Adapted from, among other things, How to Drug-Proof Kids (by Jodi Freeman, The Think Shop, Inc., Albuquerque, NM, 1989); "Risk Check for your Child," (handout from Garfield Middle School, Albuquerque, NM).

Children at Risk

by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.

Children at risk for destructive, compulsive, and/or addictive behavior patterns may exhibit any of the following characteristics.* (Most are also applicable to adults.)

Gold Square Low self esteem
Gold Square Do not feel valued and secure in the family
Gold Square Do not feel valued and secure in school
Gold Square Do not feel listened to; believe that their opinions are unimportant
Gold Square Lack a normal tolerance for frustration
Gold Square Have unrealistic expectations of selves, others, situations
Gold Square Difficulty seeing connection between their choices and the outcomes of their choices
Gold Square Difficulty predicting outcomes of possible choices; difficulty thinking things through
Gold Square Difficulty seeing alternatives or "ways out" of problem situations
Gold Square High degree of despair; belief that they cannot positively and realistically affect or change their lives
Gold Square Negative, pessimistic
Gold Square Difficulty expressing feelings constructively; tendency to "stuff" feelings and/or blow up
Gold Square Compete for power with most adults (and, often, peers)
Gold Square Difficulty taking "no" for an answer
Gold Square Difficulty balancing consideration for others with consideration for selves
Gold Square Have few interests; may watch a lot of TV (use as a drug)
Gold Square Rarely invite other kids to their homes
Gold Square Lack a strong belief system
Gold Square Difficulty solving problems or making decisions
Gold Square Tendency to blame, avoid responsibility OR tendency to act and feel overly responsible for other people
Gold Square Difficulty asking for help
Gold Square Difficulty thinking independently; easily talked into things
Gold Square Tendency toward people pleasing, compliance, approval-seeking,dependency OR rebelliousness, bullying, abusiveness, hostile behavior
Gold Square Reluctance to try new things, fear of failure OR recklessness
Gold Square Perfectionistic, self-critical OR seemingly indifferent
Gold Square Difficulty finishing projects or assignments OR compulsive involvement and overachievement
Gold Square Rarely share feelings and thoughts with at least one family member
Gold Square Poor school performance; dislike of school; poor attendance OR superachiever
Gold Square Delinquent behavior; school misbehavior
Gold Square Friends who use drugs or alcohol
Gold Square Favorable attitudes toward drug use
Gold Square Early first use of drugs or alcohol

 

Family patterns and adult behaviors of at-risk children may include:

Gold Square Family history of substance abuse and addiction
Gold Square Family history of codependency, compulsive behavior
Gold Square Family pattern of verbal, physical, sexual, and/or ritual abuse
Gold Square Family pattern of inconsistency or neglect; lack of accountability to family for behaviors or whereabouts OR overinvolvement and control; lack of privacy, boundaries with other family members
Gold Square Family patterns of reactivity, rigidity, perfectionism, dishonesty, double standards, shaming, blaming, mistrust, all-or-nothing thinking, disempowering, martyrdom, intolerance, future/past orientation, boundary violations, self-righteousness, denial, and/or enabling.
Gold Square Family drug use; use of illegal drugs around children; heavy recreational drinking in the home; adults involve children in their drug use (for example, asking the child to get a beer or light a cigarette for the adult)
Gold Square Family patterns of dismissing feelings, distracting or “rescuing” from feelings, or using feelings as a basis for shaming, blaming, or making the child wrong.
Gold Square Infrequent or inconsistent expressions of love and acceptance; conditional love based on specifics such as appearance, achievement, social competence, performance, or how well the child takes care of the adult’s needs, (rather than on unconditional worth of the child)
Gold Square Infrequent expressions of recognition, validation, acknowledgement; praise expressed to manipulate and control.

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*Everyone experiences some of these "risk factors" from time to time. The presence of many risk factors does not condemn students to be drug abusers, nor does the apparent lack of these characteristics mean they will avoid problems. However, students who frequently characterize many of the factors described above–without intervention and support for changing patterns–are typically at greater risk than students who do not.

 

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© 2008, Jane Bluestein, Ph.D., Instructional Support Services, Inc.
Last updated on October 16, 2006 6:02 PM