relationship between addiction and teenagers and the effects caused in their brain development

 relationship between addiction and teenagers and the effects caused in their brain development

Some people believe that addiction and substance abuse mean the same. However, the two have different meanings. Substance abuse refers to the use of a particular drug, but it is not necessarily a habit. On the other hand, addiction comes when a specific substance controls an individual. This means one can not go a day without taking the drug. The relationship between substance abuse and addiction is that both involve the use of drugs. Besides, substance abuse can also cause addiction if the user takes the substance for an extended period. Over the decades now, teenagers have indulged in drug and substance use in large numbers.  This paper seeks to discuss the relationship between addiction and teenagers and the effects caused in their brain development. Also, info will be provided regarding how spiritual health progress affects the possibility of teen abuse of drugs and addiction.

Many insalubrious behaviors often instigate during adolescence. In most cases, teenagers begin to engage in sexual immoralities and substance abuse. These behaviors represent a significant public health challenge. Substance abuse and addiction have a considerable impact on families, individuals, and the community at large. These constitute a substantial challenge that results in to change of behavior and most often result in crimes, among others. Research shows that several factors enhance the hazard of abusing drugs, which later lead to addiction (Guerri & Pascual, 2019). These factors include family background, social, economic factors, and environmental factors, among others. This calumniates to a state where the individuals stop to be lively members of societal development, and instead, they are obsessive by addictions.

Researches have been conducted to provide some interventions to prevent substance abuse and addiction in the population. This was as a result of the rapid increase in the number of drug abusers and addictions among teenagers. Substance use and misuse remain to be one of the major causes of the high mortality rate of teenagers in the United States, Canada, and worldwide (Degenhardt et al., 2016). Drug abuse study has been piloted to comprehend the epidemiology and etiology of substance use. This has led to inventions of various ways to prevent the massive use of drug and substance abuse. The research conducted shows that addiction varies from different individuals. Some have struggled all their life with addiction, while others do not realize it.

One of the interventions to counteract substance use and addiction is the provision of educational awareness of drugs to young people. These training programs can be established in schools and other places where teens meet, like in seminars.  The training focuses more on youths and teenagers because most adults who abuse drugs started during their adolescence. Parents can also be included in the training programs. This helps them to learn effective ways to communicate with the children and address the issue of drugs wisely. Besides, parents learn how to enforce family rules regarding drug and substance use. The second way to prevent substance abuse is effectively dealing with peer pressure (Thombs & Osborn, 2019). Many youths and teenagers use drugs because their friends abuse them. It is, therefore, crucial to be careful about one’s friends.

Religious beliefs and practices may play an essential role in preventing substance abuse and addiction among teenagers.  People who have specific religious beliefs are less likely to abuse drugs. This is because; they do not want to annoy the supernatural being. Besides, different religions have their ways of discouraging drug abuse. Some opt to call youth seminars on holidays. During this period, teenagers are made aware of the effects of drug abuse. Some religions have also founded rehabilitation centers where addicted teens are taken for rehab services. On the other hand, some religious beliefs encourage the use of drugs. This may inspire adolescents to use drugs because it is something they believe in. Arguably, religion can impact substance use and addiction among teenagers either positively or negatively.

Drug use is an issue that hits the report’s headlines almost every day, with most of the drug users being teenagers. This has brought a significant problem among the lawmakers. Research also shows that young people who are exposed to drugs suffer many ailments, including mental problems. As a result, the government pumps in large amounts of money to provide medications to the affected persons. Besides, the government has to offer rehabilitation centers to cater to addicted individuals. Arguably, recent research shows that there are various possible causes of addiction, including drugs, the internet, and alcohol and gambling, among others. Depending on assumptions which were made, the addiction prevalence in United States adults varies from fifteen to sixty-one percent (Jiang et al., 2017)

To sum up, substance abuse and addiction have been an issue of concern over the years. Some users, either developmental or behavioral problems. This has resulted in an increase in crimes and some ceasing to be productive members of the community. The paper has also discussed various ways of preventing substance use and addiction among teenagers. They include educational training and being careful about peer pressure, among others. On the other hand, the information above shows how spiritual development may impact teenagers negatively or positively on the use of drugs. This is because some religions discourage the use of substance abuse, while others encourage it.

References

Degenhardt, L., Stockings, E., Patton, G., Hall, W. D., & Lynskey, M. (2016). The increasing global health priority of substance use in young people. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(3), 251-264.

Guerri, C., & Pascual, M. (2019). Impact of neuroimmune activation induced by alcohol or drug abuse on adolescent brain development. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 77, 89-98.

Jiang, R., Lee, I., Lee, T. A., & Pickard, A. S. (2017). The societal cost of heroin use disorder in the United States. PloS one, 12(5).

Thombs, D. L., & Osborn, C. J. (2019). Introduction to addictive behaviors. Guilford Publications.