Introduction
Evidently, it is important for specialists dealing with drug abuse prevention programs to assess a community’s readiness before implementation. This can help in prospecting the outcomes of such programs. There are various reasons behind this phenomenon ranging from its viability to the enhancement of positive results as well as ethical provisions.
This is a considerable provision for any expert endeavoring to establish, ratify, and embrace a particular program (related to drug abuse prevention) within a society (Hogan, 2003). Assessing the readiness of a given community can help in minimizing the challenges that the enacted program might face. Additionally, it helps in preparing the community (psychologically) in order to realize a positive response from the concerned stakeholders.
Concurrently, it is vital for specialists dealing with prevention programs to attain an assurance that the concerned community will be ready for the proposed program, respond positively, and make critical moves towards eradicating drug abuse and addiction within the society. In order to plan a successful program in this context, there are seven steps that must be followed precisely.
This will enhance the materialization of the concerned prevention program and other relevant provisions in this context. Probably, there are some steps, which are daunting to implement. They pose numerous challenges and complications. Conversely, other steps are easy to implement regardless of the condition.
Importance of assessing a community’s readiness
Contextually, the success of any prevention program depends on whether the concerned community is ready or not. It is needless to implement a program in a society that is hardly responsive and do not appreciate the prospected impacts of the concerned program in their lives. Firstly, assessing such readiness will motivate prevention specialists to establish and execute their obligations with promptness and precision.
This is a critical provision in diverse contexts. Additionally, it is possible to prospect the success of the program in case the required readiness from the community can be unveiled prior to the program execution. It is agreeable that programs meant to eradicate the aspects of drug abuse (trade, distribution, and addiction) require an extensive cooperation from the society. In case, this is not possible, it is apparent that such programs will not make any significant impact on the lives of the concerned community (Johnson, 2010).
Additionally, knowing the readiness, receptiveness, and willingness of the society is a critical provision during planning stages concerning the prevention program. Specialists will be able to know areas to tackle most, how to approach the concerned society, and how to maneuver with the program up to the end.
This is a considerable provision in the realms of drug abuse prevention endeavors. Evidently, a resistant community can hardly be influenced by the established drug abuse prevention program. Consequently, it is important to know their receptiveness in the concerned context.
Additionally, in order to save resources, it is imperative for prevention specialists to assess the readiness of a given community before attempting to implement a prevention program. It is needless to waste resources on a community that is not ready for the program. The efforts to implement such a program will hardly attain any success. Everything will be futile while resources, which could have been diverted to other areas, might be used fruitlessly.
This indicates why it is important for the prevention specialists to assess the community’s readiness before implementing the proposed program. Concurrently, the alleged assessments can help in preparing the concerned community psychologically in order to be receptive to the proposed prevention program. This will grant the prevention specialists easy time during implementation phases assumed in this context. It is easy to deal with a community, which is ready and prepared for the prospected programs.
Another issue is the materialization/success of the prevention program meant to eradicate the alleged drug abuse and addiction within the concerned community. It is evident that programs are mandated to succeed despite the challenges. This provision support the need to assess the readiness demanded amongst the concerned community.
Hardest and Easiest Steps to Implement and Why
There are various steps involved in the drug abuse prevention programs assumed globally. Among these steps (seven steps as stipulated in various sources), some of them are hard to implement despite efforts to do so. In this context, programs meant to counter or prevent the withdrawal symptoms are daunting and challenging to implement within the concerned groups. It is vital to note that prevention programs incorporate the stoppage of drug addicts from further drug abuse.
The victims can easily stop; nonetheless, upholding this status can be a problem in case they are overwhelmed by the withdrawal symptoms (Hogan, 2003). Additionally, temptations/desires to continue abusing the concerned drug might be craving inside them.
Precisely, maintaining the status of drug abuse stoppage is a daunting task to implement and uphold. This explains why it is one of the most challenging steps in the entire prevention program. There are other striking steps in this context; however, the magnitude of their difficulties differs considerably.
Conversely, the easiest step in the entire program is the mobilization and enlightenment of the public on the aspects of drug abuse and addiction. Provided the necessary resources to execute this step are available, the public can be reached through various means regardless of the situation.
Additionally, they need to cooperate in order to make this step a success. Since numerous individuals will be eager to hear what the program entails and the facts posed by the program, the step becomes easier to execute. It is crucial to understand this provision despite the looming challenges and other concerned provisions. Drug abuse and the alleged addiction are critical concerns within societies (Johnson, 2010).
Any program that endeavors to enlighten the public about these facts can be welcomed remarkably. This provision indicates why prevention specialists should maximize their resources in enlightening the society before indulging into other remedial provisions. There are other steps, which are easy to execute; nevertheless, they possess varying challenges in this context.
Conclusion
It is agreeable that prevention specialists should assess the readiness of the concerned community before implementing any drug abuse/addiction prevention program. There are numerous reasons behind this provision ranging from ethical concerns to the prospected success in case the concerned community is responsive, receptive, and tolerant to the proposed program. The alleged assessment enhances the materialization of the program’s objectives.
It also prepares the concerned stakeholders for the proposed prevention program in order to minimize subsequent challenges. In the prevention program, there are other steps that are daunting to implement. This incorporates the steps dealing with the withdrawal symptoms experienced after quitting drug abuse. It is easy for the concerned addicts to recommence the previously stopped drug abuse. Conversely, there are easy steps to consider.
References
Hogan, J. (2003). Substance abuse prevention: The intersection of science and practice. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Johnson, B. (2010). Addiction medicine: Science and practice. New York, NY: Springer Verlag.