Community Nurses’ Roles to Prevent Drinking Alcohol in Youth

Abstract

Youthhood is a period of physical development, so that youth is at the greater risk of alcohol-related health problems, e.g., the problems of the brain, liver, and heart, than adults. In addition, because the youth is sensitive to stimuli and lack of essential social skills, drinking alcohol increases risk of mental health problems e.g., depression and anxiety and risk behavior e.g., sexual risk behavior, traffic accident, and violence which can cause injury, disability, and death. Community nurses plays crucial roles to prevent alcohol drinking in youth because they are health care providers closest to the youth in communities. So, they know root problems and factors of alcohol drinking in the youth. They play seven roles as a health care provider, health educator, advocator, case manager, collaborator, leader, and researcher. This article aimed to present effects of alcohol drinking on the youth and community nurses’ roles in preventing them from drinking. This can be a guide for the community nurses to apply for reducing severity and negative effects of alcohol consumption.