NURS FPX 4055 Assignment 4 Health Promotion Plan Presentation

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Plan Presentation

Good morning, everyone. I am _____. We are grateful to have our partners join us for today’s session. This presentation focuses on preventing substance abuse among adolescents aged 12 to 18 in Rowan County, in the communities of Landis and Salisbury. During this session, we will explore the hazards linked with substance use, the importance of intervention, and strategies for helping youth make healthier choices. We will introduce practical tools that promote open communication, teach coping techniques, and connect teens with local support resources. This session is guided by the SMART goals we developed and aligns with the aims outlined in Healthy People 2030. 

Presentation Roadmap

Throughout the presentation, we will:

• Provide key facts about substance abuse, risk factors, and health consequences.

• Explain the impact of drugs and alcohol on health and academic performance.

• Encourage participants to recognize early warning signs and avoid substance use.

• Build participants’ confidence in talking about substance use with family, peers, and trusted adults.

• Engage participants through interactive activities such as role-plays, group discussions, and stress management exercises.
• Evaluate participant knowledge, attitudes, and confidence through a brief post-session quiz and survey.

Key Information About Substance Abuse and Its Impact on Well-Being

Substance abuse among adolescents is a serious and growing concern in rural areas like Rowan County, North Carolina. Recent data suggest that national surveys offer valuable insights. They do not fully reflect the realities of life in Rowan County. Available data indicate that the local substance use rate is around 47.1%, and studies show a rising trend of drug use among teens in rural areas (Rowan County, 2021). According to the 2019 American Community Survey, the average household income in Rowan County was $49,842. In the same year, 22% of residents faced food insecurity, and only 5.6% of children under the age of 19 had access to free healthcare (Rowan County, 2021).

Youth in towns like Landis and Salisbury face unique challenges such as poverty, limited approach to psychological care, family instability, and a deficiency of safe, supportive settings. These factors raise stress, loneliness, and risky behaviors (Lee et al., 2024). Addressing these issues through targeted prevention, education, and community support is crucial for improving teenage health and reducing substance abuse.

Substance abuse among adolescents can lead to severe physical, emotional, and social consequences. The use of alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs at an early stage enhances the hazard of addiction, mental illnesses, poor academic performance, and risky behaviors such as unsafe driving or unprotected sex (Lee et al., 2024). Prolonged use can cause harm to the developing brain in areas related to decision-making and impulse control. These harmful effects go unnoticed in the early stages. Early intervention and education are critical. Teens in rural areas like Rowan County are vulnerable due to limited access to healthcare, high poverty rates, and reduced availability of preventive services. Promoting awareness, teaching healthy coping strategies, and providing early support are vital in reducing the risk of long-term substance use and improving the health of youth in the community (Horigian et al., 2020).

Benefits of Early Substance Abuse Prevention in Adolescents

Substance abuse prevention during adolescence is vital for supporting long-term physical, emotional, and social well-being. When prevention efforts begin early, between the ages of 12 and 18, the benefits are substantial and long-lasting. These include:

• • Adolescents’ brains are still developing, and early drug or alcohol use can interfere with memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Preventing substance use helps protect cognitive and emotional development. It reduces the hazard of long-term psychological situations such as hopelessness or anxiety (Tapert & Shumate, 2022).
  • Adolescents who avoid drugs and alcohol are more likely to stay focused in school, maintain higher grades, and avoid disciplinary issues. Early prevention can lead to better educational attainment and increased job opportunities in adulthood (Tapert & Shumate, 2022).
  • Early substance use increases the chance of developing long-term dependence. Preventive education and coping strategies help youth avoid risky behaviors and build resilience. This lowers the chance of addiction later in life (Dariotis & Chen, 2020).
  • Teens who understand the dangers of substance use and receive support from community programs are likely to engage in healthy relationships and maintain open communication with family members, teachers, and peers (Dariotis & Chen, 2020).
  • Early prevention reduces the chance of adolescents engaging in dangerous activities such as impaired driving, violence, or theft. It helps youth make safer decisions and avoid involvement in the justice system.
• Substance abuse prevention programs, such as those in Landis and Salisbury, foster healthier communities by reducing emergency visits. It lowers healthcare costs and enhances community safety and well-being (Rowan County, 2021). 

Strategies for Discussing Substance Abuse Prevention

Discussion about substance use with adolescents, families, and healthcare providers requires sensitive, informed communication. Here are three effective strategies to initiate these conversations:

1. Using Evidence-Based Information: Share factual, research-based data from trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The sharing statistics show how early intervention reduces the chance of long-term addiction and improves adolescent mental and physical health (Horigian et al., 2020).
2. Asking Insightful and Open-Ended Questions: Encourage teens and families to ask thoughtful questions such as, “What are the early signs of substance use in adolescents?” or “How can we talk about peer pressure at home?” This promotes open dialogue and encourages collaboration between youth, families, and providers to develop prevention strategies tailored to the adolescent’s setting (Kratovil et al., 2023).
3. Addressing Misconceptions About Drug Use: Address common myths such as “trying substances once is harmless” or “only certain types of teens use drugs.” Providers and educators clarify that addiction starts with occasional use and can affect anyone, regardless of background. Correcting these misconceptions in a non-judgmental way helps reduce stigma and fosters awareness (Lee et al., 2024). 

Developed SMART Goals with the Participants

Evidence-based prevention programs during adolescence reduce the chance of substance use disorders in adulthood by enhancing resilience, social competence, and decision-making skills (Dariotis & Chen, 2020). I understand your attention so far. We have covered key data to establish a solid foundation for understanding substance use and its associated risks. Now, we will go through the SMART goals we developed earlier to guide today’s session and measure our progress. The goals are as follows:

1. Firstly, by the end of this session, we aim for 85% of participants, including Jason, to identify at least four key health risks associated to drug abuse like addiction, psychological problems, accidents, and poor school performance. We will check your understanding with a quick quiz activity.
2. Secondly, we hope that at least 60% of those, including Jason, will feel confident and willing to have meaningful conversations about substance use with family members, friends, or school staff. We will practice communication skills through role-playing and provide resources to support these conversations.
3. Thirdly, by the end of the session, we want 100% of you to learn and feel confident using at least two stress management techniques, like deep breathing or mindfulness, to help resist urges to use substances. We will practice these techniques together during the session.

These goals are designed to equip you and Jason with knowledge and practical tools to make healthier choices and support each other in staying substance-free.

Session Evaluation on Developed SMART Goals

The educational session was very successful in achieving our SMART goals. For the first goal, 85% of participants, including Jason, correctly identified at least four key health risks associated with drug abuse, such as addiction, psychological problems, accidents, and poor school performance. Many teens were actively engaged with the materials and asked thoughtful questions during the discussions. Regarding the second goal, 60% of participants expressed a willingness to have expressive conversations about substance use with family, friends, or school staff. It is below our target of 60%. It shows promising progress. Finally, we exceeded our third goal as 100% of members reported feeling more confident using at least two stress management techniques, such as deep breathing and mindfulness, to resist urges to use substances.

Need for Change

Several challenges were identified during the session. Several participants, including some teens like Jason, were hesitant to directly commit to having conversations about substance use and preferred more time to discuss with family members first. Moreover, while most participants gained confidence in using stress management techniques, a few expressed uncertainties about applying these skills without extra support. Based on these observations, several improvements could enhance future sessions. First, integrating opportunities for participants to practice conversations about substance use with family members during the session could increase their readiness to engage in dialogue. Second, providing more structured role-playing exercises focused on communication and myth-busting could boost confidence in addressing substance use misconceptions (Gu et al., 2021).

Finally, extending the session follow-up meetings would allow participants and their families more time to process the data and make informed decisions. These changes will better meet participants’ needs and strengthen the impact of future prevention efforts. Feedback from participants reflected strong engagement and impact. Jason stated the session helped me realize how much pressure I face, and now I know some ways to handle it without using drugs.” Another participant mentioned, “I did not know how to talk to my parents about these things before. This helped me think about how to start.” Extending follow-up sessions provides participants and their families with additional time to process the data, build confidence, and make informed decisions. By addressing these areas, future educational sessions can be more impactful for the needs of adolescents with substance-related challenges.

Session Evaluation on Healthy People 2030 Objectives

The educational session achieved several key outcomes that support the Healthy People 2030 goal to reduce the proportion of adolescents who use alcohol or illicit drugs. The session aimed to enhance adolescents’ understanding of the risks associated with substance use and to strengthen their communication and stress management skills (Callaghan et al., 2023). These are the factors critical to prevention. The session supported these goals by indicating that 85% of participants correctly identified the major health consequences of substance use, showing an increased awareness of its risks. Moreover, there was a 60% improvement in participants’ confidence in applying stress management techniques. It highlights progress in building healthier coping strategies.

Although 100% of participants 100% of participants expressed a willingness to engage in conversations about substance use. This figure is encouraging. Qualitative feedback revealed that some teens still felt hesitant or unsure about how to initiate such discussions. These outcomes align with the Leading Health Indicator (LHI) focused on adolescent substance use. It tracks national efforts to reduce risky behaviors among youth (Callaghan et al., 2023). The session made measurable progress toward empowering adolescents like Jason to make informed, healthy choices and supported national health promotion efforts aligned with the goals of Healthy People 2030.

NURS FPX 4055 Assignment 4 Health Promotion Plan Presentation

Despite the session’s positive outcomes, further revisions are necessary to fully achieve the Healthy People 2030 goal and ensure long-term behavioral change among adolescents. The persistent uncertainty and communication barriers observed among some participants suggest that the current approach does not equip all teens with the confidence and skills needed to address substance use effectively (Callaghan et al., 2023).  To better align with this national objective and its related LHI, future sessions should include greater family involvement, as strong family connections have been shown to reduce the chance of youth engaging in substance misuse.

Evidence-based data that confronts myths and misconceptions about drugs and alcohol will help deepen adolescents’ understanding and improve informed decision-making (Gu et al., 2021). Finally, offering structured follow-up support, such as constant peer discussions or digital engagement tools, will reinforce the skills and knowledge gained during the session (Horigian et al., 2020). These improvements are essential to achieving the Healthy People 2030 goals. It builds long-term resilience and fosters communities that actively prevent adolescent substance use.

Conclusion 

The prevention of substance abuse among adolescents in Rowan County is a vital step toward fostering healthier and safer communities. This presentation has demonstrated the importance of early education, open communication, and practical coping strategies in decreasing the risks allied with substance abuse among youth. Although the session met most of its SMART goals and supported Healthy People 2030 objectives, continued efforts are essential to engage families and address communication barriers for sustained impact.

References

Callaghan, T., Kassabian, M., Johnson, N., Shrestha, A., Helduser, J., Horel, S., Bolin, J. N., & Ferdinand, A. O. (2023). Rural healthy people 2030: New decade, new challenges. Preventive Medicine Reports, 33(102176), 102176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102176

Dariotis, J. K., & Chen, F. R. (2020). Stress coping strategies as mediators: Toward a better understanding of sexual, substance, and delinquent behavior-related risk-taking among transition-aged youth. Deviant Behavior, 43(4), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2020.1796210

NURS FPX 4055 Assignment 4 Health Promotion Plan Presentation

Gu, L., Jiao, W., Xia, H., & Yu, M. (2021). Psychiatric-mental health education with integrated role-play and real-world contact can reduce the stigma of nursing students towards people with mental illness. Nurse Education in Practice, 52, 103009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103009

Horigian, V. E., Schmidt, R. D., & Feaster, D. J. (2020). Loneliness, mental health, and substance use among US young adults during COVID-19. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 53(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1836435

Kratovil, A., Schuler, M. S., Vottero, B. A., & Aryal, G. (2023). Original research: Nurses’ self-assessed knowledge, attitudes, and educational needs regarding patients with substance use disorder. AJN the American Journal of Nursing, 123(4), 26. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000925496.18847.c6

Lee, G., Hicks, D. L., Kedia, S., Regmi, S., & Mou, X. (2024). Mental health problems, substance use, and perceived risk as pathways to current cannabis use among high school seniors in the United States. Children and Youth Services Review, 158, 107456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107456 

Rowan County. (2021). Community health needs assessment community health needs assessment. https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/units/ldas/cha2021/Rowan2021-CHNA.pdf 

NURS FPX 4055 Assignment 4 Health Promotion Plan Presentation

Tapert, S., & Shumate, S. (2022). Alcohol and the adolescent brain: What we’ve learned and where the data are taking us. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 42(1). https://doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v42.1.07