Preventing Adolescent Substance Abuse

Why is adolescence a critical time for preventing early drug addiction? The risk of drug abuse increases greatly in times of transition. In early teens, when children advance from elementary school through middle school, to high school, they face new challenging social situations. In many cases during this period, many teens are exposed to drugs for the first time. When they enter high school, many teens encounter greater availability to drugs. At the same time, many behaviors that are a normal aspect of their development such as the desire to try new things or take bigger risks, may increase teens to try

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

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as a, “chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences” (“Understanding Drug Use and Addiction,” 2016). Long-term use can effect and change a person’s ability to learn, judge, and make decisions. Stress, memory issues, and behavior problems are also common side effects of extended drug use. There is not one single factor that can determine if a person will become addicted drugs. However, certain risk factors have been identified as predicting higher probabilities of addiction because of a person’s biology, environment, and development. Adolescents who abuse

As children grow from adolescence to being an adult, an absence of positive developmental traits is directly linked to one’s behavior. As stated by the American Psychiatric Association, "When individuals with conduct disorder reach adulthood, symptoms of aggression, property destruction, deceitfulness, and rule violation, including violence against co-workers, partners, and children, may be exhibited in the workplace and the home, such that antisocial personality disorder may be considered" (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

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,

During this modern era it is highly likely that individuals during adolescence will begin to corrupt their minds by abusing drugs , including tobacco , alcohol and many other illegal prescriptions. The reason behind abusing drugs may vary from person to person however the coure foundation lies beneath the desire for new experiences , an attempt to deal with stress or depression and also peer pressure. Even though individuals strive to seek peace or joy through harmful substances in an unhealthy manner , there can be very serious long term consequences. Yet , many individuals start using “light” drugs and move on towards abusing deadly drugs . The gateway theory demonstrates a Popular theory that when adolescence use cannabis , later in life

Conduct disorder is the primary identifying risk factor in childhood that may be recognized as an early sign preceding the eventual development of antisocial personality disorder in adulthood (Holmes, Slaughter, & Kashani, 2001). Antisocial personality disorder possesses an array of proposed origins which include but are not limited to domestic, genetic, prenatal, and educational factors (Holmes, Slaughter, & Kashani, 2001; Farrington, 2005). Early detection and intercession are preventative measure that can be taken to dissolve the progression of conduct disorder in at risk individuals and dissolve the development of antisocial personality disorder in affected individuals (Holmes, Slaughter, & Kashani, 2001). The prognosis for individuals with antisocial personality disorder, or ASPD/APD, who receive treatment, ideally, is decreased repetitive criminal behavior and reduction of antisocial behavior (Hatchett, 2015).

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.

Furthermore, psychopathy was considered during the twentieth century, the most widely used term to describe antisocial behavior (Reed, 1996). In the 1980s, the committee who devised the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for the American Psychiatric Association recommended the term antisocial personality syndrome to be changed to antisocial personality disorder (Ellis & Walsh, 2000). Antisocial Personality Disorder Hare & McPherson (1984), were successful in pushing the idea that there is a significant correspondence between violent and persistent delinquent and criminal histories and antisocial personality disorder diagnosis. Acute persistent child conduct disorder behavior symptoms, also known as conduct disorder, have been directly linked to serious criminality and antisocial personality disorder (Ellis & Walsh, 2000). Although criminality and antisocial personality disorder ought not be equated, they should be seen as closely linked behavioral phenomena (Ellis & Walsh, 2000). Vitella (1996) believes that individuals with childhood conduct disorder have a higher than normal probability of being both criminal and diagnosed antisocial personality disorder in adolescence and adulthood, and persons with serious criminal records have a higher probability of being diagnosed psychopathic than those with little or no criminal history. Nevertheless, Ellis & Walsh (2000) in caution pointed out that these

In recent years, the use of callous– unemotional (CU) traits, such as the lack of guilt and empathy (Pardini, D. A., Frick, P. J., & Moffitt, T. E., 2010), has shown a mean “of delineating a subtype of CD youths with a particularly severe form of antisocial behavior and distinct neurological, cognitive, emotional, and social characteristics” (Frick & White, 2008). This specifier has a relatively more severe form of the disorder and a different treatment response allowing physicians to accurately identify and diagnose individuals who need more intensive and individualized treatment. The specifier also encourages treatment research to refine what does and does not work for a certain group of individuals that display a specific behavior. In addition to treatment, the specifier will effect the research on people with conduct disorder by designating groups of patients with similar causal factors (American Psychiatric Association,

Being an adolescent myself and having a first hand perspective on adolescent substance abuse, I feel that I have a certain perspective on the substance abuse and misconduct issues that others may not. An old friend of mine went through these issues, with continuous and serious substance abuse along with conduct problems. Personally, I believe that there is a serious lack of justification to begin abusing substances, however, I understand that there are many factors that are involved when developing an SUD. In this day and age there is so much information surrounding substances at one’s fingertips, the consequences are clearly outlined in numerous online websites, and television ads, making most people very aware. I do consider the backgrounds

Substance abuse has long been a problem across the United States. Adults over drink every day and smoke many packs of cigarettes in only few days. However substance abuse it not only a problem among adults any more, adolescent teenagers are now also among those who are over using substance in a critical manner. Substance abuse is a growing problem for developing adolescence all across the United States and a good way to help battle this is needed.

According to James A. Hall and Douglas C. Smith, substance abuse among adolescents is an enormous societal problem that we need to develop high quality and cost-effective treatment options for. Substance abuse problems during adolescence poses many risks for the future. Adolescents who use are more likely to have addictions as adults. They are also more likely to face delays in normal adult roles, such as relationships, employment, and education (Hall and Smith, 2007).

My project “Addiction Prevention” was intended to provide information to parents regarding the dangers of drug use among teens in our community, and to encourage parents to become aware of the hazards using illicit substances. I began by providing a survey to current middle school students regarding the use of illicit substances on our campus. This wasn't my first choice of how to start. I wanted to create a presentation informing our community of the top five most consumed drugs in America, that would inform teens about the dangers that alcohol or drugs possess. Then later on, my adviser and I realized that it would be more effective if I present information to parents regarding the use and availability of illicit substances using information provided by students through an anonymous survey. The purpose of giving students a survey was to enlighten parents about the realities of drug use among young students, what the students’ perceptions are about drug use, and to hopefully start a dialogue between parents and students. Doing the survey on April 8 through Google Docs using questions like “Do you think think your school is drug free?”, would help me generate stats and percentages with the intention of making parents aware of how vulnerable their child is to drugs and alcohol, and how dangerous it could be in long term and short term.

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 Effects on Adolescents, if a child begins to drink in the adolescent years the likelihood of alcoholism as an adult is a much greater.