošću tako da mogu nanovo zadobiti kontrolu. Istraživanja ukazuju na to da je kombiniranje medicina liječenje ovisnosti, u slučaju da su dostupni, sa terapijama ponašanja, najbolji način da se osigura uspjeh u slučaju većine pacijenata. Terapijski pristupi koji su usklađeni obrascima zloupotrebe svakog individualnog pacijenta i bilo kakvim nastalim medicinskim, odnosno psihijatrijskim, i društvenim problemima mogu dovesti do održivog oporavka te do života bez zloupotrebe droga.
Slično drugim kroničnim, remitirajućim bolestima, poput dijabetesa, astme, ili srčane bolesti, ovisnošću o drogama se može uspješno upraviti te, kao i sa drugim kroničnim bolestima, nije neobičajeno da osoba doživi remitirajući povraćaj i da počne nanovo zloupotrebljavati droge. Povratak nije signal neuspjeha – umjesto toga ukazuje na to da se određena terapija mora ponovo uspostaviti, prilagoditi, ili da je alternativna terapija nužna da pomogne individualcu da nanovo zadobije kontrolu te da se oporavi.
Što se događa sa vašim mozgom kada uzimate droge?
Droge su kemikalije koje se prikluče moždanom komunikacijskom sustavu te remete metodu kojom živčane stanice normalno šalju, primaju, te prerađuju informacije. Postoje barem dva načina kojima ovo postižu: (1) oponašajući prirodne kemijske poručitelje unutar mozga, te (2) prekomjernim poticanjem "nagradnog sklopa" unutar mozga.
Neke droge, poput marihuane i heroina, imaju sličnu strukturu ovim kemijskim poručnicima, nazvanim neurotransmitorima, koje prirodno proizvodi sami mozak. Upravo zbog ove sličnosti, ove droge imaju sposobnost da prevare moždane receptore te da aktiviraju živčane ćelije da bi mogle poslati nenormalne poruke.
Druge droge, poput kokaina i metamfetamina, mogu prouzrokovati živčanim ćelijama da otpuste abnormalno velike količine prirodnih neurotransmitora, ili da spriječe normalno recikliranje ovih moždanih kemikalija, koje je potrebno da se zaustavi signal između moždanih ćelija. Ovaj prekid proizvodi poruku koja je uvelike amplificirana koja ultimativno prekida normalne komunikacijske obrasce.
Gotovo sve droge, izravno i neizravno, gađaju moždani sustav nagrađivanja s time da preplave sklopku sa dopaminom. Dopamin jeste neurotransmitor koji je prisutan u područjima mozga koji kontrolira pokret, čuvstva, motivaciju, te osjećaje zadovoljstva. Prekomjerno stimuliranje ovog sustava, koje normalno reagira na prirodna ponašanja koja su vezana za opstanak (jelo, provođenje vremena s voljenim, itd.) proizvodi euforične efekte kao reakcija na droge. Ova reakcija pokreće obrazac koja "podučava" ljudi na to da ponavljaju ponašanje zloupotrebe droga.
Kada osoba nastavi sa zloupotrebom droga, mozak se privikne silovitim valovima dopamina tako da proizvede manje količine dopamina ili smanjivanjem broja receptora s dopaminom u nagradnoj sklopki. Kao rezultat ovoga, učinak dopamina na nagradnu sklopku je umanjena, umanjujući sposobnost korisnika da uživa u drogama i u stvarima koje su prethodno donosile sreću. Ovo umanjivanje prisiljava one ovisnike da i dalje zloupotrebljavaju droge u pokušaju da vrate funkcionalne razine dopamina do normalnih razina; oni možda sada zahtijevaju veće količine droge nego prije da dosegnu iste visine sa dopaminom - ishod koji se naziva tolerancija.
Dugoročna zloupotreba također prouzročava promjene u drugim kemijskim sustavima i sklopkama unutar mozga. Glutamat je neurotransmitor koji utječe na nagradnu sklopku i na sposobnost učenja. Kada je optimalna koncentracija glutamata promijenjena od strane upotrebe droga, mozak pokušava stvoriti nadoknadu, koje može narušiti kognitivnu funkciju. Droge zloupotrebe omogućavaju nesvjesno (uvjetovano) učenje, koje dovodi korisnika da doživi nekontrolirane psihičke žudnje kada vide mjesta ili osobe koje oni asociraju sa iskustvom korištenja droga, čak kada sama droga nije dostupna. Studiji moždanog oslikavanja pojedinaca koji su ovisnici o drogama pokazuju promjene u područjima mozga koja su kritična za rasuđivanje, donošenje odluka, učenje, memoriju, te kontrolu ponašanja. Uzeti zajedno, ove promjene mogu dovesti korisnika droga da potraži i uzme droge kompulzivno unatoč nepovoljnim posljedicama – drugim riječima, da postane ovisnikom o drogama. Zbog čega neki ljudi postaju ovisnici, a neki ne postaju?
Nema pojedinačnih faktora koji mogu previdjeti da li će neka osoba postati ovisnikom. Rizik ovisnosti ovisi o osobnim biološkim karakteristikama, društvenom okolišu, te životnoj dobi ili razini razvoja. Što god više rizičnih faktora neka osoba posjeduje uvećava se mogućnost da uzimanje droga može dovesti do ovisnosti. Primjerice:
*Biološki. Kakvoćom gena s kojima su ljudi rođeni – uzeta u obzir s kombinacijom okolišnih utjecaja – može se uračunati otprilike polovica ranjivosti prema samoj ovisnosti. Dodatno tome, spol, etnicitet, te prisutnost drugih psihičkih poremećaja može utjecati na rizik za zloupotrebu droge i ovisnost.
*Okolišni. Osobni okoliš uključuje mnoge druge utjecaje – od obitelji i prijatelja do društveno-gospodarskih uvjeta, te kvalitete života općenito govoreći. Faktori poput utjecaja prijatelja, fizičko i seksualno zlostavljanje, te uključenost roditelja može uvelike utjecati na tokove zloupotrebe droga i ovisnosti u životu osobe.
*Razvojni. Genetički i okolišni faktori međusobno djeluju sa kritičnim razvojnim fazama u životu osobe da bi utjecali na ranjivost na samu ovisnost, a adolescenti doživljavaju dvostruki izazov. Mada uzimajući droge u bilo kojoj životnoj dobi može dovesti do ovisnosti, što god ranije počne korištenje droga, veća je mogućnost da ovakav progres može dovesti do još ozbiljnije zloupotrebe. Uz to, mozgovi adolescenata su posebice naklonjeni ponašanjima koji su rizični zato što se još razvijaju u onim područjima koje upravljaju donošenjem odluka, prosuđivanjem, te kontroliranjem samih sebe, stoga su naklonjeni pokušajima zloupotrebe drogama.
Spriječavanje jeste ključno
Ovisnosti o drogama je bolest koja se može vrlo lako spriječiti. Rezultati istraživanja potaknuto od strane NIDA (Nacionalne Agencije za Dokumentaciju Zloupotrebe Droga) pokazala su da su programi spriječavanja koji uključuju obitelji, škole, zajednice, te medije efektivni u smanjivanju zloupotrebi droga. Mada mnogi događaji i kulturološki faktori utječu na trendove zloupotrebe droge, kada mladež osjeti da je zloupotreba štetna, onda uvjetno umanji svoje uzimanje droga. Potrebno je stoga da se pomogne mladeži i općoj javnosti da shvate zloupotrebe droga, te da učitelji, roditelji, i zdravstveni radnici nastavljaju s porukom da ovisnost o drogama može biti spriječena ako osoba nikada ne zloupotrijebi droge. Biti adolescent i odgajajući adolescenta individualno su, i kolektivno, ogromni izazovi. Za mnoge adolescente, nezakonita upotreba droga i zloupotreba postaju dio krajolika adolescentih godina. Mada mnogi adolescenti koji se koriste drogama ne dožive progres do zloupotrebljavača droga, ili ovisnika kao odraslih ljudi, upotreba droga u adolescentim godinama jeste vrlo rizična propozicija. Čak manji stupnjevi zloupotrebe droga (primjerice, alkohola, marihuane, te droga koje se udišu) može imati negativne posljedice. Tipično, škole i veze, posebice obiteljske veze, nalaze se među životnim aktivnostima na koje najviše utječe korištenje droga i njihova zloupotreba.
Jedan od najznačajnijih znakova da adolescent uvećava uključenost s drogama jeste kada ova droga postaje dio dnevnog života tog adolescenta. Rasijanost s drogama može izgurnuti prethodno važne aktivnosti, te način na kojem adolescent gleda samog sebe ili samu sebe može promijeniti u nerealističnim i neispravnim smjerovima. Prijateljske skupine se mijenjaju, ponekad dramatično, te odnosi sa obiteljskim članovima mogu postati udaljenim ili sukobljenim. Daljnji loši znakovi uključuju još češća upotreba ili upotreba većih količina određene droge, ili upotreba još opasnijih droga, poput kokaina, amfetamina, ili heroina. Trajni obrasci upotrebe droga u adolescenata znak su da problemi postoje u okolini tog adolescenta, te se moraju odmah riješiti.
Što prouzročava zloupotrebu droge u adolescentima
Ne postoji jedan jedinstveni uzrok kada se radi o adolescentnim problemima s drogama. Zloupotreba droga razvije se s vremenom; ne započne kao potpuna zloupotreba ili ovisnost. Postoje različiti putevi ili staze do razvoja adolescentnog problema s drogama. Neki od ovih faktora koji mogu staviti adolescente u rizičnoj kategoriji da razviju probleme s drogama uključuju:
• Nedovoljni roditeljski nadzor i nadgledanja
• nedostatak komunikacije i interakcija između roditelja i djece
• slabo definirana i slabo komunicirana pravila i očekivanja protiv upotrebe droga
• Nedosljedna i neumjereno gruba disciplina
• Pogodni roditeljski stavovi prema adolescentnim upotrebama alkohola i droga, te alkoholizam ili upotreba droga samih roditelja.
Također je važno da se posveti pažnja faktorima individualnog rizika. Ovi uključuju:
• Potraživanje visokih senzacija
• impulzivnost
• psihološke neprilike
• poteškoće u održavanju emocionalne stabilnosti
• percepcije široke upotrebe od strane vršnjaka
Kako možete znati kada treba zatražiti pomoć?
Što god ranije da osoba zatraži pomoć za bihevioralne probleme i probleme s drogama svoga adolescenta, to bolje. Kako može roditelj znati da njegov adolescent eksperimentira sa drogama ili se kreće dalje unutar kulture droga? Povrh svega, roditelj mora biti dobar i brižljiv promatrač, osobito malih detalja koji sačinjavaju adolescentni život. Cjelokupni znakovi dramatične promjene u vanjštini, prijateljima, ili fizičkom zdravlju mogu biti znakovi nevolja. Ako roditelj vjeruje da njegovo ili njezino dijete možda pije alkohol ili uzima droge, evo nekih stvari na koje možete pripaziti:
• Fizički dokaz droga ili pribora za korištenje droge
• Bihevioralni problemi i slabe ocjene u školi
• Emocionalno udaljavanje, izolacija, depresija, ili umor
• Promjene u prijateljstvima ili ekstremno utjecanje od strane vršnjaka
• Agresivnost, razdražljivost, ili promjene u razini suradnje u kućanstvu
• Laganje ili povećano izbjegavanje oko događaja poslije škole ili tokom vikenda
• Umanjeni interes u osobni izgled
• Fizičke promjene poput krvavih očiju, balavog nosa, česte upale grla, ubrzani gubitak na težini
• Promjene ćudi, apetita, i obrazaca spavanja
• Vrtoglavica i gubitak memorija.
Razdoblje adolescencije često je zbunjujuće, vrlo izazovno vrijeme, koje može učiniti adolescente ranjivim da upadnu u destruktivni obrazac zloupotrebe droga. Dok mnogi adolescenti vjerovatno vide svoje korištenje droga kao ležerni način da se pozabave, postoje negativni efekti koji proizlaze iz ove upotrebe alkohola i drugih droga. Čak i ako nije nužno da adolescentna zloupotreba droga dovodi do zloupotrebe kao odrasla osoba, postoje još uvijek rizici i posljedice korištenja droga u adolescenciji. Ovi negativni efekti obično uključuju pad u akademskoj učinkovitosti ili interesu, uključujući napete odnose sa obitelji i s prijateljima.
Adolescentna zloupotreba droga može uvelike promijeniti ponašanja, te nova rasijanost sa drogama može izgurnuti aktivnosti koje su prije bile važne. Korištenje droga može također mijenjati prijateljstva dok se adolescenti počinju asocirati sa kolegama korisnicima, koje potiču i podržavaju korištenje droga jedno kod drugih. Za adolescente, ove promjene kao rezultat zloupotrebe droga signaliraju problem u okolišu adolescenta, te bi se morao vidjeti kao poziv roditeljima, nastavnicima, ili prijateljima da potraže pomoć za svoju voljenu osobu.
Tražeći Pomoć
Što god prije možete prepoznati da vaš adolescent zloupotrebljava alkohol ili druge droge, to prije možete potražiti pomoć. Budite sigurni u vašem nadgledanju svog adolescenta, njihovih prijatelja, te gdje se kreću. Dokle vas vaš adolescent može vjerovatno pogrditi ili dok mu mogu smetati vaši neprestani upiti, važnije je da znate što se događa u životu vašeg djeteta, tako da ako nastane problem možete brzo postupiti sa rješenjima.
Ima nekih stvari koje morate tražiti u ponašanju vašeg adolescenta koje mogu biti indikacija korištenja droga, koje uključuju promjene u vanjštini, prijateljima, ponašanju, te interesima. Indikacije zloupotrebe droga može uključivati:
• fizički dokaz droga ili pribora za korištenje droge
• bihevioralni problemi te pad u akademskoj učinkovitosti
• emocionalno udaljavanje, depresija, i umor
• promjene u ćudi, obrascima jela, i obrascima spavanja
• promjene u prijateljstvima
• uvećana agresivnost i razdražljivost
• umanjenost interesa u osobni izgled
• laganje ili uvećano izbjegavanje tema o školi ili o aktivnostima preko vikenda
Ako vaš adolescent iskazuje ova ponašanja, ona možda ima problem sa zlouporabom droga, te
što god prije zatražite pomoć za njih, to bolje.
Tretman
Čim adolescenti počnu koristiti droge, obično nisu motivirani da prestanu. Za mnoge adolescente, droge su zadovoljavajući način opuštanja i način da se uklope. Za adolescente, droge također ne predstavljaju ozbiljnu prijetnju jer oni tipično imaju mentalitet da su neranjivi. Zbog ovoga je važno da su roditelji i prijatelji uključeni u podupiranju adolescenata da pođu u tretman da bi se mogli domoći životnog stila bez droga. Bez ove podrške, malo je vjerovatno da će adolescenti potražiti pomoć da se riješe svojih problema sa drogama.
Postoji raznolikost programa za tretman kad se radi o adolescentnoj zloupotrebi droga, te kada se traži pomoć za voljenu osobu, važno je da će program tretmana koji odaberete najbolje pogodovati njihovim potrebama.
Tretman za adolescentnu upotrebu droge obično uključuje:
• Detoksikacija: Detoksikacija je za one adolescenate kojima je potrebna sigurna, medicinski nadzorna potpora od simptoma ustezanja lijeka kada isprva uđu u rehabilitacijski program.
• Stambena Rehabilitacija: Stambena rehabilitacija namijenjena je adolescentima koji ne mogu prestati uzimati droge bez svakodnevnog nadzora. Adolescenti u stambenom rehabilitacijskom programu su individualci koji su nastavili s korištenjem droga unatoč poznavanju rizika i posljedica, ili su nastavili s korištenjem unatoč prethodnim pokušajima da prestanu. U stambenom rehabilitacijskom programu, ovi adolescenti mogu naučiti i prakticirati nove vještine koje im mogu pomoći tokom oporavka. Stambeni programi uključuju individualne ili grupne terapije, programi sa 12 koraka, te spriječavanje povratka u svijet droga.
• Intenzivni programi van bolnice: Intenzivni programi izvan bolnice postoje za one adolescente koji su odlučni da ostaju slobodni bez droge, ali trebaju tretman poslije škole da bi se spriječila zloupotreba te promovirao oporavak. Ovi programi također mogu uključiti adolescente koji su već dovršili stambeni tretman, ali osjećaju da trebaju daljnju podršku u prijelazu nazad u svakodnevnicu. Ovi programi obično se oslanjaju na podršku od prijatelja i obitelji.
• Poslije tretmana postoji daljnja njega, nastavlja se tretman: Ovi programi su vrlo značajni dio samog oporavka, te pomažu adolescentima da održavaju životni stil bez korištenja droga. Ovi programi obično uključuju grupe obiteljske podrške, ili grupe podrške s prethodnim došljacima koji su također dovršili program tretmana da bi pružali podršku adolescentima u oporavku.
Ovi programi tretmana dizajnirani su da podučavaju adolescente u vještinama koji im pomažu kod održavanja svog oporavka te da zadrže životni stil bez droga.
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Experience
Years of experience: 20. Registered at ProZ.com: Dec 2010.
I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1973 to Croatian parents and grew up speaking both English and Croatian on a daily basis. I excelled in school as a child and was very versatile and verse in activities that had to do with stimulating the verbal part of the mind. At a young age, my mother enlisted my help as a translator and taught me much as well in the process. In 1985, my mother Iva's illness led her to take me to Croatia where she passed away within a few days. I stayed with my mother's sister and became an exchange student in the Croatian school system in Metkovic. I excelled further in my translation abilities in translating topics that were related to my major, mostly economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, etc. After high school, I spent two semesters at the College of Economics in Split, Croatia in 1992. Since that time I have translated two books, one of which is a book by Frano Glavina about the capital of the peninsula of Peljesac, Trpanj (1996). I have translated literary material on the Historical Archives of Croatia after World War II, as well as personal letters, among other things. I started off doing this seasonally, then eventually translated advertising materials for Playboy Digipay through Brian Fukuma for pay (2007). Since then I have continued to translate seasonally while I have worked regular jobs in accounts payable and bookkeeping in the meantime. I hold a masters degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans. I find translating to be an expression of the innermost self and of the inner soul. Although I translate for pay, I continue to translate as voluntary work on occasion because it is fulfilling and because I enjoy every minute of the act itself. I am looking to land a full time job as a translator for an agency that will allow the creative juices to fully flow. At present, I am a subcontractor for Transperfect Translations.
Keywords: croatian, business, economics, technology, software, united states