UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENCE & SUBSTANCE ABUSE

                 According to (Berk. 2010), adolescence is defined as [the transition between childhood and adulthood that begins with puberty. It involves accepting one’s full-grown body, acquiring adult ways of thinking, attaining greater independence from one’s family, developing more mature ways of relating to peers of both sexes, and beginning to construct an identity] (p. 361). There are also several issues that can hinder normal cognitive development among adolescents during this stage. One specific problem is due to alcohol and/or drug use. This is because when adolescents choose to use these substances, the side-affects can prevent further development with adult thinking, independence, maturity and overall self-identity. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to further discuss why and how substance abuse can affect adolescents during this crucial stage of development. I will also complete this, by addressing these questions:

1. What influential factors can cause adolescents to develop substance abuse problems?

2. What common risk factors do adolescents who develop addictive disorders face?

3. How is an adolescent’s self-identity affected by addiction?

4. What interventions may reduce the risk of alcohol and drug use during adolescence?

What influential factors can cause adolescents to develop substance abuse problems?

     During adolescence, there are numerous biological, social and environmental factors that can initiate a heightened desire to use alcohol and/or drugs. According, to (Shelton, Van Den Bree. 2010), “children from homes characterized by poor family functioning are at increased risk of drug initiation” (p. 1045). Other factors that may cause this destructive behavior are when adolescents view themselves as unworthy, when there is an unhealthy parent/child relationship, when there is a lack of emotional support within the home, or when they want to gain social support and a sense of belonging. When adolescents develop substance abuse problems, they may also face different risk factors associated with their psychological and/or physical health.

What common risk factors do adolescents who develop addictive disorders face?

     According to (Walker., Stephens., Neighbors., Rodriguez., Roffman. 2011), adolescence is a time in which individuals are particularly likely to engage in health-risk behaviors, with marijuana being the most prevalent illicit drug used” (p. 727). If adolescents become addicted to marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription pills or some other illegal or non-prescribed substance, they can face several different risk factors. Eleven specific factors which may be associated with addictive disorders also include:

1. Onset of symptoms due to mild/severe anxiety

2. Onset of symptoms due to mild/severe depression
3. Onset of symptoms due to mild/severe psychosis
4. An increased chance of becoming homeless due to stress placed on family members
5. A possible increase in criminal activity, arrests, and/or forced rehabilitation
6. Unplanned pregnancy and/or unwanted children due to unprotected sexual activity
7. May contract one or more sexually transmitted diseases
8. Need in/outpatient psychiatric service due to anxiety, depression or psychosis
9. More emergency room visits than adolescents who do not develop addictive disorders
10. Premature death due to overdose, heart attack, stroke or other health related problems
11. According to (Esposito-Smythers, Kahler, Spirito, Hunt, Monti. 2011), “alcohol and other drug use disorders (AOD) and suicidal behavior commonly co-occur among adolescent clinical populations” (p. 728).

How is an adolescent’s self-identity affected by addiction?

     Several of the risk factors that are associated with addictive disorders, can also have a detrimental effect on the overall development of self-identity. According to Piaget’s cognitive development theory, this cognitive change occurs during the crucial stage of adolescence. During this overall process, adolescents may become more concerned about relationships between self and others which is called imaginary audience. When this occurs, the adolescents will start to believe that they are the focus of everyone’s attention and concern in life. They will then become extremely self-conscious because they feel like the whole world is negatively judging every aspect of their lives. As a result, adolescents may have difficulty solving problems because they will worry about being criticized or not fitting in with the people that are focused on them. During this time, if they are criticized or treated in a negative manner, they will believe that it is because they’re not good enough or worth as much as everyone else. Adolescents will also become reliant on the opinions of people when building their individual levels of self-esteem, social support and peer acceptance. This means that they may have an extreme need to value emotional ties with people because all these relationships will be responsible for establishing their overall sense of self. A second cognitive change that occurs during adolescence is called personal fable. This is when they become convinced that others are continuously thinking and observing them in a positive manner. During this time of overgrown perspective thinking, adolescents will also develop an inflated opinion of themselves because they think that they are unique or special. It’s basically like they become convinced that the world can’t touch them. Therefore, during this stage of development, they may be willing to take more risks because they’ll believe that they are above normal rules and consequences. If this distorted way of thinking leads to addictive disorders, it can also prevent adolescents from developing an accurate or healthy sense of self-identity. This is because the effects from alcohol or drugs may only increase existing thoughts of low self-worth, a need to fit in, an inflated ego, or symptoms associated with anxiety, depression and psychosis. Therefore, adolescents will lose their ability to acquire normal cognitive skills that are needed to develop a healthy self-identity. This is also why it’s important to educate them about the risks of substance abuse, prior to use.

What interventions may reduce the risk of alcohol and drug use during adolescence?

     There are several intervention techniques that can used to educate adolescents about the risks involved with substance abuse. One specific method that can be implemented during the initial stages of assistance is talk therapy. This can consist of one-on-one therapy or in a group setting. This intervention method can also offer the opportunity to identify specific factors that may be causing a desire to use among some of the adolescents. If I determined that some of these individuals were experiencing issues with low self-esteem or confidence, I could help them understand that they can be who they are because others are not completely focused and/or concentrated on them. It’s also okay to have acne or other things that may cause insecurity because we all go through this stage and have these normal feelings from time to time. A second intervention technique that can be used to educate adolescents about the risks involved with substance abuse is to host weekly seminars. During this time, I would teach the adolescents about things like unwanted teen pregnancies, acquiring AIDS from unprotected sex and dying young from overdose. I would also choose specific kids that were recommended via the school guidance counselor, principal or psychologist. This is because some of these adolescents may already be showing symptoms of imaginary audience and/or personal fable. Therefore, the seminars may help them see that their current way of irrational thinking and/or perspective does have real-life negative consequences. However, they would still have time to change this way of destructive thinking, before they end up experiencing one or more of these consequences. A third intervention technique that I could use is to educate the parents of adolescence. I could do this by also hosting seminars for parents only. During these seminars I could provide the same information via videos and statistical data but also hand out pamphlets with contact information for local substance abuse agencies. 

Summary

     The purpose of this paper was to address why and how different environmental issues can hinder normal cognitive development among adolescents. One major issue that can cause this lack of development is when adolescents decide to use alcohol and/or drugs during this stage. This is because the side-affects may prevent further development associated with adult thinking, independence, maturity and overall self-identity. I also discussed, further influential factors that can cause adolescents to develop substance abuse problems, common risk factors they may face when developing addictive disorders, how their self-identity is affected by addiction, and what interventions may reduce the risk of alcohol and drug use during this stage of development.

References:

Berk, L.E. (2010). Development through the lifespan. Boston, Massachusetts. Allyn & Bacon.

Dahl, R. E. (2004). Adolescent brain development: A period of vulnerabilities and opportunities. Annals of New York Academy of Sciences, 1021, 1-22. Retrieved on May 28 2012 via the Kaplan Library.

Walker, D. D., Neighbors, Clayton, Rodriguez, L. M., Stephens, R. S., Roffman, R. A. (2011). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors: Social norms and self-efficacy among heavy using adolescent marijuana smokers. Retrieved on May 30 2012 via the Kaplan Library.

Esposito-Smythers, C., Kahler, W. C., Spirito, A., Hunt, J., Monti, P.  (2011). Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology: Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Suicidality Among Adolescents: A Randomized Trial. Retrieved on May 30 2012 via the Kaplan Library.

 

Shelton, H. K., Van Den Bree, B. M. (2010). Journal of Research on Adolescence: The moderating effects of pubertal timing on the longitudinal associations between parent–child relationship quality and adolescent substance use. Retrieved on May 31 2012 via the Kaplan Library.