Abstract
Over the past several decades, substance abuse among adolescents has risen alarmingly. Adolescents are known for their intense social lives and peer pressure to drink or use drugs. Alcohol is often a common part of nightlife for teens, and many young people try marijuana for the first time in their early teens. While most adolescents know that alcohol and cigarettes are unhealthy, they may not realize that marijuana can cause long-term health problems. Substance abuse affects adolescents’ physical and mental health and academic performance in school. Some measures that can be taken to reduce substance abuse among teenagers include increasing awareness about how harmful these substances can be, educating parents about how they can help their children avoid using these substances, and providing resources for teens who want support in avoiding these substances. The research paper will discuss the issue of substance abuse among adolescents, its impact on their well-being, and what measures can be taken to limit this problem.
Introduction
Currently, substance abuse among young people is a major concern facing society. Adolescents are considered vulnerable and at risk of developing substance dependence due to their limited cognitive and emotional capacity compared with adults. They are also more prone to seek prescriptions for psychotropic drugs because they do not understand the effects of these medications on their body. On average, 8 out of 10 people in the United States engage in substance abuse (Nishimura et al., 2020). Whether it is alcohol, illicit drugs, or tobacco, it is hard to deny that this issue can affect many aspects of today’s lives. Many teens go through substance abuse as they experiment with new experiences and are affected by peer pressure. Substance abuse among adolescents has been on the rise in recent years, with more than 50 percent of 12th graders had used alcohol within the past 30 days (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). This research paper will discuss how substance abuse affects teenagers and outline measures parents can take to limit the problem of substance abuse.
Literature Review
Substance abuse is a social problem that has impacted the well-being of adolescents in many ways. The main issue with substance abuse among adolescents is its impact on their physical and mental health. Substance abuse can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, cancer, and stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). In addition to these issues, drug use can harm the family unit if parents become involved with their children’s drug use or do not provide adequate support for their children’s recovery efforts.
The rising rate of substance abuse among adolescents may be due to several factors. First, there are more teens than ever before because more young people are completing high school or going on to college than ever before. This means they have more time on their hands and fewer responsibilities at home or school than previous generations (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2020). Second, the increased availability of alcohol and other drugs through social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram can lead to substance abuse (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). Teens may feel pressured into experimenting with these substances without understanding how dangerous they could be.
Further, adolescent substance abuse has been a serious public health concern for many years, particularly in the United States. According to the CDC (2022), approximately 8 million adolescents aged 12–20 years were classified as having a substance use disorder or dependent on illicit drugs or alcohol. Other studies have suggested that adolescents who use illicit substances are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as unsafe sex and unprotected sex with multiple partners (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2020). These findings suggest that substance abuse harms adolescent health and well-being. Several factors contribute to substance abuse among adolescents, first, drugs and other substances are available at home or school (Seitz et al., 2019; CDC, 2022). In addition, peer pressure can play an important role in influencing adolescent behavior. Lastly, the problem of substance abuse among adolescents is a serious one. It can have far-reaching effects on a teenager’s life, including the development of drug dependence, impaired learning, and increased risk for physical health problems.
The use of drugs and alcohol by adolescents is not an isolated phenomenon. It is estimated that approximately half of all high school seniors have used illegal drugs at least once (Nishimura et al., 2020). It has been linked with many negative outcomes, including poor performance in employment, increased risk for car accidents and injuries, and increased delinquency and antisocial behavior (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). It has also been linked to poor academic performance and increased involvement in risky behaviors.
Furthermore, the rate of substance abuse among the adolescents has increased over the past decade. The number of teenagers who experience substance use disorders has grown to nearly 1 in 5 (Milstein et al., 2020). Although this increase can be attributed to factors such as changes in technology, peer pressure, and cultural influences, it cannot be ignored that there are many other contributing factors. Main reasons why adolescents use drugs is because they want to fit in with their peers and see drugs as an escape from reality, particularly if they have been exposed to trauma.
Educators and parents need to understand the reasons behind drug use so that they can implement effective strategies to prevent its spread. Many programs have been developed with this goal in mind (Milstein et al., 2020; Grim & Grim, 2019; Pinedo, 2019). These programs include school-based drug education programs that teach students about dangerous drugs and provide information about how drug use affects individual health and safety. They further include parent training programs for both parents and teachers, after-school activities and community programs for students.
Discussion
According to the literature review, substance abuse among adolescents has been found to impact the well-being of the young people involved, their families, and the community. It has been shown that the use of drugs, tobacco and alcohol by teenagers is increasing (CDC, 2022). The main culprits are the availability of these products, which allows teens to access them easily. This is also because they are not only available in many different forms but also in forms that can be easily hidden from parents and teachers (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2020). Adolescents who use alcohol are more prone to participate in harmful behaviors such as unprotected sex and driving while intoxicated. In addition, this can cause various problems, including depression, anxiety, and addiction (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). Other factors, such as poverty and parental support, can compound this problem. It also impacts academic performance, with most teenagers reporting feeling lethargic and having poor concentration levels at school. However, this paper found that many effective measures can be taken to limit adolescent substance abuse.
One way to combat this problem is by providing school substance abuse prevention programs. The purpose of these programs would be to teach children how to identify whether they are being affected by alcohol or other substances and what steps they can take. These programs should also include parents and teachers, so everyone knows what behaviors are problematic (Grim & Grim, 2019). Schools may also want to implement programs that teach young people how to avoid peer pressure from other students using drugs or alcohol (Milstein et al., 2020). By teaching them how to say no when someone asks them to use drugs with them, they will have a better chance of avoiding getting involved in these behaviors later on in life.
In addition, multiple strategies can be used to reduce substance abuse among adolescents, including reducing marketing strategies that encourage their consumption. It can also be achieved by implementing legislation to control access to alcohol and enforcing strict laws against underage drinking. Another way is providing information about preventing young people from experimenting with drugs or alcohol at home. This is because it increases their chances of becoming addicted later on down the line when they become adults themselves (Pinedo, 2019). Ultimately, the author believes that these programs will help reduce adolescent substance abuse and improve their overall health and well-being.
Conclusion
Student substance abuse is a significant problem that has worsened over time. Due to the increased popularity of technology, more children than ever are tech-savvy, leaving many susceptible to substance abuse due to a lack of family restrictions. Unrealistic school expectations create barriers for some children as they navigate an increasingly hyper-connected world. Overall, to help the general public understand substance abuse among adolescents, youths should be better briefed on its origins and impact on their lives. Design services should also be made available to provide education and a sense of empowerment to youths whose lives are burdened by substance abuse.
Annotated Bibliography
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). High-risk substance use among youth. Web.
According to this website, high-risk substance use among youth is defined as the use of alcohol and illicit drugs that is likely to lead to harmful outcomes. The CDC reports that alcohol is the most commonly used substance among high-risk youth, with marijuana also playing a role in their risk behavior. This research shows that the government should reduce teen substance abuse by doing more to prevent underage drinking and promoting awareness about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol at an early age.
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Parental substance use as child abuse. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Children’s Bureau. Web.
According to this website, parental substance use is a form of child abuse and neglect. The agency explains that this is because substance abuse can negatively affect children, including poor school performance, poor physical and mental health, and increased rates of violence. As such, the Child Welfare Information Gateway recommends that parents who are using substances be monitored closely to ensure they are not abusing their children.
Grim, B. J., & Grim, M. E. (2019). Belief, behavior, and belonging: How faith is indispensable in preventing and recovering from substance abuse. Journal of Religion and Health, 58(5), 1713-1750. Web.
In this article, the authors argue that belief and belonging are the key factors that affect substance-use behavior. They believe faith is a very important part of recovery from substance abuse because it can help someone recover from addiction and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Milstein, G., Palitsky, R., & Cuevas, A. (2020). The religion variable in community health promotion and illness prevention. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 48(1), 1-6. Web.
In this article, the authors discuss the importance of religion in community health promotion and illness prevention. They found that religious practice was associated with lower levels of substance abuse and higher levels of positive mental health for people who live in the same neighborhoods as a mosque or temple. This is because religious support can help them cope with stress, which is common among those who struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues.
National Institute of Mental Health (2021). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. Web.
According to this website, substance abuse disorders can be broken down into three categories: drug, alcohol, and nicotine. Each category has different symptoms and causes. For example, someone who abuses alcohol may have depression or anxiety due to their drinking habits. In order to get help for a substance abuse problem, it is important to see a professional who specializes in dealing with these issues.
Nishimura, M., Bhatia, H., Ma, J., Dickson, S. D., Alshawabkeh, L., Adler, E., Maisel, A., Criqui, H., Greenberg, B., & Thomas, I. (2020). The impact of substance abuse on heart failure hospitalizations. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(2), 207–213. Web.
According to the article, an estimated 5 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. This study found that substance abuse was associated with a greater risk of death after diagnosis for those diagnosed with heart failure. The researchers also found a significant association between opioid use and long-term mortality after heart failure diagnosis.
Schindler, A. (2019). Attachment and substance use disorders—theoretical models, empirical evidence, and implications for treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10(1), 727-741. Web.
According to this article, the authors argue that attachment theory can be used to understand the relationship between substance use disorder and other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. They also state that it is important to understand the relationship between mental health issues and substance use because it can lead to better treatment outcomes for patients with these conditions.
Pinedo, M. (2019). A current re-examination of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of substance abuse treatment: Do disparities persist? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 202, 162–167. Web.
This article examines the relationship between race and ethnicity in substance abuse treatment. The study found that African-Americans and Hispanics were less likely to be treated for substance abuse than Caucasians, even when controlling for differences in socioeconomic status and other variables. The author suggests that some people may not seek help because there is a lack of awareness about how addiction affects different racial groups differently.
Seitz, N. N., Lochbühler, K., Atzendorf, J., Rauschert, C., Pfeiffer-Gerschel, T., & Kraus, L. (2019). Trends in substance use and related disorders: Analysis of the epidemiological survey of substance abuse 1995 to 2018. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 116(36), 585-591. Web.
This study shows that rates of substance abuse have been increasing since 1995. The authors also point out some other problems with substance abuse that are not addressed in this article: the cost of treating addiction is high, and substance abusers often become homeless because they cannot afford housing or treatment. Substance use also creates an unsafe work environment for employees and leads to injuries.