What Are The Negative Impacts of Substance Abuse in Adolescents?

November 23, 2021

A teenage girl who experimenting with substances

What Substances Are Affecting Adolescents, and How Are They Affected?

The most commonly used substances among teens and young adults are marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco. These substances are commonly used by people of this age group without knowing the effects they have. The use of drugs and alcohol at a young age affects the growth and development of the body and brain that could be permanent. Teens that partake in substance use and abuse are often also included in risk-taking behaviors such as unsafe sex practices and impaired or dangerous driving. According to the CDC, the earlier in life someone starts to abuse substances is correlated with the higher risk of addiction in adulthood. The continued use of substances such as drugs and alcohol in adolescent years could greatly affect the health of a person as they age. Common long-term effects on an aging person include serious medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

The image above shows the reactions of the receptors in the brain both during active addiction and sobriety. There is less dopamine produced in the brain of frequent substance users, which reaps the risk of relapse for young addicts.

How Do You Recognize Substance Abuse In Loved Ones?

Substance abuse can often go unrecognized by family members and friends. When abusing drugs and alcohol, many people will attempt to detach from loved ones to avoid confrontation with those close to them. Warning sides of substance abuse include a change in appearances such as rapid weight loss and neglect in hygiene, as well as other health problems such as persistent illness in the short term and liver problems or heart disease in the long term. Other warning signs one may notice are loss of interest in activities, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and problems at school or work, and with the law. Changes in personality may also be present as signs of addiction such as dramatic mood swings and becoming more secretive about their daily lives and whereabouts.

How Can This Substance Abuse Be Addressed and Avoided?

While there can be no sure way to definitively end substance abuse among teens and young adults, it can be decreased with proper education and reaction. As discussed in Pamela Burke's article, the CRAFFT is a screening tool specifically designed to test for drug use in adolescents. If one is to test positive for any screenable drugs, the stage of usage must be determined to create treatment plans and options for the individual. The main goal of these tests is to identify potential drug abuse in adolescents to stop potential addiction, health issues, and death. While confronting a loved one about substance abuse, it is important to maintain composure while presenting empathy and understanding. If they are struggling with addiction, they need medical attention and rehabilitation. Bombarding your loved one with accusations and anger could cause them to react in a matter that heightens their addiction, or pushes them away further which puts them at higher risk. As someone who deeply cares for this person, displaying empathy and compassion towards their struggles allows them to feel comfortable and safe to open up about their addiction. Driving them away is the last thing you want to do since relapse is common when a person feels abandoned or alone.

Experimentation or Addiction?

Many people will say that it is normal for adolescents to experiment with substances, and for many, it is just seen as a coming of age. Older influences often persuade young teens to try substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana for the first time. The side effects these substances can cause are often downplayed and accompanied by persuasion. The younger someone is when they begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol, the higher risk they have to be addicted to the same or worse substances in their adult life. The CDC cites Laura Kann and others' article while discussing the morbidity and mortality rate in young adults who participate in risk-taking behaviors. Parts of this article examine the risky behaviors teens take in correlation to their consumption of alcohol and tobacco. It was found that within 30 days before the survey was taken, 34.9% of participants had consumed alcohol and 23.4% had consumed marijuana. This survey found a correlation between the use of substances and other risky behaviors such as reckless driving and unsafe sex. Long-term temporal changes also occurred in many of the participants. While it can be difficult to interpret, experimentation with substances can inevitably lead to addiction. Especially in adolescents as their brains continue to grow, substances halt and change the way the brain develops, which can cause problems later in life. At these ages, any use of non-prescribed substances can be considered substance abuse because they cause more harm than good in both the short and long term.

In Conclusion

Addiction is known by many as a disease that can destroy someone's relationships, health, and life. It can sometimes be difficult to spot addiction in loved ones, but it is important to be aware of the warning signs that they could be struggling. Substance use in adolescents can quickly turn into an addiction, or put them at risk for addiction later in life. While confronting those you love about potential drug use and abuse, it is important to show empathy and compassion so they feel safe to confide in if they are struggling. Older influences may downplay the severity of substance abuse, but in both the long and short term, substance abuse only causes harm to the user as well as those who love them.