Why Drug Abuse Can Cause Mental Illness

A few of the many reasons why people begin to take drugs is because of sensation-seeking, social conformity, or the fact that they are just curious. Substance abuse has been a common concern among specifically, the younger population. Adolescents and young adults are more easily influenced by society and other factors because their brains are not fully developed yet. Science explains, “By 18–20 years old, most of the subcortical white matter and association pathways have reached a plateau. Risk-taking behavior and novelty-seeking may provide, with an appropriate feedback, a mechanism to optimize brain development in adolescence” (Adolescent Brain Development, Risk-taking and Vulnerability to Addiction). By the early twenties, people will begin to realize the consequences that follow while engaging in risky behavior and will less likely do it.

Adolescence is a time where adolescents grow and mature at a rapid rate. It is also a time where adolescents are more vulnerable to taking risks, such as using and becoming addicted to illegal substances, due to raging hormones. Whether or not an adolescent chooses to engage in drug use and abuse depends on their home environment and those they choose to associate themselves with. Adolescents are confronted with an enormous amount of pressure to participate in risky behaviors by their peers. According to Broderick and Blewitt (2015), “risky behaviors are behaviors that constitute a departure from socially accepted norms or behaviors that pose a threat to the well-being of individuals or groups” (p. 389). One such risky behavior is drug use and addiction. Some adolescents use cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs in order to get “high”. Adolescents who engage in drug use are likely to become addicted, and thus, their addiction will negatively affect their brain development.

Stress and weight control among teens are some other reasons why they use drugs, smoke cigarettes, or drink alcohol (Teen Detox, 1). “Younger Children, at eight-grade level and below, are at a greater risk, because their personalities haven’t developed well enough, and the aren’t mature enough to know how to handle altered states of consciousness. As with any drug, the younger the age of first use, the higher the risk” (Dr. Larry Chait, Teen Addiction, 64).

Drugs can result in teens not doing well in school, which can lead to lower academic opportunities and career options.

Today’s teenagers are more prone to drug abuse because they see it as a way of rebellion. Author Tiana Rosenberg stated on 2012 that more and more teens are smoking each year because it is considered cool. It’s a form of teenage rebellion, the carelessness and disobeying adults. Teens think they are invincible and overweigh the pleasures of doing drugs over the risks. Part of the brain dealing with making decisions are still developing (Moore

The reason why most teens are abusing drugs is because they want to experiment and try new things. Also, teenage years are the most difficult because that is the time you want to make new friends and be cool. Teenagers are more susceptible to peer pressure. Another way it relates to psychology is that in certain situations people react differently especially in times of trauma. Some people become depressed which leads them to being addicted to drugs because they want to escape their issues. As you can see addiction of drugs and psychology are very

Children and teenagers also face dangers when they use drugs, often beginning to experiment with drugs in grade school. According to a recent USA Today article, children between the ages of 12 and 17 who use marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol are 266 times more likely to use cocaine than those who do not use those three substances. Children who use drugs learn less, are absent from school more often, quit school more frequently,

Many clients who seek treatment for substance-related issues may also have other existing medical conditions. Studies show that six out of ten individuals with an illicit substance use disorder also suffer from some type of mental disorder as well (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Whether physical, mental, or related to substance use, any other medical condition can have a significant impact on the treatment and recovery of the client.

The most common reason for this lies within the brain, the prefrontal cortex helps to determine the adaptive value of pleasure recorded by the nucleus accumbens, and weighs the risks and benefits of doing certain things (The addicted brain, 2009). The prefrontal cortex is like that voice in the back of your head that tells you not to do something if it is unwise; it is the judgment area of the brain. If the prefrontal cortex is not functioning properly, an addictive drug has more power to monopolize the reward circuit. Recent research shows that the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed in adolescence, which could explain why we often develop addictions at that time of life. The addictive brain (2009) states, that “A person who does not become a smoker before age 21 will probably never be addicted to nicotine.” This research supports why children partake in risky behavior in their adolescences. Adolescences’ prefrontal cortex are not fully formed, therefore, they are unable to evaluate the risks and benefits of things they may do. The only thing they focus on, are the pleasurable rewards felt after completing the risky

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.

Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author states, that they end up losing their support systems

This response will create a sense of curiosity and may convince the person to try drugs themselves. Many teenagers today believe that their first use of drugs is safe. However even though there is no instant addiction with the first try, youngsters tend to experiment further. Soon a person could actively seek the euphoric effects of drugs. The final and the most disastrous stage is when a person needs drugs in order to function adequately. Therefore availability, curiosity and experimentation could result in drug addiction among teenagers.

Substance abuse is a leading cause of mortality among adolescents (Sussman, S., Skara, S., & Ames, S. L. ,2008). What can be done to help predict which teenagers are at risk for substance abuse issues? Substance abuse, which can be defined as overindulgence in psychoactive drugs will usually begin during the teenage years. Psychoactive drugs work mainly by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain (Weiten,2015). Although various drugs initially affect various neurotransmitters, many theorists concur that the majority of abused substances affect a neural circuit that is known as the mesolimbic dopamine pathway (Weiten,2015). Operant conditioning may cause users of psychoactive drugs to continue using drugs. By consuming mind altering substances one is altering their consciousness. Additionally, substance abuse can lead to cognitive deficits, brain damage, and sleep problems (Weiten,2015). Three academic journals will be reviewed discussing whether it is possible to predict the likelihood that teenagers will abuse psychoactive substances based on whether the teenager suffers from depression, experienced childhood trauma, or based on the parenting style that the teenager grew up with.

Within the approximate 27 million illicit drug users in the United States, 7.1 million of them have met the criteria for drug addiction. Our brain is predetermined in a peculiar way that fabricates us to become more susceptible to things that pleasure us, hence making it more likely for us to repeat it again. This is a process that adjusts how the pleasure center along with other parts of the brain operates. All drugs are inevitably going to alter the way the brain functions by simply affecting the chemical neurotransmission. Studies have also shown that children who possess traits that are genetically influenced are likely to become more vulnerable to drugs within their lifespan. This is predominantly the case when the mother of the child utilizes drugs during her

The cause of substance abuse is not known but may include genetic disposition, co-occurring situations, and environmental conditions. Drug use and experimentation are common in pre-teenagers and teenagers; however, just a small percentage of them will misuse drugs. Parents that abuse drugs put their children at risk, but it is possible for the child to grow up and not abuse drugs. It is also possible for people who have never come in contact with a drug user to use drugs. Genetics alone is not the cause of substance abuse. Substance abuse often occurs with other issues like mental illnesses. Mental illness itself is not the cause of drug addiction, but the medication used to treat the disease may become addictive. For example,