The Psychological Effects Of Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescent substance abuse is one of the largest issues faced by our society today. According to Teenrehab.com, nearly 50% of all high school seniors have abused some form of illicit substance and according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism nearly 70% of 18 year olds have at the least tried alcohol. Many more adolescents are trying, and getting addicted to, drugs every year. In my opinion this is one of the most critical issues that we have to address as a society. Summary Response: The article titled the â€Å"Psychological Effects of Drug Use in Adolescents,† makes the argument that most adolescents who use drugs are unaware of the psychological effects that abuse of such substances cause. According to the article’s main source, not all depressed adolescents become drug abusers and not all drug abusing adolescents are depressed. The article then goes on to say that a adolescent’s brain can be more vulnerable to the effects of drugs, because chemical pathways are interrupted when a adolescent uses drugs. A adolescent on drugs has trouble thinking clearly. Their cognitive skills and behavior control is inhibited. The article argues that because of peer pressure an adolescent will try a drug and become addicted. It also says that adolescentss who â€Å"have family history of addiction, teens who have suffered abuse or neglect, teens who use drugs early and those with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety† (S chaffer) are more likely to become addicted toShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse And Addiction : A Meta Analysis1711 Words   |  7 Pagesprimarily dependent of substance tends to affect an individual both physically and psychologically. When reformed, dependency settles in where abuser may have trouble living everyday life without substance sustaining abuser to tolerate the remainder of the day. In the journal article Deficits in Behavioral Inhibition in Substance Abuse and Addiction: A meta-analysis authors Smith, Mattick, Jamadar, Iredale stated â€Å"The results are generally consistent with the view that substance use disorders and addictionlikeRead MoreRisk Factors For Adolescent Drug Abuse1462 Words   |  6 Pages Body: Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug Abuse There are an abundance of risk factors that can relate to the contribution of drug abuse in adolescents. The primary risk factors can be divided into two main categories: social and emotional triggers. Social factors play an important role because during the adolescent years it can be an extremely emotional and physically tough time for teens to transition through. Adolescent phases are one of the biggest transitional stages in a person’s life becauseRead MoreDrug Abuse Treatment1097 Words   |  5 Pagesmajor contributor to both substance use and the transition from use to abuse (Institute of Medicine, 1996, p.125). Instrumentation A wide variety of evidence based instruments that are available for the diagnosis and screening of individuals potentially or currently engaged in substance use or recovery from substance use disorders. Pre-screen instruments include NIDA Drug Use Screening Tool; quick screen, CRAFFT Part A, AUDIT-C, and the Opioid Risk Tool. Full-screen instruments include the NIDARead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse Among Adolescents1296 Words   |  6 Pages Substance abuse has become a notable public health threat to today’s adolescents. Substance abuse is associated with an array of behavioral and psychological consequences that can jeopardize the future of the young people. Lifelong dependence is another possible consequence of drug abuse among adolescents. Ultimately, counselors are supposed to come up with effective programs to address addiction issues among the adolescents to prevent them from relying on drugs in future. Counselors rely onRead MoreWhat Makes A Child Butt Out At Their Parents And Others? Essay1593 Words   |  7 PagesWhat makes a child lash out at their parents and others? Does the impact of war life destroy a veteran’s home? These are questions that medical professions analyze daily in psychological treatments of individuals. Psychological theory is the science that models the understanding of human thoughts, emotions and behaviors (Cherry, 2016). What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? PTSD is a very serious anxiety disorder that occurs in an individual following an unsuspected experience or even by witnessingRead MoreThe Psychological And Psychological Aspects Of Drug Use Prevention Programs1593 Words   |  7 PagesThe question being addressed is â€Å"What can be done to prevent adolescent marijuana users from shifting to harder drug use?† This paper specifically is referring to adolescents within a secondary education level, between the ages of 12 to 19. Introduction This paper will emphasize the necessity of school-based drug use prevention programs by supporting the psychological growth and understanding of the harmful effects of drug abuse. Forming healthy parent-child relations, external social determinantsRead MoreThe Effects Of Substance Abuse On Adolescents1651 Words   |  7 Pagesand psychological development. There are also developments in the adolescents’ sense of self, including independence and making their own choices. Because of the multitude of decisions to be made during this time, there can be a lot of room for error or misjudgements. One very common bad decision is substance use and abuse. Although drug and alcohol use is common and many users don’t develop a dependence on the substances, the adolescents who end up developing the disorders of substance abuse andRead MorePhysical Development Of Adolescents Report1263 Words   |  6 PagesEgede Louis Ms Kate Willey November 8, 2015 PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENTS REPORT THESIS- Adolescents are at higher risk of physical and brain injury due to their still developing brains, specifically the frontal lobe. Is it possible for the engagement in sexual activity, alcohol and drug use, sport injuries and other risky behaviors damage adolescent minds? The answer is yes because early high-risk behaviors, including sexual encounters, are powerful influencesRead MoreSubstance Abuse967 Words   |  4 PagesSubstance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of a substance (drug) in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods neither approved nor supervised by medical professionals. Substance abuse/drug abuse is not limited to mood-altering or psycho-active drugs. If an activity is performed using the objects against the rules and policies of the matter (as in steroids for performance enhancement in sports), it is also called substance abuse. Therefore, mood-alteringRead MoreThe Effects Of Drug Addiction On Children1506 Words   |  7 Pagesbut it changes the lives of their family members as parents get torn apart from themselves and each other. The role of each family member begins to shape around what is in the best interest of the addict. This research paper is an overview of the effects that raising a drug addicted child has on parent’s ability to be competent parental figures. Drug addiction is a problem that is becoming much too common within families. As addiction rates have increased dramatically and drug related deaths are