How does substance abuse affect youth?
Substance-abusing youth are at higher risk than nonusers for mental health problems, including depression, conduct problems, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, and suicide.
What are the primary causes of substance abuse among today’s youth?
Which young people are at risk for drug use?
- Stressful early life experiences, such child abuse, child sexual abuse, and other forms of trauma.
- Prenatal exposure to alcohol or other drugs.
- Lack of parental supervision or monitoring.
- Having peers and/or friends who use drugs.
What are some of the determinants of substance use amongst youth?
Family, social networks, and peer pressure are key influencers of substance abuse among adolescents. For example, research suggests that marijuana exposure through friends and siblings was a primary determinant of adolescents’ current marijuana use.
How can we prevent drug abuse among youth?
Consider other strategies to prevent teen drug abuse:
- Know your teen’s activities. Pay attention to your teen’s whereabouts.
- Establish rules and consequences.
- Know your teen’s friends.
- Keep track of prescription drugs.
- Provide support.
- Set a good example.
What are the factors contributing to substance abuse?
Genetics, family history, mental health, and the environment are some of the risk factors for substance abuse susceptibility. The connection between substance abuse and addiction has an inherited component, often runs in families, and can be passed down from parent to child.
What are the factors that influence substance use and abuse?
Certain factors can affect the likelihood and speed of developing an addiction:
- Family history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition.
- Mental health disorder.
- Peer pressure.
- Lack of family involvement.
- Early use.
- Taking a highly addictive drug.