Life orientation
Ntsakisi Marema
PRESIDENT HIGH
SCHOOL
Grade 11.1
Table of Contents
Activity 1 ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Activity 2 Literature review ..................................................................................................................... 4
Activity 4: Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 6
Activity 5 ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Activity 6: Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 8
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 8
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Activity 1
1.1. Youth risk behaviours refers to actions or choices that are made by young
individuals that can possibly harm their health and well-being. This includes
engaging in activities such as substance abuse, violent behaviour or careless
driving which can have very negative consequences.
1.2. –Substance Abuse.
This refers to the immoderate use of drugs and alcohol, often to the point where it
becomes detrimental to one’s health and well-being. It involves a pattern of
behaviour where the substance being abused becomes the central focus and
coping mechanism in the individual’s life, often resulting in physical, mental and
social harm.
-Reckless driving.
Reckless driving refers to a type of dangerous driving behaviour associated by a
disregard for rules of the road and safety laws for [Link] involves actions that
significantly increase the risk of accidents and endanger the driver, passengers in
the vehicle and other drivers on the road. Some common behaviours associated with
reckless driving include: speeding, driving under the influence and ignoring traffic
signs.
1.3. -Environmental factors (The people you are surrounded by) play a
significant role in the contribution and development of substance abuse. This
includes external and internal influences by peers and family that can increase
the risk of substance abuse. A stable, loving and supportive family may serve as
a protective factor against substance abuse, while a dysfunctional family does the
opposite and increases the risk. Domestic violence, neglect and a lack of
emotional support is most likely going to create an environment where substance
abuse is probably going occur and be used as a coping mechanism. Peer
pressure can be direct, where an individual is pressurized into using substances
but can also be indirect, where the person feels a need to fit in, ultimately leading
to them engaging in their peers’ negative behaviour.
-Inexperience plays a significant role in the contribution towards reckless driving
among the youth. Young drivers often lack the experience and skills needed to
navigate complex driving situations safely and correctly. This inexperience can
have dire consequences and can lead to car accidents and severe injuries.
Despite their inexperience young drivers overestimate their driving abilities,
leading them to take unnecessary risks such as speeding.
1.4. Physical health complications.
Engaging in risky behaviour such as alcohol abuse, can lead to immediate health
complications such as alcohol poisoning, accidents and injuries. It can also result in
long term health problems and diseases such as neurological damage, liver disease
and heart-related complications. These conditions can severely affect a young
person’s physical well-being and quality of life making it very difficult for them to
maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
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Mental health problems.
Engaging in risky behaviour such as alcohol abuse can have a very negative impact
on a young person’s mental health. Alcohol is a depressant and therefore its abuse
can fuel or trigger mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Engaging in
this behaviour may lead to conflicts with family and friends due to their behaviour.
This may lead to self-isolation and excessive consumption which results in a drastic
decline in mental health. Without any assistance, it will be almost impossible to live a
healthy, happy and balanced life.
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Activity 2 Literature review
2.1. Substance abuse refers to excessive use of psychoactive drugs such as
alcohol, pain medication or illegal drugs. This pattern of behaviour involves the
consumption of substances beyond intended amounts, resulting in a very negative
impact on the persons’ health, relationships and daily functioning.
Substance use is the consumption of alcohol, drugs or other psychoactive
substances. This can include occasional use of these substances, which may not
necessarily lead to addiction. Substance use can range from casual consumption to
more frequent and problematic consumption.
2.2. Alcoholism refers to the excessive consumption of alcohol specifically.
Alcoholism involves frequent, regular heavy drinking sessions or a consistent,
unhealthy pattern of drinking that disrupts daily life. Alcohol is a central nervous
system depressant that affects certain factors such as mood and cognition.
Drug addiction refers to the unhealthy dependence and excessive use of various
other substances such as prescription medication (opioids), illegal drugs (cocaine,
heroin) or other psychoactive substances. Patterns of drug consumption can vary
depending on the type of drug being consumed .For example an addiction to opioids
many involve daily consumption, while cocaine addiction may involve occasional
use.
2.3. –Family environment. Family environments consisting of poor communication,
conflict, and substance abuse can greatly increase the possibility of youth engaging
in similar behaviours. Families where substance abuse such as drinking alcohol is
normalized or where there is a lack of parent supervision may contribute towards the
youth abusing substances.
-Social media and online influences. Social media often emphasizes the need for
social validation and approval. Young individuals may feel the pressure to engage in
the behaviours they see online, including substance abuse to gain likes, shares and
positive comments from their peers or followers. Platforms such as Instagram and
Tiktok can expose young individuals to content that includes drug references and
alcohol consumption. Social media can also be a source of stress and anxiety due to
cyberbullying and comparison with others. This stress can result in some young
people resorting to substance abuse as their coping mechanism for their emotional
pain or self-esteem issues.
2.4. Strained relationships and social isolation. Substance abuse often leads to
strained relationships with friends and family. Behaviour associated with addiction
such as dishonesty, theft and constant mood swings affects trust from loved ones.
This leads to isolation and result in feelings of loneliness and despair making it much
more challenging to seek for help and recover. This can result in mental health
disorders such as anxiety and depression which are very difficult to handle without
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any professional assistance. Individuals will often result in making use of substances
as a coping mechanism. However the temporary relief provided by the substance
results in dependence in them and over time, the original emotional issues heighten.
This inability to cope with stress and anxiety without making use of substances can
lead to long-term emotional instability.
Long-term impact on self-identity and self-purpose
Many individuals who struggle to cope with substance abuse find that their identity
becomes closely tied with their addiction. Once they stop using substances, they
may struggle with an identity crisis, feeling lost and confused of who they are without
the substance. This can result in feelings of emptiness and lack of purpose, making it
difficult for them to find meaning in their lives and pursue their goals. Substance
abuse often causes individuals to lose interest in engaging in activities they once
enjoyed, and it can be very challenging to reconnect with them even after
overcoming their addiction.
2.5.- Reduced cognitive ability
Drug abuse can impair cognitive abilities crucial to academic success such as
memory, concentration and information processing. Drugs such as marijuana,
alcohol and certain prescription drugs can negatively impact the brains ability to form
and recall memories, making it very hard to retain information learnt in class. This
results in poor performance in exams, difficulty in completing assignments and
overall decline in academics. Abuse of drugs can also diminish ones interest and
motivation towards academic pursuits. This disinterest often results in a lack of
studying and ultimately results in poor academic performance.
-Disciplinary issues
Many educational institutions have strict polices regarding drug use within students.
If a student is caught using or possessing drugs, they may face severe
consequences such expulsion or suspension. Students who abuse drugs are most
likely to engage in other risky behaviours such as skipping classes, disruptive
behaviour in classrooms and cheating. This will ultimately result in poor academic
performance and incomplete school work due to their behaviour.
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Activity 4: Recommendations
4.1. Social media can assist in the mitigation of risky behaviour among young
individuals by raising awareness and providing education on the dangers and
repercussions of engaging in such behaviours. It also highlights and provides healthy
and safe alternatives and recovery stories, steering the youth away from harmful,
risky behaviour.
4.2. The community plays a vital role addressing youth risky behaviour, providing a
supportive environment that can prevent and mitigate these behaviours. This is done
by:
Education and awareness programs: Community based education
programs are crucial in raising awareness about the consequences of
engaging in risky youth behaviours. These programs include mentorship
programs that can be implemented in schools, churches or community
centres that involve workshops, campaigns and educating young people
about the repercussions of engaging in risky youth behaviours. They aim to
equip the youth with the knowledge about the risks associated with certain
behaviours and as well as the skills to make informed decisions. They serve
as a support system, providing advice and guidance to the youth on how they
can steer away from youth risky behaviour.
Creation of safe and supportive environments for the youth:
Communities can create safe spaces and offer recreational activities that
engage the youth in positive ways, such as sports, arts and volunteer
opportunities. These activities provide alternatives to risky behaviours and
assist young people in developing discipline, self-control and good social
skills. However, the success of these initiatives depends solemnly on
adequate funding and accessibility .In communities where resources are
adequate, establishing and maintaining these initiatives can be very
beneficial for the youth and steer them away from youth risky behaviour and
assist in addressing risky youth behaviour.
4.3. My project is aimed at improving and creating a supportive environment
that encourages the youth to prioritize their long-term career goals over
immediate risky behaviours. Increased focus on long-term career goals helps
you make good decisions in the present. These goals give your life a sense
of direction and purpose and steers you away from engaging in youth risky
behaviours. My project consists of the negative consequences of substance
abuse and healthy and safe alternatives such as sports and volunteering.
This teaches the youth self-control and discipline which assists greatly in
prioritising and staying focused on achieving your long term career goals. My
project also aims to show how important education is and the impact of
substance abuse on education. This results in the youth putting their energy
into their academics and ultimately focusing and achieving their long term
career goals. In conclusion my project equips the youth with all the necessary
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skills and information to steer away from risky behaviours such as substance
abuse. This includes the consequences, the causes and the alternatives and
how community involvement can be very helpful towards staying away from
risky behaviours and prioritize what is important such as long-term career
goals.
Activity 5
I learnt about the devastating impact of substance abuse and substance use on a
young individual’s life. I believe this is one of the most important aspects because of
the mental and physical health complications, the conflict that arises with family and
friends and the negative impact on education and academics. Secondly I also learnt
about the importance of making healthy and balanced lifestyle choices. I believe that
this is one of the most important aspects because of the positive impact on physical
health, mental and emotional well-being and the positive impact on relationship on
relationships with loved ones.
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Activity 6: Bibliography
Bibliography
1. Bergman, M., 2024. Social media and risky behaviour. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
[Accessed 21 August 2024].
[Link], B., 2021. Physiowest. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
[Accessed 22 August 2024].
[Link], T., 2022. WebMD. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
[Accessed 21 August 2024].
[Link] Cleveland, C. C., 2024. Cleveland Clinic. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
use-disorder-sud
[Accessed 21 August 2024].
[Link], K., 2024. Peer pressure [Interview] (20 August 2024).
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