The Behaviors And Substance Use Among Emerging Adults

Adolescence, usually defined as individuals between the ages of 12 and 20, is a period of transition, brain development and challenges1, 2, 3. Adolescence is the peak time to engage in risk taking behaviors2. Substance use is a common occurrence among adolescents. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has identified adolescent substance use as one of the United States’ top public health concerns4. In fact, an individual’s chance of becoming a cigarette smoker drastically declines if smoking is not initiated by the time the individual is 18 years old. Alcohol and Marijuana are the most commonly used substances among adolescents1,2,3. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Study, the Center for Antisocial Drug Dependence, Monitoring the

Considering that many teens are drinking illegally and also choosing to drive, many teens in our nation are lacking maturity. In Dying of Acceptance it states, “Alcohol abuse is involved in almost thirty percent of all academic problems, and about one-third of all emotional difficulties. A study done by the Nemours foundation found that teens who drink alcohol regularly are more likely to have problems in school, try drugs, and be delinquent” (Esherick 60). In addition to this fact, American teens show more likelihood to develop long-term alcoholism. Alcohol, like certain other drugs, is relatively easy to acquire. Some might even feel that alcohol is better than other drugs due to its easy accessibility. “Alcohol, like nicotine, is a gateway to later use of drugs” (Esherick 64). Gateway drugs are truly a gateway to trouble. Teens are more susceptible to the influence of drugs. If drugs are taken in the teenage years, it's likely that the teen will become addicted to the substances with little continuation. This shows how dangerous drugs can be and how a legal drug can be just as dangerous as an illegal drug. Drug use can result in highly delinquent behavior. Alone, drug use can create unwanted tensions. Young adults who use alcohol are not in the best state of mind, and will often influence the younger adolescents. Juvenile delinquency is commonly defined as general misbehavior involving children under the age of eighteen;

Coyle et al. (2016) conducted a study on 154 juveniles between the ages of 12-20 to determine if peer support had an effect on substance use/misuse. Coyle et al. (2016) infers having a positive peer network may reduce substance use/misuse. Furthermore, the study indicates adding positive support network into prevention and intervention services is beneficial in addressing substance use (Coyle, et al. 2016). Juvenile substance abuse affects these interpersonal relationships; therefore any attempt at treating the juvenile should incorporate peers and family members. Lui et al. (2017) reviewed the statistical data of 358 adolescents between ages of 13-18 as well as their parents to determine if socioeconomic status had any effect on long term abstinence. Of distinction in this study, Lui et al (2017) concluded that socioeconomic status did not have an effect on treatment or abstinence long term. YOUTH FACING TRAUMATIC BACKGROUNDS

Adolescent substance use is a serious issue in the United States. Children as young as nine years old and adolescents are experimenting with licit substances, such as tobacco (McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, & McWhirter, 2013). When adolescents experiment with tobacco and alcohol, they are more likely to experiment with harder drugs, such as marijuana, methamphetamines, and inhalants (McWhirter et al, 2013). The use of drugs and alcohol can cause adolescents to engage in more risky and deviant behavior. Thus, it is imperative for counselors and other helping professionals to understand the predictors behind adolescent drug and alcohol use. This paper will discuss three of the main predictors of adolescent drug and alcohol use, which are family-related variables, peer-related variables, and individual variables and how they are connected to the potential substance use of at-risk youth.

When it comes to juvenile delinquency an adolescent personality is usually impacted from different factors such as early child hood experiences of witnessing a crime, seeing a violent act, being the victim of a crime, or being around others or family who engaged in criminal activity, these factors can either create an adolescent with a positive or negative attitude, or an anti-social behavior which could create a path for a delinquent behavior (Wilson, p. 34). A study has shown that family interactions accounts for about 40 percent of the cause of an adolescent with an anti-social behavior, the study also shown that aggressiveness which is a common trait of adolescent who engage in delinquent acts is usually created from peer influences (Wilson, p. 34).

However, the substances that alter the mind and individual’s behaviors continue to take a major toll on individuals throughout the nation (Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion). There is a demand to lower substance abuse, such as Adderall and similar prescription stimulants, use and abuse among college students; especially in regards to non-medical uses. According to Healthy People 2020, societal attitudes and licit responses to the ingestion of illicit drugs make substance abuse one of the most convoluted public health concerns (Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion). The purpose of this study is to explore non-medical use and abuse of Adderall and other prescription stimulants among undergraduate college students within the United

In and around most large cities in America, the rising substance abuse epidemic has brought about a renewed interested in determining the root cause of substance abuse, the effects of substance abuse on individuals and societies, and the substance abuse treatment modalities that achieve the best outcomes. In reviewing the current research on substance abuse there seems to be no one clear cause of substance abuse disorders, although there is strong evidence that a number of life circumstances may predispose an individual to a substance abuse disorder, as well as a number of protective factors that may reduce an individual’s risk of developing a substance abuse disorder. One important risk factor that is commonly associated with substance

As we read through this literature review, we will outline some of the findings from the most recent research from 2010-2015. The focus is on aging adults and substance abuse in the United States. The use of alcohol, and prescription medications among this population, also known as the “Baby Boomers” is a major concern. One focus will be on the prevalence of substance abuse (alcohol and prescription use) and the consequences both mentally and physically. Being apart of the aging population and substance abuse this can lead to misdiagnosing and treating substance abuse among the elderly.

Hannah is a fifteen year old girl who was recently sent to a rehabilitation center for the result of abuse of prescription medication. 6.1 million high school students currently use addictive substances, and like Hannah, 1 in 3 of them are addicted (“National Study Reveals,”2011). Although the number of teens using these drugs are decreasing, the numbers are still dangerously high. Due to it’s high risk of addiction, dangerous consequences, and growing availability, substance abuse among teenagers is a serious trend being presented among all United States adolescence.

Juvenile delinquency is a social issue in the United States today. Juvenile delinquency, is when “a violation of the law is committed by a juvenile and is not punishable by death or life imprisonment” (Juvenile Delinquency). The juvenile system is different from the adult system in many way and most juvenile delinquents are from the age of ten to the age of seventeen (Juvenile Delinquent). Once the delinquent or anyone is at the age of eighteen, they are considered to be an adult. Therefore, in the justice system they are tried as an adult. There are many different reasons why a child would commit crime, such as mental and physical factors, peer influence, home conditions, neighborhood environment and school conditions. Teens are greatly influenced by the interactions and surroundings they are around. Their behaviors can result from the parent and/or their peer influences. Parents play a great role in the child’s life and a teen’s peers also play a strong role in how the teen behaves when the parents are not insight. This research will examine links between the social environment of teens and how it influences the teens actions and behavior which leads them to commit an offense.

Research by Piquero and Sealock (2004) found that Agnew proposed a “general strain theory” that focuses on strain on the individual level caused by negative relationships with others, which may cause negative emotions resulting in crime. Agnew used this theory to specifically answer the question, why adolescence choose to engage in delinquent behavior and drugs (Piquero & Sealock, 2001). Empirical evidence suggests when adolescents are confronted with a situation they perceive as harmful and being trapped in such as living at home and attending school, the possibility of deviant behavior increases.

The social behavior of an individual can be determined by the surroundings and other people. The people who are close are more likely to impact one another’s behavior than people who do not interact closely. Individuals who interact closely include children and their parents and friends among others. Nevertheless, some developmental stages are more prone to being impacted by other people concerning the outcome of social behavior. Early stages of development (childhood) and adolescence are more likely to be affected by the surroundings and relationships than other stages such as adulthood (Whitesell, Bachand, Peel, & Brown, 2013). For instance, children and adolescents friendship relationships lead to peer pressure. Peer pressure can influence teens to abuse drugs which can result in addiction. Another social risk factor that can enhance the onset of substance abuse in teenagers is a broken relationship with their parents (Whitesell, Bachand, Peel, & Brown, 2013). Parents are central when it comes to controlling inappropriate behavior such as substance abuse amongst children in the society. Therefore, once there is a broken relationship and communication with parents, the children will experience stress and trauma. The teenagers will then engage in drug

In study after study, peer pressure is associated in adolescents of all ethnic and racial backgrounds with at-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, truancy, drug use, sexual activity, fighting, shoplifting, and daredevil stunts. Again, peer group values and attitudes influence more strongly than do family values the level of teenage alcohol use. The more accepting peers are of risky behavior, and the more they participate in that behavior, the more likely a person is to do the same thing.

Studies found as many as one-half of all homicide perpetrators and victims had been drinking, and a large proportion of violence occurs in places where alcohol is consumed. (Lowry) This phenomenon may be linked to psychoactive effects of alcohol. In addition to pharmaceutical effects of drugs, interpersonal violence may result from economically motivated crimes to support drug use and activities related to the supply and distribution of illegal drugs. (Lowry) Tobacco use amongst adolescents has also been associated with interpersonal violence and delinquency as part of a syndrome of problem behaviors that includes illicit drug use, early sexual intercourse, and school dropout.” (Lowry). Not only is it related to violence, it is a compounding problem in itself. It has been reported that “12- to 17-year-olds at drug- and gang-free schools, those reporting drugs and gangs at their school were nearly 12 times more likely to have used tobacco (23% vs. 2%), three times more likely to have used alcohol (39% vs. 12%), and five times more likely to have used marijuana (21% vs. 4%), according to the report.” (Mahoney)

The social environment of teens holds an enormous influence on how the teens act and behave. Teens are easily influenced by their surroundings and they look to others for guidance. Their behavior results from that of the parent and peer influences. Parents play a particularly influential role in their child’s life and it is up to them to make sure that they are leading their sons or daughters in the right directions. A teen’s peers also play a large role in how the teen behaves when the parents are not around. A teen’s social environment, consisting of family and peers, plays a vital role in their life, therefore becoming the ultimate cause of juvenile delinquency.