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Substance Abuse in Teenagers
Teen drug abuse refers to the misuse of substance use among young adults. Teenagers are more vulnerable to drug and alcohol addiction, which can have long-term effects on their physical and mental well-being. Commonly abused substances are marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin and various prescription drugs like sedatives. Teenagers intake drugs for various reasons such as curiosity, joining social circles, escaping to their utopia etc. Prevention and intervention are crucial while addressing teen drug abuse.
The factors attributed to which teens get into drugs are multifaceted such as:
a) Peer pressure
Indulging oneself in a negative pressure group can lead to getting engaged in harmful habits such as substance use. Mocking or offering someone to intake substances is an indirect way of coercing them.
b) Anxiety disorders
A mental health condition, such as depression or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other psychiatric disorders.
c) Traumatic events such as accidents
People who have experienced child abuse, witnessed domestic abuse and other traumatic events are more likely to get addicted to escape from reality and deal with trauma
According to The National Institutes of Health, 62.5 million people use alcohol, 8.75 million use cannabis, 2 million use opiates and 0.6 million use sedatives. An NGO survey revealed that 63.6% of patients were introduced to drugs before the age of 15 years.
Consequences of drug usage
a) Drug abuse leads to unprotected sex which increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. According to a study in 2018 of 180 people with drug addiction, it was found that sexual side effects were common. Harmful sexual behaviour under the influence of drugs leads to sexual assault.
b) It shears the relationships with family and friends and leads to seclusion from society. It affects academics and can lead to failures in careers.
c) Intaking of drugs affects the chemical system in the brain which is critical for grasping and learning. It can lead to a non-cancerous brain tumour.
Ways to treat addiction to substances
A few recommendations include:
a) Treatment can involve taking family counselling,
b) Taking therapy sessions from addiction specialists and medications,
c) Finding a social circle that supports your decision of quitting drugs 100%,
d) Find new hobbies which don’t involve the usage of substances,
e) Being careful about social media usage because it makes intaking drugs look captivating.
Recovering from addiction is not easy and the process is not linear. While understanding the implications of substance abuse, spreading awareness can help prevent teenagers and adults from following in such paths.
SOURCES
Written by: Geetha Karanam
Edited by: Ananya Narayan
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