Adolescent Risk-Taking Behaviors

• Risk is the probability of environmental hazards negatively impacting an individual.
• Risk-taking is acting without regard for potential negative consequences.
• Adolescents should be considered at risk due to risk behaviors, developmental needs, and risk factors.
• Risk-taking is normal during adolescent development.
• It involves engaging in activities that could harm health, with limited or no understanding of potential negative outcomes.
• Adolescents explore new behaviors to discover their identity and independence.
• Risk exposes adolescents to potential harm.
• Reactions to risk vary; some adolescents experience no lasting harm, while others may face lifelong consequences.
• It's important for health providers to differentiate between normal exploratory actions and activities harmful to health.
• Adolescent health behaviors impact health and illness throughout life.
• Adolescents begin experimenting with new behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex, and violence.
• The Department of Health identified substance use, premarital sex, early childbearing, abortion, HIV/AIDS, violence, accidents, malnutrition, and mental health as health risks
• Family guidance plays a pivotal role in the adolescent development.
• 53% of adolescents reside with both parents, per the 2006 McCann Erickson Study.
• Due to the OFW phenomenon, 5% live without their mother, 20% without their father, and 23% without both parents.
• Adolescents are the fourth highest smokers (20,746) in the country.
• Adolescents rank fifth highest in alcoholic beverage consumption (38,946) nationally.
• Drug use affects more than three in 100 adolescents, which is below average.
• More than eight in 100 adolescents have considered suicide.
• Between 2002 and 2013, suicide attempts decreased to 2.4%, below the national average.
• Sex and media are key influencers in adolescents' high-risk behaviors, specifically in NCR and CALABARZON studies.
• Three in five adolescents have watched X-rated media, making them fourth-highest in the country.
• Three in ten have sent or received sex videos via cell phones or the Internet, the second highest nationally.
• Six in 100 have engaged in phone sęx, exceeding the national average.
• One in three adolescents have had sęxual experience.
• First sęxual experience occurs at 17.6 years for boys and 18.1 years for girls.
• One in 50 have had sęx before age 15, and one in four before age 18.
• Seven in ten first premarital sęx cases lack protection from unintended pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS.
• 1.2% have paid for sęx and 1.3% have received payment for it, slightly above the national average.
• 6.7% have engaged in casual sęx.
• 4.1% of adolescents, mostly males, have had a "fu** buddy" (FUBU) experience.
• 6.3% of males have had sęx with males (MSM).
• 2.9% of married youth (including those in live-in relationships) have engaged in extramarital sęx.
• Teenage pregnancies are increasing; 7.1% of those aged 15-19 are already mothers.
• The proportion who began childbearing increases with age: 2.0% at age 16, 31.2% at age 19.
• Teenage fertility is the lowest across all regions of the country.
• While STIs like HIV and AIDS are increasing in the youth, 86.7% have heard of HIV and AIDS, but three in four do not think they will get AIDS.

Trouble Signs in Teens

• Sęxual promiscuity may be a sign of trouble.
• Regular drug and alcohol use can be a sign
• Repeated violations of the law or school regulations.
• Running away more than once in three months.
• Skipping school more than once in three months.
• Displaying aggressive or impulsive behavior is a sign
• Depressive writing or drawing samples.
• Declining hygiene.
• Showing oppositional behavior.
• Refusal to comply with rules.
• Chronic tardiness may point to issues.
• Falling asleep in class.
• Changes in physical appearance.
• Excessive daydreaming could be a sign.

Harmful Practices

• Culture shapes young people's behavior, but some traditions can violate human and reproductive rights, mainly affecting women.
• Common drugs abused by young people:

Marijuana

• Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, Grass, Joint, Splif, Hashish, Pot, and Weed, is a plant grown and used worldwide.
• It is smoked, made into tea, or added to cookies, causing varied effects.
• Users experience effects like relaxation or panic for about two to three hours; eyes become red, mouth becomes dry, and appetite increases.
• Marijuana increases heart rate and causes bloodshot eyes due to blood vessel dilation.
• Long-term use can cause chronic bronchial irritation, memory impairment, gum disease, and increased cancer risk.
• It may decrease testosterone and sperm levels in males and cause fetal abnormalities during pregnancy.

Mairungi

• Mairungi, also known as Khat, Qat, or Mirraa, is a stimulant leaf chewed in East Africa.
• It can cause alertness, confidence, reduce hunger, and is used by students when cramming.
• Negative effects include sleeplessness, anxiety, aggression, hallucinations, and erectile dysfunction.

Alcohol

• Alcohol is a common and legal drug used worldwide, easily accessible and consumed.
• It initially causes relaxation, but excessive consumption leads to impaired reaction time and clear thinking, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Further drinking results in slurred speech, aggression, and violence, potentially leading to fights, rape, and other violent acts.
• Those who consume too much alcohol may experience vomiting, unconsciousness, or even death.
• Intoxication can lead to unsafe sęxual encounters and impaired decision-making.

Cigarettes

• Young people start smoking due to friends, advertisements, and role models.
• Nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive.
• Tobacco is the second major cause of death, according to the WHO (2006).
• Cigarette tar elevates lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorder risks.
• Carbon monoxide increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and raises respiratory illness risks in children.

Cocaine

• Cocaine, also known as Crack, Coke, C, Charlie, Nose candy, etc., is prepared from coca leaves.
• Cocaine is called "champagne of drugs" due to its high cost and creates a sensation of rapid body function, increasing heart rate.
• Crack is a stronger, smoked version of cocaine.
• Cocaine is usually a white powder, while crack appears as hard, white rocks.
• It is usually snorted but can be injected or smoked.
• Effects include raised body temperature, faster heart rate, increased breathing rate, confidence, and alertness.
• Crack intensifies these feelings.
• Excessive doses can lead to convulsions, seizures, strokes, cerebral hemorrhage, or heart failure.
• Long-term use results in psychological dependence, nose tissue damage, and weight loss.

Heroine

• Heroin, also known as Hammer, Horse, H, Junk, Nod, etc., is derived from morphine in opium poppy plants.
• It is a strong painkiller that slows down the body and mind.
• Heroin is usually a rock or powder, white or pink/beige but can be gray/brown.
• It is injected, snorted, smoked, or inhaled, with inhalation known as "chasing the dragon".
• Injected heroin gives an intense rush and high lasting four to six hours.
• Effects include well-being, pain relief, dependence, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, loss of balance and concentration, and loss of appetite.
• Overdoses can be fatal.
• Injecting heroin carries a high risk of contracting AIDS through shared needles.
• Drug users tend to engage in unprotected sęx, increasing the risk of HIV infection.

Amphetamines

• Amphetamines, also called Speed, Ice, Browns, etc., are stimulants that boost brain activity and energy.
• Ice is a potent form of amphetamine similar to crack.
• Amphetamines are often man-made, available as white/light brown powder or pills.
• "Ice" is either colorless crystals or liquid for injecting; it can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or smoked.
• Amphetamines increase heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, body temperature, sweating, confidence, alertness, and energy while reducing appetite.
• Dependence on Amphetamines can cause anxiety, irritability, panic attacks, and lethal doses.

Ecstasy

• Ecstasy, also know as Ecstasy, Adam, Essence, MDM, MDMA, XTC, Eve, MDE,MDEA, belongs to the stimulant group.
• It typically comes in pill form and is used at rave parties.
• Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that can come in different colors and imprinted with different pictures.
• Effects often leads to warm feelings, love, and being energetic, emotional closeness, and lowered inhibitions. _ Negative Effects of Esctasy includes nausea leading to even death from overheating, dehydration, and increases in blood pressure, and heartrate.
• Feelings of depression and tiredness are normal after stopping the drug.
• Ecstasy may cause brain and liver damage with long-term use.

Inhalants and Solvents

• Examples are glue, gasoline, aerosol sprays, and lighter fluid, and are typically found in tubes or bottles.
• Inhalants are legal and abused by poorer sections.
• Methods include placing chemicals, soaking a rag in inhalant, and inhaling vapors.
• Effects last briefly, causing numbness, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, headaches, nausea, disorientation, and hallucinations.
• Risks Include in liver, kidney, and lung damage, suffocation, convulsions and comas.

Tips to Avoid Drugs

• It is not necessary to take drugs to fit in.
• Drugs are not needed to feel brave
• drugs are not needed to deal with personal issues.
• Inner strength can help in any situation.