Substance Abuse in Adolescents: Examining

Substance Abuse in Adolescents: Examining the Problem and Proposing Solutions

The problem of substance abuse is one that has plagued the nation for decades. This issue stems far beyond the user themselves and far into the realm of national issues including: the economy, healthcare, legislation and public policy. For years, the nation has dealt with the issue of substance abuse, but only in its recent past has the issue become one that deals directly with adolescents. As the years pass by, substance abuse appears to affect a younger and younger demographic. Substance abuse in adolescents is an issue that not only affects the individuals abusing drugs and alcohol, but has the capacity to affect the nation as whole.

Background, Statistics and Underlying Factors to Abuse

Substance abuse is a major national public health problem that creates impaired health, harmful behaviors, and major economic and social burdens that continue far beyond an individual's adolescence and well into their adult life. Studies suggest that the younger an individual is at the onset of substance use, the greater likelihood that a substance disorder will develop and continue into adulthood (PLNDP, 2009, p.2). In fact, more than 90% of adults with current substance abuse disorders started using before the age of 18, with half of those beginning use before the age of 15 (Bachman, Johnston and O'Malley, 2002, p.4). Clearly, statistics like this are alarming, but there are solutions that can alleviate and hopefully fix the problem, if people are willing to look deep enough into the issue in an effort to weed it out at its roots.

Since the issue of substance abuse rose to prominence within society and the media within the United States, researchers and individuals affected have tried to pinpoint the factors that lead to this problem. As no truly beneficial rehabilitative help or solution to the problem can take place without an understanding of the factors that lead to substance abuse, researchers have noted that a clear understanding of the psychological profiles and underlying personality characteristics of addicted individuals must be pinpointed. Research has found that there are certain individuals who are more prone to initiate and sustain severe drug habits than others, and certain factors such as: psychological, familiar and environmental commonly lead juveniles and adolescents to become dependent on drugs (Ilgen, 2011, p. 1349).

On a psychological level, research has found that: environmental and personality stressors such as: low self-esteem, emotional instability, poor mental set, negative peer pressure, early traumatic experiences, inconsistent familial relations and social alienation lead to an increased risk of substance abuse among adolescents (Strang, 2012, p.71). Additionally, on a physiological level, factors such as: weak physical constitution and metabolism, frequent hospitalization, tolerance and previous experiences of withdrawal symptoms are likely to aggravate an individual's need for chemical substances (Norman, 2012, p.223). As seen, the reasons that adolescents turn to drugs and ultimately abuse these substances are exceedingly varied and remain subjective from person to person. However, in understanding the factors that exist in most substance abuse cases, preemptive solutions to the problem such as education and awareness, as well as early interventions in recently-onset cases can help to curb the issue significantly.

Proposed Solutions

The key to preventing substance abuse, as proposed by researchers and laymen alike, is awareness and education regarding substance abuse. Beginning in schools, religious organizations, and at home, individuals are better adept at understanding the struggles that stem from substance abuse, and such knowledge can help to eliminate a problem before it arises.

For those individuals who find themselves in the throes of substance abuse as adolescents, research has further found that early intervention or punishment can help to put the severity of the problem into the forefront of the abuser's mind in order to show the consequences of such abuse. For instance, increasing evidence has shown that specific, immediate and brief sentences (i.e. overnight) for positive drug tests or altercations produces substantial reductions in drug use and offending in adolescents (Strang, 2012, p. 75). Through fully understanding the repercussions of one's actions, adolescents in these circumstances are shown exactly what substance abuse can lead to, and in having this type of law enforcement altercation early on, many individuals are essentially scared into quitting.