Addiction: More Than Just a Word

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Addiction: More Than Just a Word
“Prevention usually is translated as parents having conversations with their adolescent children, pointing out the dangers of alcohol.” (Kramer, LizSprague, Nancy, Alcohol Abuse & Youth: An Overview). Children do not understand the effectiveness of something powerful like alcohol. They do, however, understand that alcohol can cause a person to become intoxicated. From seeing it on TV, they think it is "fun".
Also, children do not really pay attention to the awkward conversations they have with their parents. A lot of young people think they know more about alcohol and drugs than their parents do, which is more than likely not true.
"The Certified Prevention Professional (CPP) credential is for those who possess advanced prevention-related competency. A CPP can provide services across the spectrum of targeted behaviors, including but not limited to: addictions, delinquency, teen pregnancy, suicide, and drop-out prevention." (“Prevention.”). As a Certified, or Licensed, Prevention Professional, we handle a lot of things on a broad spectrum from addiction to teen pregnancy. At ICARE, a program in East Baton Rouge, where my mentor is the director, there are fourteen Certified Prevention Professionals. They go out into almost every school and teach the students about abstaining from alcohol, drugs, and violence. ICARE chooses to start to educate the students about these things in school, before they can become addicted. Unfortunately for some, it is too late.
Talking about this with my mentor ignited a series of questions about addiction. “What exactly is an addiction?” “How is it acquired?” “What are the different types of addiction?” “Is it possible to be addicted to more than one th...

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