The Psychological Effects Of Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescence, usually defined as individuals between the ages of 12 and 20, is a period of transition, brain development and challenges1, 2, 3. Adolescence is the peak time to engage in risk taking behaviors2. Substance use is a common occurrence among adolescents. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has identified adolescent substance use as one of the United States’ top public health concerns4. In fact, an individual’s chance of becoming a cigarette smoker drastically declines if smoking is not initiated by the time the individual is 18 years old. Alcohol and Marijuana are the most commonly used substances among adolescents1,2,3. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Study, the Center for Antisocial Drug Dependence, Monitoring the

On a national level, teens are drinking and using drugs at unprecedented levels. Alcohol is responsible for killing 6.5X more teens each year that all other substances combined. Some studies indicate that at least 40% of all teens have tried marijuana in the last year and 15% have used opiates and/or speed. These and other numbers indicate it's time for parents to start taking teen addiction seriously and get them the help they

The possibility of abuse and addiction being inherited within the lives of an adolescents are very likely due to many circumstances. Adolescences are faced with many factors and issues during the adolescent stage where there would be a possibility of resorting to drugs. Adolescences are faced with several issues that can lead them in the path of drug abuse and addiction such as influence of peers, depression, and modeling parent’s behavior. Abuse is geared towards adolescent’s frequency of used drug and increasing dosage, abuse becomes into drug dependency. Addiction is fueled by abuse and is eventually the impact of abuse creates a stimulating effect where brain craves substance. “Heavy drug abuse by adolescent is, itself, a serious problem.

Substance abuse is the excessive absorption or use of a drug or multiple drugs. Many teens try alcohol, tobacco, or other recreational drugs for fun and other purposes rather than medical purposes such as marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine. Some teens try these substances only a few times and end up not being able to control their cravings for them because they are extremely addictive. The use of drugs among teens, especially the illegal ones, are due to peer pressure, the media and television, imitation of adult role models, the need to be accepted by the society, and stress. Substance abuse can lead to serious problems such as performing poorly in school, loss of family and friends, family problems, and lasting legal issues. Alcohol and drug abuse is a leading cause of teen death and injury related to car crashes, suicides, and violence. Conventional drugs, these days, are easy to get since a huge number of our population use them. Therefore, teens are involved in the usage of drugs and substance abuse because they have easy access to them.

Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are thought to be gateway drugs (drugs that are the gate to adolescent use of hard drugs). Whether an adolescent goes through the gate to try harder drugs is based on factors greater than previous patterns of drug use (e.g. the era they grew up in). Drug and alcohol use can be symptoms of prior psychological problems. Adolescents who are substance abusers typically have problems with school, depression, dangerous activities, and unprotected sex. Substance abusers are also put at risk for health problems later in life such as cancer, heart disease, and kidney and liver damage. There are psychological, social, familial, and contextual risk factors for adolescent substance abuse. There are also protective factors

There would also be a decline in car-crashes and substance abuse among teens if we started school later. First, “Delaying the start time from 7:35am to 8:55am correlated with a 70 percent reduction in car crashes among drivers ages 16 to 18.” This is most likely because students aren’t as in a rush to get to their destination on time. Not to mention their coordination is probably better because of their increased amount of hours sleeping. Second, “Schools also saw a decrease in substance abuse and symptoms of depression.” Drug use among teens is a major problems among teens everywhere in the US. If there was a decrease in substance abuse like the article states, we would have reduced this problem. There would also be a decrease in deaths among

A strong urge and desire for drugs are feeling and signs of drug addiction and abuse for some adolescents ((Goldberg, 2014). Often time’s adolescents will explore and experience whatever drug is the latest or newest trend in society. During teenage years some adolescents become

Hi Melba! Great post, I enjoyed reading the personal nature of your post and I am glad the adolescent was able to be evaluated. I found an article in the library database that addresses substance abuse in adolescence and suicide risk.

Teenage drug abuse is an issue that can result from a wide variety of social influences, stressful events, and mental disorders. Drug abuse among adolescents is a troubling issue because it decreases focus, increases the chance of consistency in behavior during adulthood, increases the chances of developing emotional issues, permanently damages the brain, and damages tissues in every system that can lead to death. Previous scientific research has identified that social factors, including the media and peers, play an important role in psychological development and impact the adolescent 's decision to start experimenting with substances (Edwards). Appropriate solutions for the teenage

Substance abuse among adolescents and youth has been a concerning issue for society for a long time. Abusing substances at an early age can alter brain functioning in areas essential for motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control. Therefore, it should not be of surprise that teens abusing alcohol and other drugs often have family and social problems, poor academic performance, health-related problems, mental health problems, and involvement with the juvenile justice system (Fowler, Volkow, Kassed, & Chang, 2007). However, a recent study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the University of Michigan, Institute of Social Research (2014) has shed a promising light onto the trend of substance use in youth populations. Together, NIDA and the University of Michigan conducted the 2014 Monitoring the Future (MFT) survey, which included 41,551 students from 377 public and private schools across the United States of America. The MFT survey focused on identifying trends in drug use and attitudes towards drug use among American 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. Participants were asked to report their drug use behaviors across three time spans: lifetime, past year, and the past month. The results from the survey presented enlightening news about current and recent drug use among youth and adolescents in high schools across the country. The findings show a decreasing use of alcohol, cigarettes, and prescription pain relievers, inhalants, and synthetic

Even more interesting is a sample taken that showed that those adolescents who start drugs and alcohol at a younger age like 15, are more likely to keep up the habit as opposed to someone who starts using at an older age. (Dewitt, Offord, pg. 7.) Drug and alcohol use also increases when young people leave for college. (Dewitt, Offord, pg.7.) All these results show how imperative it is for a young adolescent to have parental guidance and love during their life.

There are various forms of addictions that teenagers and adolescents indulge in. Various researchers have devices concepts, theoretical frameworks and models to try to identify the cause of addiction among young people. For instance, in a longitudinal study by Hansell and White (1991) & Shedler and Block (1990), results showed no correlation between “drug addiction and adolescents trying to cope with pre-existing psychological distress” (p. 288). On the contrary, drug addiction correlated to physical and psychological impairments over time (Hansell & White, 1991).

Adolescents are considered maladjusted experimental subjects towards drug addiction and its psychological approach. The relationships between the two subjects were taken under investigation from ages ranging from preschool to adulthood. It appears that those who were frequently engaged in

For the past twenty years, the country has been trying to overcome the use the drugs amongst teenagers. Research has shown that children between the ages of 16 - 20 use illegal drugs. The number of teenagers who use drugs is more than the number of drug users in the other age groups. Drug awareness campaigns are one of the key methods that can be use to combat this problem. Teaching the teenagers facts about drug abuse will assist them to know and understand the risks that drug abuse causes. Continuous drug awareness campaigns within the community are vital. ADDIN EN.CITE Gianni Devincenti Hayes201198Gianni Devincenti Hayes, D, Jr, and Michael J. Talley (2011)98986Gianni Devincenti Hayes, P.D, G.D.H.P.Jr, M.J.T.Michael J. Talley, J.Drugs and Your Teen: All You Need to Know About Drugs to Protect Your Loved Ones2011Bloomington, IN 47403AuthorHouse9781452098456http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=jlBZM573_-kC HYPERLINK l "_ENREF_3" o "Gianni Devincenti Hayes, 2011 #98" Gianni Devincenti Hayes, D, Jr, and Michael J. Talley (2011) posits, drug abuse not only affects the teenager, but also their family, and society. Though the use of recreational drugs among teenagers might not have adverse effects on them, the use of other drugs can lead to problems at school, home, work, and in relationships, which can lead the teenager feeling isolated, shameful, and have self pity.

Has there ever been an instance where drugs and alcohol have come up in a conversation or in a problem? People wonder what it is like to try different drugs or to get drunk all the time. Unfortunately, more times than not these thoughts come from teenagers. A major part of this problem is how the American society runs this day in age. Since both parents in a home these days are having to work in order to run the household and so teenagers are left at home alone and vulnerable to worldly ways. The question people should ask is “What they can do to help or to fix it?” Out of all of the problems in our country that might have obvious solutions one of those problems deals with teenagers and how they are involved with drugs and alcohol and how there are solutions to fix how involved they are.