Preventing drug use in vulnerable ages such as adolescence and youth must be analyzed with a comprehensive, multisectoral approach and with active participation from the individual, the community, the family, and society in a country where the policy is zero tolerance for this phenomenon.
To this end, the Joel Nieves Casas Community Mental Health Center reaches out to various Holguin communities each month. With its specialists to provide prevention messages and psychological support.
Regarding this topic of particular interest, Ariagna Ochoa Hidalgo, Master of Community Mental Health, explains that every third week of the month. When drug prevention interventions are carried out nationwide. We intensify health prevention actions and place great importance on reaching the community, schools, and every space where this topic can be addressed.
In this regard, the department head of the Community Mental Health Center states that “the first thing that must be done is to eliminate the stigmas and taboos associated with drugs.
As it is a complex issue to address, considering that our culture was not characterized by such a rapid increase in consumption and is not prepared to deal with it. It is not sure what to do in the event of such an incident, nor does it have the defense and prevention mechanisms to prevent young people from resorting to this type of consumption.”
When responding to drug use, it is necessary to identify the risk factors related to consumption. Among the individual factors are low self-esteem and frustration tolerance, and few coping mechanisms for dealing with everyday problems.
Among schoolchildren, the most common are declining academic performance, lack of motivation at school, overexertion, lack of self-control, behavioral problems, and behavioral disturbances. Dropping out of school and from school is another factor to consider. From a community perspective, the lack of recreational and leisure spaces can play a role.
This can trigger a red light and alert us that the adolescent or young person may be using drugs. Hence the importance of community preventive work. Also responsible for the Coordinator of the Mental Health Program in the municipality of Holguin, she concluded, the population must be sensitized to understand that they are dealing with an illness.
The best way to avoid it is always through prevention, keeping in mind that the rehabilitation process is complex, painful, long, inconsistent, and requires a great deal of effort and sacrifice. Therefore, it is best for young people to acquire defense mechanisms so they can voluntarily understand that a drug-free life, free from these uses, is better.
Addictions are considered a pandemic because they are on the rise worldwide, and Cuba is no exception. Also being a geographically vital hub surrounded by countries that sell and traffic drugs. The government’s commitment to preventing drug use is aimed at protecting the health and well-being of young people. As well as promoting healthy development and a full life in the future.
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