Risk Reduction Strategies for Adolescent Cannabis Use Considering COVID-19 Stressors.

ABSTRACT: The past 2 years has been a challenge as society made huge adaptations to keep people safe from COVID-19 and struggled to continue life on a day-to-day basis. Working with families, young adults, and adolescents, nurses are often faced with caring for individuals who recreationally use cannabis and believe use is harmless. Adolescents as a group tend to appraise information from a different lens than adults. In an evolving world, where cannabis is legalized for medicinal and recreational use, it is important to shift the paradigm of how we approach cannabis use in adolescents. This article will focus on COVID-19's impact on cannabis use in adolescents and apply the transtheoretical model of change to promote safer choices while supporting adolescent autonomy. In addition, we will incorporate behavioral health strategies to reduce risks of cannabis use by equipping adolescents with guidelines, boundaries, and tools.

Adolescent Girls and Alcohol Use: Increasing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Adolescence is a time known for risky behaviors and often the initiation of alcohol use. Readily available, alcohol is often one of the drugs of choice for adolescents. Whereas in the past 30 years, the overall consumption of alcohol is down, the data in the past 10 years have shown more girls are binge drinking and meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The alarm of early alcohol use is the association with problems with the substances later in life. Historically, men and male adolescents consumed more alcohol than females. Recent studies indicate girls' alcohol use surpasses boys, whereas women now are developing AUD at the same rate as men. The consequences of early use can result in women's increased risk for multiple cancers, having a more severe form of AUD with less alcohol consumption as well as premature death. To further exacerbate this growing concern, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created a perfect storm for increased use of alcohol to cope with the stress of living in an uncertain world. Normal daily activities have been halted with the uncertainty of school closures, zoom classroom sessions, and living in mandated social isolation. All nurses need to be screening for how families under their care have been managing stress. The time is opportune to educate and support parents in engaging their children in conversations around substance use. Parents can be supported to increase awareness of their own coping mechanisms and strengthen positive coping. Adolescents need support to strengthen interpersonal skills as well as make informed decisions concerning when and how they engage in alcohol consumption. This article will illuminate the growing need for all healthcare providers to assess and guide adolescents' coping skills during COVID with a focus on mental health, high-risk behavior, and alcohol use.

Reducing the Risk of Alcohol Use Disorders in Women.

Nurses and other clinicians help women to examine their lifestyles and consider changes to promote optimum health. When the question is about drinking alcohol, what is appropriate to recommend? While moderate intake may be beneficial for cardiovascular and bone health, drinking more than the recommended amount increases the risk of harmful effects. This column examines guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption for women, reviews the assessment process and demonstrates an example of a brief intervention. A program of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (termed SBIRT by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) should be part of the standard assessment for every woman. Ongoing assessment of alcohol consumption can help to better target behaviors for early intervention.