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Adverse Childhood Experiences: What is an Ounce of Prevention Worth?
Systematic discrimination, segregation, and racism are the direct effects of redlining laws the exacerbate poverty and increase risk behavior, namely substance abuse, gang violence, and early sexual activities among underserved members of my community (Abi Deivanayagam, 2023). Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank support the establishment that intensive redlining laws create breeding grounds for poverty, illiteracy, and inequality through systematic discrimination and segregation in employment, education, housing access, and healthcare among minority racial and ethnic groups.
Risk-Related Behaviors among Adolescents in the Community
Substance Abuse
The number of young people engaging in substance abuse, alcoholism, marijuana, tobacco, and other banned drugs is high in my community because of a litany of factors, including, but not limited to poverty, unemployment, and peer-pressure among others. Based on the findings by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), young people from low-income and underserved community face higher risks of engaging in drug abuse as means of coping with the economic and social challenges that they experience in their households and communities (Abi Deivanayagam, 2023). Risks associated with substance abuse among young people in community include, lower academic outcomes, mental health issues, diseases, and death because of overdose and others (Burrell et al., 2020). In the long-run, adolescents who abuse drugs struggle in their adulthood with poverty and chronic medical conditions associated with drugs, such as lung cancer from smoking, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases among other.
Gang Involvement
Gangs are common in my community, and they are responsible for the high rates of incarcerations of young people, gun violence, and crime. Involvement in gang activities exposes young people in the community to a litany of risks and challenges (Schell et al., 2020). One of the major risks involved with gangs is engagement in criminal activities, rape, robbery, murder, and other capital offences (Burrell et al., 2020). In my community and throughout the country, the majority of juvenile offenders and adults in prisons are from the underserved minority ethnic and racial groups.
Early Sexual Activity
As much both young men and women suffer from systematic inequalities resulting from redlining policies, systematic segregation, and racism (Sullivan et al., 2023). The main unique challenge that girls face, unlike boys is that they become objects of sex for survival (Burrell et al., 2020). The rate of teenage pregnancies is higher among members of marginalized communities than it is the case for the members of the majority ethnic and racial communities (Abi Deivanayagam, 2023). Early exposure to sexual activities is one of the leading causes of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/Aids and others that are prevalent in my community, especially among girls from ethnic minority groups.
Antecedent Factors Manifested in Adulthood
Substance Abuse
The initiation into substance abuse at an early age makes an individual prone to addiction, psychological problems and poor health as they grow up (Burrell et al., 2020). Such people may fail to sustain employment statuses, and hence social relationships, which translates to more socio-economic fluctuations.
Gang Involvement
Youth in gangs are more likely to be involved in crimes as well as face violent situations and, therefore, are likely to face legal consequences, imprisonment, and traumas in young adulthood (Burrell et al., 2020). The escalation of violence and crime allows an individual to interact with criminal activity in present and future generations continuously.
Early Sexual Activity
Youth who indulge in sexual activities at a youthful age are likely to be pregnant, get STIs, become poor and sick when they grow up (Schell et al., 2020). Such problems can limit their capacity to help themselves and their households, thus experiencing poverty and diseases repeatedly (Burrell et al., 2020).
Sources of Information
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
U.S. Department of Justice
Conclusion
The prevention of risk related behaviors and the interventions applied with and for adolescents can positively affect the quality of life of teens in the long run. To address these risks, more resources should be channeled towards community programs addressing education, mental health, as well as positive modeling among the youthful persons.
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