Occasionally as you grow up, you and your friends may come across certain activities which are new, and exciting to you. Young people have a high tendency for risk-taking behaviors. Many teens start these activities as a means of escaping stress. Some activities may seem attractive because the cool students do it. Some people may have been bullied into trying out certain activities.
It is important that you assess each new activity you would like to explore. It is important to know the physical, psychological and social consequences of each activity you and your friends begin to try out. Most are only short term stress relief and will cause you more problems over time.
Regardless of what you come across, you should not be forced into doing something against your will. Learn to say “No” or talk to a trusted adult. There is so much information out in the world. You can also find good, professional information on the web.
Let’s explore a few areas of concern that adolescents your age frequently encounter, and links for description and where to seek help.
It is important that you assess each new activity you would like to explore. It is important to know the physical, psychological and social consequences of each activity you and your friends begin to try out. Most are only short term stress relief and will cause you more problems over time.
Regardless of what you come across, you should not be forced into doing something against your will. Learn to say “No” or talk to a trusted adult. There is so much information out in the world. You can also find good, professional information on the web.
Let’s explore a few areas of concern that adolescents your age frequently encounter, and links for description and where to seek help.
Smoking
|
Smoking is one of the most common forms of recreational drug use. Cigarette smoking is the most popular form and is extremely addictive. Smoking has negative health effects, because smoke inhalation destroys body such causing breathing problems. The average death rates of long term smokers was twice higher compared to non-smokers.
Additional information on smoking can be found in this website : http://taknak.myhealth.gov.my/ |
Drug Addiction
The involvement of youth in illegal drugs is increasing in Malaysia. Introduction of recreational drugs, combined with rave lifestyle with availability of psychoactive drugs has allowed young people to be more exposed to substance abuse. Examples of drug abuse include glue-smelling, ecstasy and rave pill use, abusing heroin, cocaine and syabu.
If you have problems related to drug addiction, you can go to this website to seek help: http://pengasih.org/guides/
If you have problems related to drug addiction, you can go to this website to seek help: http://pengasih.org/guides/
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is characterized by craving, tolerance, a preoccupation with alcohol. In Malaysia, about 5% of secondary school children found to have binge drinking. Health and social issues related to binge drinking include accident, violence, alcohol intoxication, engaging in risky sexual behaviour such as unprotected sex and homosexuality. More info: http://www.myhealth.gov.my/minuman-keras/
Internet Addiction
As the Internet grows in Malaysia, internet addiction is surfacing as a health and social issue, particularly amongst the youths. Internet addiction is a compulsive activity involving excessive use of the net, withdrawal and negative repercussions including social isolation, lying, low achievement and fatigue. Excessive gaming is one example. How often do you check your facebook, twitter or instagram? How long do you and your friends spend at the cyber café?
Cyber Bullying
Cyber bullying includes using the internet or any other technological devices such as mobile phones to send harmful and aggressive messages. The cyber-bully may send the victim threatening emails, take pictures or video of them and post them on-line (eg. Facebook, Instagram or You Tube) or say mean things about the victim in a chat-room. This may leaving the victim feeling harmful and powerless.
At least one in three children in Malaysia who accessed to internet said that they have suffered from cyber bullying (Marret & Choo, 2014). You can watch video above to understand more about Cyber Bullying.
At least one in three children in Malaysia who accessed to internet said that they have suffered from cyber bullying (Marret & Choo, 2014). You can watch video above to understand more about Cyber Bullying.
Gambling
Gambling is not that uncommon amongst Malaysian adolescents. The most common forms of gambling are card games and instant lottery tickets. These might seem harmless but some children do move from playing these games to more serious types of gambling in later adolescence. Adolescents who reported engaging in high risk behaviours (such as smoking, alcohol consumption, involvement in physical fights, illegal vehicular racing) were also more likely to gamble (Sheela et al, 2016)
Depression & Suicidal Thoughts
It is common for young boys and girls to experience feeling moody or feel "down in the dumps" sometimes. Adolescence is always a complicated time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life. Adolescents need guidance more than ever to understand all the emotional and physical changes they are experiencing. When your mood disrupts your ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it may indicate a serious emotional or mental disorder that needs attention — adolescent depression.
If you or any of your friends is affected by extreme sadness, hopelessness or has thoughts of killings themselves, please do seek help immediately.
If you or any of your friends is affected by extreme sadness, hopelessness or has thoughts of killings themselves, please do seek help immediately.
Eating Disorders
Dieting is common among adolescents. But eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa can be triggered by extreme weight loss dieting. A person who crash diets (severely restricts calories for a period of time), substantially increases their risk of developing an eating disorder.
Merempit
Mat Rempit is a local term used to describe someone who does illegal fast driving involving motorcycles in public roads. Some features of Mat Rempits include:
Merempit is an activity highly against the Malaysian law. The most common cause of teenagers involved in this act is peer pressure. Not only it endangers the motorcyclist, but also other road users such as physical harm or worst, death. Besides that, these teens are at a risk of being succumbed into other risky behaviors such as alcohol and recreational drug addiction. Adults are responsible to instill into them about its negative consequences.
- Youths
- Using a low powered motorcycle
- Illegal races
- May involve bets
- Activities are done in a group (usually unofficial)
- Dangerous actions and disturbing public peace
Merempit is an activity highly against the Malaysian law. The most common cause of teenagers involved in this act is peer pressure. Not only it endangers the motorcyclist, but also other road users such as physical harm or worst, death. Besides that, these teens are at a risk of being succumbed into other risky behaviors such as alcohol and recreational drug addiction. Adults are responsible to instill into them about its negative consequences.
Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com
However, factors causing them into merempit activity is not solely on teenagers and peers, there are unfortunate teens where their caretakers do not provide enough attention to prevent them from getting involved. As caretakers and teachers, a simple action such as giving them attention makes a difference. When they know there are people who looks out and love them, it is less likely for them to get involved in high risk behaviors as they know it makes others disappointed. To them, obtaining trust from adults is a big deal. Thus, actions of caretakers towards teenagers can become a positive influence and eventually prevent teenagers from getting into merempit.
Loitering
Loitering is also known melepak. It is no longer becomes a surprise to see group of teenagers strolling around malls or parks in their school uniforms. Do their parents know? How much do they have in their pockets? Do their teachers take actions? Is this okay?
Even though it is common, it cannot be taken lightly by society. The main reason to why they loiter lies within teenagers themselves. It was found that these ‘loiter bugs’ are teenagers without future goals to work towards and with poor good values in their lives. The main value here is time appreciation. They fail to realize that their youth and time should be used at its maximum to achieve success and stability in the future. ‘Masa itu emas!’. On the other hand, mixing around with the wrong crowd also allows negative peer influence. When teenagers are not warned about loitering by their caretakers, they will think it is fine to do so. Therefore, caretakers or parents attention and love is important to prevent them from getting involved with bad peers and loitering. Lastly, our society seems to be taking loitering as a usual phenomenon.
The society’s attitude plays a role in terms of taking potential actions towards these loiter bugs. When, we make them realize that it is not ‘okay’ to do it, it sends an indirect message to teenagers that it is unacceptable in society. Wouldn’t it be wise if there is an actual government law against loitering?
Even though it is common, it cannot be taken lightly by society. The main reason to why they loiter lies within teenagers themselves. It was found that these ‘loiter bugs’ are teenagers without future goals to work towards and with poor good values in their lives. The main value here is time appreciation. They fail to realize that their youth and time should be used at its maximum to achieve success and stability in the future. ‘Masa itu emas!’. On the other hand, mixing around with the wrong crowd also allows negative peer influence. When teenagers are not warned about loitering by their caretakers, they will think it is fine to do so. Therefore, caretakers or parents attention and love is important to prevent them from getting involved with bad peers and loitering. Lastly, our society seems to be taking loitering as a usual phenomenon.
The society’s attitude plays a role in terms of taking potential actions towards these loiter bugs. When, we make them realize that it is not ‘okay’ to do it, it sends an indirect message to teenagers that it is unacceptable in society. Wouldn’t it be wise if there is an actual government law against loitering?
Truancy
Truancy is an unexcused absence from school. The consequences are dropping out from school and being involve in high risk behaviour. The causes of truancy may include:
- Students:
- Victim of bullies
- Low grade in academic performances
- Mental issues like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Undiagnosed learning disability
- Family:
- Abuse and Neglect
- Financial problem
- Lack of attention
- School:
- Weak monitoring of daily attendance
- High expectation from teacher in academic performances
- Poor understanding of teacher toward student
- Fear of schooling
Drink Spiking
|
Have you heard of someone who did not remember anything after having a drink? Drink spiking is a form of poisoning where the victim is not aware of the added content in his/her drink. Drinks are spiked for a number of reasons. These include amusement or to facilitate sexual assault, rape or theft.
Alcohol is the most common substance used to spike drinks. It can be added to a soft (non-alcoholic) drink without you knowing, making you feel dizzy, faint or confused. Drugs used in drink spiking are often referred to as "date rape drugs", although they are not always used for sexual assault. How can you try to avoid drink spiking? Always ensure that you are aware of your safety at all times.
|
Commercial Sex
Prostitution is an activity in sex industry for financial reward. Prostitute is a person who have been forced or willing to offer or provide sexual services to another person in return of payment in cash or in kind. Other words to describe include whoring, adultery, sex worker, or anak ikan.
Prostitution is illegal in Malaysia under Section 327B criminal code. Children under 18 years old who are involved in prostitution should be treated as victim of abuse. Their involvement in this industry is usually due to many reasons and mostly not by their own choice.
There are many reasons why someone choose to engage in commercial sex. Some reasons include:
There are many consequences if one chose to be involved in commercial sex. Some of these consequences are:
Prostitution is illegal in Malaysia under Section 327B criminal code. Children under 18 years old who are involved in prostitution should be treated as victim of abuse. Their involvement in this industry is usually due to many reasons and mostly not by their own choice.
There are many reasons why someone choose to engage in commercial sex. Some reasons include:
- Financial problem
- Various family background
- Peer pressure
- Drug abuse
- Childhood history
- “MakNyah”: Transgender women or “maknyah” in Malaysia are people who have identity crisis or troubled about their gender. Transsexual is an individual who feels that he is a woman trapped in a man’s body. Some of them end up as prostitutes due to circumstances and is a growing number in Malaysia. The social discrimination not only causes them go into prostitution, but also makes it difficult for them to find proper jobs.
There are many consequences if one chose to be involved in commercial sex. Some of these consequences are:
- High risk of getting infected with sexually transmitted infections
- Psychologically affected
- Leading to unethical behaviour such as baby dumping/abortion due to unwanted pregnancy
- At high risk of contracting Human Papilloma Virus which is a major cause of cervical cancer.
Multiple Sexual Partners
Sometimes teenagers have multiple sexual partners because they aren’t ready to commit to one person or they are not sure what they’re looking for. When their primary relationship is not going well or does not meet their expectation, they try to seek for another partner to fulfil their needs. Apart from that, teenagers with risky behaviours such as consuming alcohol, smoking and using substance abuse are likely to have multiple sexual partners.
Factors that contribute to multiple sexual partners are as follows:
What is wrong with multiple partnerships? Multiple sexual partnerships are vulnerable and at higher risks of getting sexual transmitted diseases, HIV and cancers such as cervical cancer. Evidence have shown that multiple sexual partnerships increases the risk of HIV transmission. Furthermore, the risks of multiple sexual partnerships extend to one’s emotional health as well. Having multiple relationships makes it difficult to sustain a healthy relationship.
Young women who involve in multiple sexual partnerships with unprotected sex are at higher risk of unintended pregnancies which leads of stigmatization, unsafe abortions and single motherhood. Having multiple sexual partnerships makes it difficult to trace the father of the child. It should be important that all teenagers are aware of the importance of protected sex.
Factors that contribute to multiple sexual partners are as follows:
- Having multiple partners makes you feel more worthy and increase your self-esteem
- Gender bias: Men feel more powerful and in-control when they have multiple sexual partnerships.
- Peer pressure: Peers are also having multiple sexual partnerships.
- Family background: Family or community are having multiple sexual partnerships
- Multiple partners give fulfilment and provide needs at different time.
- Social background: Having multiple partners to gain money
What is wrong with multiple partnerships? Multiple sexual partnerships are vulnerable and at higher risks of getting sexual transmitted diseases, HIV and cancers such as cervical cancer. Evidence have shown that multiple sexual partnerships increases the risk of HIV transmission. Furthermore, the risks of multiple sexual partnerships extend to one’s emotional health as well. Having multiple relationships makes it difficult to sustain a healthy relationship.
Young women who involve in multiple sexual partnerships with unprotected sex are at higher risk of unintended pregnancies which leads of stigmatization, unsafe abortions and single motherhood. Having multiple sexual partnerships makes it difficult to trace the father of the child. It should be important that all teenagers are aware of the importance of protected sex.
Healthy behaviors equip you with skills to be confident in yourself and give you alternatives to potentially destructive risk taking behaviors.
