Like the rest of us, many teenager’s face issues that can seem to generate unsolvable problems. Indeed many of the problems students face are not of their doing or in their control.
Other problems do have solutions and it is only a lack of confidence or problem solving skills that prevents a student from addressing them. This can cause frustration and can contribute to drug or alcohol use. This is because drugs can help quell the frustration and provide short term solutions to some problems. To compound this drug use, by temporarily providing relief or solutions from problems, sometimes prevents young people from developing problem solving skills they need for healthy development.
Helping students develop skills in solving problems in a way that makes them feel constructive can therefore be one of the best ways to help a young person address drug or alcohol related issues and promote health and well-being in general.
We have created a handy worksheet to assist with this and it works best when you complete it with the student. To encourage the student to see its value and benefit, give them practice scenarios, or ask them to apply the problem solving skills to their everyday lives between times that they see you. This will give young people the opportunity to practice solving problems.
