Adolescent Group Identity

According to current statistics released by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, “In the United States in 2011, there were an estimated 25.1 million adolescents aged 12 to 17. In the past year, more than one quarter of adolescents drank alcohol, approximately one fifth used an illicit drug, and almost one eighth smoked cigarettes” ("A Day in the Life of American Adolescents," 2013, para. 1). Substance abuse is major problem amongst adolescents. Some are experimenting, but some adolescents may become dependent on a particular substance. If one becomes dependent on a substance as an adolescent it could be detrimental to their future health and success as an adult. Spear (2003) stated in an article titled Alcohol’s

Perkins and Wesley (2014), found that a handbook should be used by educators, counselors and clinicians for understanding and implementing an alternative to traditional methods for preventing substance abuse among young people. the social norm approach present in the handbook focuses on the phenomena beyond the individual’s personality and personal values which are important determinants of behaviors and offers information about how these influences can be changed. The handbook consists of a variety of specific techniques, programs and field-tested results of the application which can be used in various schools and

The population discussed by Tammy Thivierge focus on adolescent girls becoming drug abusers. She explain that girls are beginning to use more than boys. The research include girls in the 8th thru 10th grade. Not only are girls using illegal drugs, they are smoking and drinking due to peer pressure. Griffin and Botvin (2011) suggest adolescent usually use substance due to a negative influences form their peers in their social that related with their specific developmental

Identity has been defined in many ways. It is the concept used to describe an individual's sense of who he or she is (Dashefsky and Shapiro, 1976). Changes in identity occur throughout the life cycle, however, the changes in identity are usually most notable during adolescence. Integrating a positive sense of ethnic identity into one's overall personal identity is an important task of late adolescence (Steinberg, 1996).

Adolescent substance abuse is a phenomenon in our country that has been steadily inclining ever since the 2000’s. The effects of this incline are very straight forward and call for action. The facts are that alcohol and drugs are the leading causes of crime among youth and that alcohol and drugs are the leading factors in teenage suicide. (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., 2014) Because adolescence is such a crucial developmental age the effects of alcohol and drug use are catastrophic. To fully understand this phenomenon we must firs operationalize all of the factors we are trying to study. The DSM V classifies substance abuse as,

Establishing an identity has been called one of the most important milestones of adolescent development (Ruffin, 2009). Additionally, a central part of identity development includes ethnic identity (ACT for Youth, 2002). While some teens search

“Being high” can lower inhibitions against involvement in criminal acts (a psychopharmacological explanation), and/or committing crime might be a way to obtain funds to support substance use (an instrumental explanation) (White et al., 2002; Goldstein, 1985). The influence of the peer group and/or neighborhood (social context) might determine the co-occurrence of substance use and offending. A large proportion of serious delinquent acts in mid- and late adolescence are committed in groups (Zimring, 1998), and substance use might be a particularly potent component of the group process (Mason et al., 2007). Certain drugs, such as crack, can produce excitable, irrational, and violent behaviors. Some drugs also create confusion, lower inhibition, impair judgment, or make youths more susceptible to peer influence. Still other drugs can cause paranoia and edginess that in turn can lead to violence (Inciardi et al., 1993). These drug users often suffer from what psy- chiatrists call "drug-induced psychosis" (Ewing,

Substance use disorder, misuse, and dependence are among the most prevalent causes of adolescent morbidity and mortality in the United States (Brannigan, Schackman, Falco, & Millman, 2004; Newcomb and Bentler, 1988a; Sussman, Dent, and Galaif, 1997). Substances of all types are being widely used or misused by teens and emerging adults in the United States (Johnston et al., 2004). Adolescent substance misusers experience numerous social, economic, physical, and legal consequences, for example, truncated development (Newcomb and Bentler, 1988b). Substance use–related disorders are associated with such problems as poor academic performance, job instability, teen pregnancy, and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Crimes such as stealing, vandalism, and violence are associated with “heavy drug use” in adolescence. Adverse immediate consequences occur (e.g., overdoses and accidents). Also, drug-using youths are more likely to develop disorganized thinking and unusual beliefs that may interfere with problem-solving abilities and emotional functioning and may lead to greater social isolation and depression (Sussman and Ames, 2001), though the prevalence of dysfunctional thinking is not known. Substance dependent adolescents endure consequences of additional problems such as drug tolerance effects, withdrawal symptoms, and preoccupation with using a drug to the exclusion of other activities.

In 2013, more high school seniors regularly used marijuana than cigarettes as 22.7 percent smoked pot in the last month, compared to 16.3 percent who smoked cigarettes. Sixty percent of seniors don 't see regular marijuana use as harmful, but THC (the active ingredient in the drug that causes addiction) is nearly five times stronger than it was 20 years ago. One-third of teenagers who live in States with medical marijuana laws get their pot from other people 's prescriptions. The United States represents 5 percent of the world 's population and 75 percent of prescription drugs taken. Sixty percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them free from friends and relatives. The purpose of this study is to explore drug use in adolescent

The experiment, identity development and alcohol consumption: Current and retrospective self-reports by college students, examines time period of adolescence that many individuals began to experiment with alcohol. During the same time period is when adolescents typically began to protract psychological process of forging an identity. During these years individuals begin to format a sense of self that provides a direction for their future. The study suggests that alcohol behavior may be a contributor to this sense of self development.

This study looks to find a link between social skills and young adolescent usage of cannabis. Previous research compiled by Griffith-Lendering, Huijbregts, Huizink, Ormel, Verhulst, Vollebergh and Swaab (2011) shows cannabis is one of the most widely used substances, with frequent occurrence among young adults. Cannabis usage during this developmental time is linked to educational problems, increased use of other illegal drugs and deviant behavior. Other factors that lead to increased use of cannabis include low socioeconomic status, poor academic performance, early usage of tobacco and alcohol, family problems, and externalized behavior. Studying precursors of cannabis use is important to preventing not only cannabis use, but also the use of other illegal drugs.

According to teendrugrehabs.com, over 60 percent of teens have reported that drugs of some kind are kept, sold, and used at their school. Over 23 million people over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol or some other drug. One significant issue, among many, that our nation faces is the abuse of drugs and alcohol among our youth. This is a problem for all age groups, but every day more and more people under the age of 18 are experimenting with drugs to “fit in” with the crowd.

The Prevention of Marijuana Consumption through Education and Social Support group is designed to serve high school adolescents. The group is a psychoeducational group that offers information on marijuana, while also allowing space for the participants to process their emotional and psychological reactions and experiences to the topic (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, & Strom-Gottfried, 2016a). The group was intentionally designed as a psychoeducational group so that the leaders can offer educational materials and coping skills while also leaving space to process the students thoughts and emotions on the subject as well (Hepworth et al., 2016b). The freedom to openly discuss the information taught, instead of simply digesting the information and leaving,

In addition, Wagner and Anthony (2002, P.918) applied the mechanism of “exposure opportunity” association with peer group influence for drug use sequence. For example, adolescent who misusing alcohol or tobacco have tendency to exposed themselves to initiate “marijuana exposure opportunity” among peer-group environment. Hall and Lynskey (2005, p.39) also suggested that marihuana users within hard drug peer group setting developed the use of other illicit drug uses. This exposure opportunity theory might be able to explain the trend of situational Ecstasy use without predisposing marijuana or even without alcohol consumption increases the prevalence in the clubs and concerts settings particularly over weekends (Blanding, 2014).

Teenagers face many difficult decisions in their lives and have many people in their lives that influence them. One of the major groups that influence teens is their peer group. “Since teenagers are not yet comfortable with themselves, they have a strong need to be accepted by their peers. And to be accepted, they feel they have to be just like their peers” (Ruth Maxwell, p. 24). From Maxwell we learn that teenagers will use alcohol to be accepted by a group. As age progresses the number of alcohol users progress 73 percent of kids that are from the ages of 16-18 are drinkers. In addition, around 90 percent of high school seniors have experienced alcohol at least once in their life.