The worldwide concern about youth substance abuse remains a pressing issue with profound social implications. Certain studies and social organisations have highlighted the prevalence and patterns of youth substance abuse.
This situation may or may not be different in other parts of the globe. Drug abuse patterns vary globally based on the availability of illicit drugs, the majority of peer groups, and parental monitoring.
Adolescents and young adults are subject to numerous challenges that could lead them to substance abuse. No doubt, once they get into any substance abuse, it becomes difficult for them to get rid of it. It deters their mental, physical, academic, interpersonal, and personal growth. Willpower, proper guidance, proper medication and a change in environment esp. peer groups, can lead to successful rehabilitation of young adults. This blog discusses the severity of this complex subject and ponders upon the toxic relationship between youth and drugs. While highlighting the underlying cause, and consequences, we try to focus on the countermeasures aiming to foster a resilient, drug-free community.
Experimentation to Addiction
Youth substance abuse starts from experimentation. When they first start using drugs, a lot of young people or teenagers think they can control their use without getting addicted to it. However, this idea frequently proves false because haphazard experimentation can easily lead to dependence. This shift reveals a severe misinterpretation of the dynamics of substance abuse and the addictive nature of drugs.
According to research published in JAMA Network, 60% of adults who had addiction in their youth, continue experimenting with drugs even in adulthood2. It suggests that if one doesn’t stop consuming substances in their youth, there is little chance that the person will get over it. Therefore, immediate drug addiction prevention, youth rehabilitation programs, and monitoring by parents are essential to carb addiction in its early stages.
Peer Influence on Youth Substance Abuse
Peer influence is a crucial factor in drug experimentation among the youth. The desire for social acceptance can lead individuals to align their actions with peer group norms, such as drug use. Additionally, transitioning to college and the hosteller experience can increase feelings of isolation and stress, increasing the appeal of drugs as a means of coping.
- Peer Selection: it refers to how adolescents choose to interact with peer groups.
- Peer Socialisation: it refers to how individual behaviour is influenced by peers over time.
The study suggested that peer selection influences adolescent alcohol and tobacco use.
Similar studies also emphasised the peer influence over other kinds of substance abuse as well. Our elder always stressed on having a “good company”. The influence of a friend’s company can be observed in all of our character and behaviour. We can say it without researching it.
Therefore, to overcome drug abuse, changing peers is a must. One cannot keep on going to the drug-parties and claim to not consuming it. It is very difficult for an addicted person to resist in a condition suitable for substance consumption. Thus, it is advisable to avoid such scenarios. Creating a supportive environment may overcome drug abuse among youth. Change your peer or change your priorities, choice is yours.
Youth Substance Abuse: Physiological and Psychological Consequences
Substance abuse is not limited to addiction or cravings but has other severe physiological and psychological consequences. It can interfere with cognitive processes, change brain chemistry, and disturb brain chemistry, impacting behaviour, learning, and general mental health. These problems can impair future employment opportunities and be harmful to academic performance. Let us discuss about physiological and psychological influences with pointers:
Psychological Effect of Drug Addiction
Craving
As mentioned earlier, the very first psychological effect of drug addiction is craving. Addicted individuals become obsessed with drug consumption, and they have a feeling of inability to function or handle life without it. The craving leads to severe mood swings, depression, anxiety disorders, paranoia, and hallucinations. Studies suggest that there is a strong association between substance use and anxiety disorders4.
Decrease in Pleasure
Contradictory to the general belief, drug addiction can lead to a decrease in pleasure experienced in everyday life. However, this pleasure model is always a topic of argument among researchers. In general terms, it means that drug addiction leads to declination in enthusiasm which may be the after-effects of underlying depression caused by substance abuse. This declination in enthusiasm may have physical associations as well because the body may not be capable enough of doing anything with, pleasure and passion.
Certain studies highlight the connection between a lack of enthusiasm and drug addiction5. Therefore, some scholars see psychoanalysis as a possible treatment therapy for drug addiction. One research even discovered that targeted stimulation of the prefrontal cortex can reduce or increase compulsive drug-seeking6.
Loss of Control and Impaired Decision Making
One of the adverse psychosocial effects of drug addiction is impaired impulse control. As addicted individuals prioritise drugs over their responsibilities, relationships, and health, their personal and social lives are damaged. Apart from medical detoxification, group therapies and therapeutic communities may aid individuals in developing insight into their decision-making deficiency.
Complications with Mental Illness
It is been observed that some individuals already suffering from some sort of mental health condition turn to drugs for relief. However, substance abuse worsens their existing mental health conditions. As discussed below, mental illness and drug addictions are found in a lot of patients as they are dependent on each other (if a person seeks illicit drugs as relief from depression).
Physiological Effects of Drug Addiction
Brain Chemistry
Drug addiction distorts brain chemistry and influences how our brain perceives pleasure. Continuous substance abuse leads to over secretion of pleasure hormones like dopamine and serotonin, causing drug dependency for pleasure.
Cognitive Effect
Children born to a mother having drug dependency can experience cognitive effects throughout life. Youth, who may be seeking a happy married life later, should be aware of the adverse effects of substance abuse on their kids. Infants exposed to drugs in utero often display arousal, irritability, and motoric immaturity6.
Mortality
Approximately one in four deaths is the consequence of drug addiction. Although there is mixed data on the mortality rate from drug addiction, scholars agree that overdose of drugs is one of the major factors causing death. There is a need for radical solutions to address the high mortality rate among young adults due to accidental poisoning with methadone and heroin/morphine. A report about mortality caused by drug abuse in Europe, suggests that high-risk drug users are 3 to 7 times more likely to die than their peers of the same age and gender in the general population7.
Short-term Physical Effects
There are specific short-term physical effects caused by specific types of substances that may lead to prolonged additional disease. For example, Cocaine narrows down blood vessels and increases body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.
Long-term Health Consequences
Long-term substance use disorder can affect memory, behaviour, learning, consciousness, and concentration. As discussed, it can lead to overdose and consequently, death.
Relationship Between Drug Abuse and Crime
Drug abuse, violence, and crime walk side-by-side. There is a strong correlation between drug abuse and the increased likelihood of being involved in criminal activities. Studies suggest that drug use and criminal activity are mutually facilitative, active addiction increases the frequency of criminal behaviour8. Whereas different types of drugs are associated with different kinds of crimes9. This poses challenges to the individuals involved and threatens public safety and societal harmony. Additionally, the societal stigma surrounding drug use makes it difficult to recover and reintegrate individuals struggling with addiction.
The Need for Action – Overcoming Youth Substance Abuse
Breaking the Chains of Dependency
Addressing both physiological and psychological dependencies is a formidable challenge. Physiological dependency involves the body’s adjustment to the drug, while psychological dependency includes reliance on substances for emotional and mental support. Breaking these dependencies requires comprehensive intervention strategies.
Strategies for Prevention and Recovery of Youth Substance Abuse
Educational initiatives that accurately convey the risks associated with drug use and teach effective coping strategies can diminish the repercussions of substances. Furthermore, engaging youths in sports, arts, and mindfulness activities can provide healthy alternatives to drugs, promoting emotional and psychological well-being.
Rehabilitation Efforts Against Youth Substance Abuse
Rehabilitation programs are essential for recovery, focusing on detoxification, psychological support, and life skills training. The effectiveness of recovery depends on individualized care and robust support networks, including family, friends, and mentors.
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Encouraging Positive Engagement
Involvement in sports and creative activities can significantly reduce drug use among young people. These activities enhance physical and mental health, accomplishment, and self-esteem. They provide satisfying experiences that can be replaced by the highs obtained from drug use.
Envisioning a Drug-Free Future
Drug abuse among the youth is a challenging and vital endeavour for the health of future generations. A comprehensive strategy encompassing education, rehabilitation, community support, and involvement in positive activities can help establish a resilient, drug-free society. By recognizing the difficulties of drug abuse and implementing effective prevention and treatment strategies, we can safeguard and empower our youth, ensuring their well-being and successful social integration.
A study suggests that parents are often unaware of their children’s drug and alcohol use10. It is not just about parental awareness but a huge segment of population is unaware of new kinds of substance abuse appearing every year.
By recognizing the difficulties of drug abuse and implementing effective prevention and treatment strategies, we can safeguard and empower our youth, ensuring their well-being and successful social integration.
References
- Monitoring the Future | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, December 14). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/monitoring-future ↩︎
- McCabe, S. E., Schulenberg, J. E., Schepis, T. S., McCabe, V. V., & Veliz, P. (2022). Longitudinal analysis of substance use disorder symptom severity at age 18 years and substance use disorder in adulthood. JAMA Network Open, 5(4), e225324. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.5324 ↩︎
- Henneberger, A. K., Mushonga, D. R., & Preston, A. M. (2020). Peer Influence and adolescent Substance Use: A Systematic Review of Dynamic Social Network research. Adolescent Research Review, 6(1), 57–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-019-00130-0 ↩︎
- Goldfield, D., Zhang, M., & George, T. P. (2024). Substance Use and Anxiety Disorders: A scoping review. Current Addiction Reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-024-00541-7 ↩︎
- Oliveira, L. (2010). Drug addiction and enjoyment. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Drug-Addiction-and-Enjoyment-Oliveira/49cc42073b4f8f9fdb70e018b2e72421c0ab9d0e ↩︎
- Jones, R. (2013). Turning down drug-seeking. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 14(5), 308. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3497 ↩︎
- Lesser-Katz, M. (1982). Some effects of maternal drug addiction on the neonate. International Journal of the Addictions, 17(5), 887–896. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826088209056335 ↩︎
- Drug-related deaths and mortality in Europe: update from the EMCDDA expert network | www.emcdda.europa.eu. (2024, April 17). https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/meeting-reports-and-conference-proceedings/drug-related-deaths-and-mortality-europe_en ↩︎
- Nordstrom, B. R., & Dackis, C. A. (2011). Drugs and crime. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 39(4), 663–687. https://doi.org/10.1177/009318531103900407 ↩︎
- Fink, L., & Hyatt, M. P. (1978). Drug use and criminal behavior. Journal of Drug Education, 8(2), 139–149. https://doi.org/10.2190/l6u3-nurl-c67v-l0qv ↩︎
- Green, A. E., Bekman, N. M., Miller, E., Perrott, J. A., Brown, S. A., & Aarons, G. A. (2011). Parental awareness of substance use among youths in public service sectors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 72(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2011.72.44 ↩︎