The Issue Of Adolescents With Abuse Drugs And Alcohol Are Doing Four Things : Exploring Their Pain

ADHD is a disorder that many psychiatrists, parents, and teachers are now labeling normal childhood behaviors as mental disorders. So you have to be careful with your children from now on as well.

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

Families who have children with ADHD often experience much higher anxiety and stress levels. A large number of children, almost half, will exhibit signs of ADHD by the age of four. However, most children are not diagnosed until he or she reaches elementary school. The behaviors that are associated with ADHD in children put them at risk for a host of other problems and complications such as completing their education, alcohol and other drug abuse, and an increased risk for delinquency. There has been much research on ADHD in recent years and many different types of medications and interventions have proven to be quite helpful. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD can learn to cope with the daily demands of the classroom, social situations, family interactions, and life in general.

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,

The statistics are stunning, an estimated 6.4 million school-age children (ages 4 – 17) have received a medical diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Have you ever wondered what it is like to be diagnosed with ADHD? Take a moment and put yourself in the place of a child who has received this diagnosis. Imagine what it is like to be the boy or girl who can’t stop screaming, fighting or fidgeting. The child who stares and does not focus. Imagine the parents of an ADHD child, who takes their child out in public and he/she begins running around, climbing on objects, knocking things over or just screams so people think you are mistreating him/her. I think that children with this type of behavior should be put on medication

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) continues to be a complex and widespread problem that is occurring in children at an unprecedented rate. According to DSM-V, a child must present symptoms before the age of twelve and display the symptoms for at least six months. There are two types of ADHD disorders; inattentive type and hyperactive-impulsive. A child could also have a combination of the two. Some of the most common symptoms for inattention include lack of attention, difficulty sustaining attention, difficulty following instructions, easily distracted and forgetfulness. Common symptoms for hyperactive-impulsive include fidgeting, excessive talking, being on the go very often and interrupting others (Mash & Wolfe, 2008). Both types of ADHD may affect a child’s social, personal and academic life. Children with the disorder may have sleeping problems and are more prone to accidents. Young children with ADHD show signs of aggression as young as preschool. During preschool years, they are ignoring their parents, acting out in public and getting into fights with other students or family members (Modesto, et al., 2008). As a child enters his or her adolescent years, they are more likely to do poorly in school and in some cases may even drop out. Their defiance poses a challenge for the parents (Modesto et al, 2014). Studies have shown that parents with children who have ADHD frequently reinforce their behaviors by giving attention to their impulsivity (Modesto, et al.,

Being a child suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not an easy thing to overcome or to live with. Children who suffer from ADHD often also have dyslexia, which is just another obstacle to overcome. I understand where children with ADHD could also develop behavior defiance issues stemming from always being told what to do and how to do it. Just because a child has ADHD does not mean that you should take any creativity or a learning opportunities away from them. For the children that are old enough to understand the difference, Ritalin is a vital tool in

My oldest nephew was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of eight and as he was growing up, it was really tough to understand and control him. He would be very impulsive, disobedient and would constantly pace around the house along with periods of hyperactivity. When he would get his report card sent home, some of his teachers would write a note saying that he constantly called out in class without raising his hand, shake his legs uncontrollably, got out of his seat to walk around or disrupt the other kids and have such short attention span. The thing about all of those disturbances, he maintained very good grades and is a very smart kid. As he got older, he began to learn about the triggers and where his ADHD would kick in and he’s doing great now; he’ll still have his moments where the ADHD will kick in, but it is much better present day. And he was never administered medication or therapy; he learned how to push the urges away but allow them to come out when the surroundings were not overwhelming.

It’s normal for a child to occasionally forget to do their homework, get fidgety when they lose interest in an activity, or speak out of turn during class time. But inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are all signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neuro-development disorder and can start as early as three years old throughout adulthood. People with ADHD have trouble focusing on tasks and activities, this can have a negative impact on the individual in different ways. It can make the child feel alone, incompetent, and powerless and those that don’t understand this behavior only intensified their struggle. Family and schools have a major impact on the life of a child suffering with ADHD. Parents who

Substance abuse remains a prominent issue affecting men, women and adolescences young as “age 11.” (William 2014) Substance abuse is an “excessive use of a potentially addictive substance, especially one that may modify body functions, such as alcohol and drugs. Also called chemical abuse.” (Houghton 2011) In the case of 17- year old Mr. Favel, he models the behavioral theory, which is based through conditioning with the interaction in the environment. Based on the environmental stimuli will shape our behaviors to certain situations.

So before you take your child to see a psychiatrist and they get prescribed a pill. Just know that poor judgment of parenting can not only have a mental effect on your child but also a physical effect. Barkley and others (2002) noted that in the study that they conducted from youth with ADHD experience a higher dropout rate from school, fewer friends, becoming pregnant as a teen, contracting a sexual transmitted infection, and engaging in antisocial behaviors. To me that solution is lazy on the parent’s behalf and should be consider as bad parenting. I mean it isn’t the child’s fault that the parent doesn’t have enough time, or lack the improper skills to raise a child.

It is important for parents and teens to normalize their ADHD. Educate the teen to the example of

Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and unable control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention. These behaviors interfere with school and home life.

Keeping up with the life of a typical adolescent is not as simple as it seems. Adolescents frequently get consumed with negative thoughts about the future which causes anxiety and prevents sleep. These are all signs that can lead one to a state called depression1. Once an adolescent is depressed, it is common for them to reach out to substances that numb their pain such as: alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. These drugs can be extremely destructive when abused. Since these substances can easily be bought by young adolescents, it is becoming more common for youngsters to reach out to these dangerous substances. Alcohol being the most prevalent and the easiest to get places a lot of trouble on youths. According to past research, there is a direct correlation between depression and alcohol abuse among teenagers aged 13-18.

When an adolescent is unable to cope with difficult and painful circumstances they are more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol to help ease their pain (McWhirter et al, 2013). McWhirter et al (2013) also states that adolescents may become drug dependent due to their inability to cope with their painful circumstance. The inability to cope can wreak havoc on an individual, especially adolescents who feel depressed, stressed, and worthless (McWhirter et al, 2013). An adolescent who is not receiving the support they need from their peers, teachers, and parents will often look to drugs and alcohol to help them cope (Wormington et al, 2012). Thus, an adolescent can be their own worst enemy due to their inability to cope with painful experiences.