Introduction
The increasing rates of substance use among juveniles are a relevant social problem in the United States. This issue is even more noticeable in rural areas because of limited resources and a lack of prevention programs in distant regions. As a result, the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) issue among juveniles in a rural setting is one of the most relevant problems, and it is critical to introduce effective prevention/rehabilitation programs and change projects.
Program Description
The current change project is called Juveniles and AODA: Arts-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation. It is a program aimed precisely at rural areas, focusing on community health and engagement. The project’s operational process is relatively simple: teachers and leaders refer affected juveniles to weekly arts-based activities at the local community centers.
One of the core requirements is that participation is voluntary, although heavily recommended to the youth suffering from AODA. During these weekly seminars, students are encouraged to participate in various forms of art, such as making videos, painting, live performances, fiction writing, and other activities that juveniles are free to choose. There is extensive evidence that this approach is highly effective in mitigating stress, negative feelings, and addictions, and it will be further explained in the next section (Maina et al., 2022). The voluntary form of the project can create a sense of trust between the affected young people and curators.
Moreover, since the project should provide a safe space for juveniles with AODA, teachers and community leaders should not act negatively or with prejudice toward the youth. Community engagement and a sense of belonging are core aspects of the program that aim to restore affected juveniles’ willingness to live and trust other people. After all, housing instability, domestic violence, and social rejection are some of the most relevant causes of AODA in many young people (Lewis et al., 2021). As a result, the most critical outcome of the program is not the therapeutic effect of the arts but the sense of community engagement and belonging for affected juveniles.
The involved stakeholders are juveniles with AODA, teachers in schools who refer students to arts-based weekly activities, and community leaders who curate and monitor the seminars. Many rural areas have established community centers that can provide space for these activities and necessary resources. Moreover, the scope of the project is relatively narrow and does not require extensive funding, but it would be appropriate to acquire some instruments and tools for painting, acting, and other arts. In addition, the curators should preferably have at least some competencies in arts-based activities to provide students with basic tutorials and guidance.
The exact planning of the seminars can vary depending on the participants and their chosen arts. The focus should be on practical activities, such as live performances or presenting artworks to the class, but it also should be voluntary. Juveniles with AODA might suffer from comorbid anxiety disorders, which require a unique approach to each individual.
Since the project operates in a rural setting and local communities, the number of participants is expected to be relatively low. If the number of students exceeds ten, it would be appropriate to divide them into several groups according to the chosen arts-based activity. Ultimately, the chosen project should foster affected juveniles’ participation in community life and feeling of inclusion while providing a safe space and therapeutic effect of the arts.
Supporting Sources
The proposed change project is based on extensive academic literature on AODA prevention. The primary source by Maina et al. (2022) is a scoping review that identifies the critical elements of arts-based prevention programs and their perceived effectiveness. This article provides the foundation for the project, focusing on community engagement, voluntary participation, and a free choice of creative media.
Maina et al. (2022) have identified that various arts-based forms, including painting, acting, live performances, making videos/photos, and other types, are generally effective. However, their impact on the individual’s psychological well-being depends on personal traits and overall experience with this art. In other words, the article further emphasizes the significance of the unique approach to every affected juvenile and creating a connection between them and community members through art.
The second source highlights some of the relevant causes of AODA among juveniles in rural and urban settings. Namely, AODA in children frequently stems from parental drug abuse and a hostile family environment (Lewis et al., 2021). This knowledge is significant for the current work because the project aims to create a safe space for affected juveniles and show them that there are healthy alternatives to AODA.
Fostering a sense of belonging and community engagement can address the mentioned causes and help juveniles to rehabilitate from substance use and prevent the use of more dangerous drugs. The article also explains that AODA is the “most common predictor of a child not living with their biological parent,” inevitably resulting in an identity struggle (Lewis et al., 2021, p. 2). Ultimately, many juveniles suffering from AODA do not have a safe space where they are accepted the way they are, preventing them from stopping substance abuse.
The last article explains the general benefits of community engagement in healthcare programs and policies. While Gilmore et al. (2020) focus on the COVID-19 epidemic, this approach is beneficial in any community-based project. Namely, community groups, which are an archetype of the current project, can effectively change people’s behavioral patterns and promote improvement in social interaction (Gilmore et al., 2020).
In addition, the article provides a set of key terms to establish a clear vision of the program. They include consultation, information, involvement, and collaboration, each of which is utilized in the proposed arts-based activities. Although the primary focus is collaboration, when curators achieve a certain level of bonding with affected juveniles, they can consult them about the dangers of substance use and potential consequences. After all, it is a multifaceted project that aims to help young people with rehabilitation and change their lives for the better. In summary, the three examined sources provide the evidence-based foundation for the proposed arts-based project and justify its viability in a rural setting.
Conclusion
Creative change projects and healthcare programs effectively foster relationships between community leaders and juveniles with AODA, preventing further substance abuse within the target population. This approach is applicable for prevention and rehabilitation since its primary focus is on establishing a safe space for affected individuals and facilitating their sense of belonging. Moreover, in the current case, a therapeutic effect through art mediums can help juveniles with AODA to cope with stress and anxiety, which commonly aggravate substance abuse. As a result, the proposed project effectively reduces the prevalence of AODA among juveniles in a rural setting.
References
Gilmore, B., Ndejjo, R., Tchetchia, A., De Claro, V., Mago, E., Lopes, C., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2020). Community engagement for COVID-19 prevention and control: A rapid evidence synthesis. BMJ Global Health, 5(10). Web.
Lewis, Q. J., Smith, B. D., Offiong, A., Prioleau, M., & Powell, T. W. (2021). When a house is never a home: Housing instability among youth affected by parental drug abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 118. Web.
Maina, G., Li, Y., Fang, Y., Amoyaw, J., Pandey, M., Herzog, T.,… & Mousavian, G. (2022). Exploring arts-based interventions for youth substance use prevention: A scoping review of literature. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1-14. Web.