Understanding the Risks of Adolescent Drug Use: Part II
Angela Oswalt Morelli , MSW, edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.Likewise, if youth operate a car, motorcycle or other machinery when they're intoxicated, the risk of someone getting hurt skyrockets. The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2009) randomly sampled high-school aged adolescents across the country from a diverse range of communities. In this anonymous written survey, students answered questions about a wide range of behaviors and habits. According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (CDC, 2009), 9.7% of high school students reported having driven a car after drinking alcohol, and 28.3% of these youth reported riding in a car with another teen who had been drinking alcohol. Nearly 2,000 youth die every year in car accidents after underage drinking, not to mention the youth who are seriously and permanently injured.
As mentioned, drug use also impairs the brains ability to regulate emotions. Thus, during drug use youth may experience powerful, intense emotions. The combination of poor emotional regulation and impaired impulse control can lead to violence, especially for people already struggling with social or emotional difficulties. In fact, over 1,600 youth die yearly from alcohol-related homicides, and approximately 300 youth die by suicide after using alcohol (CDC, 2009).
In addition to the above mentioned risks, drug use interferes with youth's normal physical, emotional, and social development, particularly for younger teens. This is because adolescents' bodies and brains are still developing well into their 20's and drug use affects the normal, healthy progression of this development. In fact, the younger a youth is when they start using these substances, the more damage they can do. For example, youth who use marijuana can experience short-term and long-term memory problems making it difficult for them to remember and recall information, and to process that information. Regular marijuana use also creates motivational deficits making it difficult for youth to put forth energy and effort into beneficial activities such as academics, sports, and social and recreational activities. Youth who repeatedly use alcohol or other drugs can also experience "hangovers" or the after-effects of substance use. These uncomfortable symptoms limit youth's ability to participate in daily activities like school, sports, or work.
Furthermore, the earlier youth begin experimenting or using these drugs, the more likely they will become addicted or dependent on these substances. Of adults who started drinking before age 15, around 40% report signs of alcohol dependence. That rate is four times higher than for adults who didn't drink until they were age 21 (USDHHS, 2007). This is especially concerning because 21% of high school youth report they had started drinking before age 13 (Eaton, Kann, Kinchen, et al., 2010). Because of the effect of alcohol and other drugs on the brain, and the immediate euphoria that results (feelings of joy, pleasure, excitement, and relaxation), it becomes very easy for youth to rely on these substances to have fun, to relieve stress, or to cope with daily life instead of learning to rely on healthier alternatives such as exercise, hobbies, or friendships. Because drugs interfere with the development of these positive coping skills for life's ordinary frustrations, youths' emotional, cognitive, and social development is delayed.
Once youth become physically or psychologically addicted to drugs, the addiction can prevent youth from living a healthy, happy life and achieving their goals. Drug and alcohol addiction can prevent youth from completing school, getting or maintaining a job, and maintaining relationships.
Resources
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Articles
- Adolescent Parenting Introduction
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Healthy Teens: Food, Eating & Nutrition During Adolescence
- Teenage Caloric Requirements
- Nutritional Guidelines for Teens
- How Can Parents Help Teens to Develop Healthy Eating Habits?
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Obesity
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Eating Disorders and Unhealthy Dieting
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Diabetes
- Adolescent Diabetes Continued
- Healthy Teens: Exercise and Sports
- Healthy Teens: Sleep
- Parenting Teens: Clothing Clashes, Housing Decisions, & Financial Management
- Parenting Teens: Skincare, Cosmetics, Tattoos, & Piercings
- Caring for Teens: Healthcare for Teens and Young Adults
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Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Time Management and Family Commitments
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Socializing, Dating and Driving
- Discipline and Guidance: Older Adolescents and Young Adults (18 Years and Older)
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A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Teens’ Health and Safety
- A Parent's Guide to Protecting Teens' Health & Safety
- Understanding the Risks of Adolescent Drug Use: Part II
- What Can Parents Do to Prevent Teenage Alcohol and Drug Use?
- Steps Parents Can Take to Protect Their Children from Alcohol and Other Drug Use
- Steps for Parents: Part II
- Driving Privileges and Safe Driving Practices for Young Drivers
- Parental Guidelines for Teen Driving Privileges: The Family Driving Contract
- Protecting Teens from Abusive Relationships and Dating Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Fights, Gang Violence, Exposure to Sexual Predators and Graphic Internet Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Bullying
- Protecting Adolescent Safety: Independent Living
- Personal Security While in Public Places
- Adolescent Parenting Summary & Conclusion
- Adolescent Parenting: References & Resources
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Questions and Answers
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Book & Media Reviews
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Links
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Videos
- Feeling down? Let's talk - Prevention of suicide among adolescents
- Teen Drug Use: 2014 Monitoring The Future Survey Results
- NPW 2017: Suicide and Substance Use in Young People
- Are We Feeding Early Puberty
- Why Teens Are Attracted to Vaping
- Is My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?)
- Advice to Parents | Drugs & College 101
- Teen Depression Screening
- Let’s talk about depression – focus on adolescents and young adults
- The Flu Shot- Who Really Gets It
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45 more
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 21: Adolescence: Biosocial Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 22: Adolescence: Cognitive Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 24: Adolescence: Summary
- Are Your Kids Addicted to Social Media?
- Is My Child Too Young to Get the HPV Vaccine?
- Do Boys Need the HPV Vaccine?
- The Perils of Adolescence
- Tackling Concussions
- Adolescent Risk-Takers: The Power of Peers
- Energy Drink Sparking More ER Visits
- Children and Social Media: What Every Parent Should Know
- Drugs: Shatter The Myths
- The Impact of Changing Social Behaviors on Teen Drug Use
- Teen Substance Use
- Youth Suicide Risk
- Take Healthy Habits to College
- What Boys Want to Know About Puberty
- Am I Normal (Girls and Puberty)
- Money Tips for Millennials
- E-Cigarette Use in Middle and High School Students
- Teens Using E-cigarettes More Likely to Start Smoking Tobacco
- Tips For Teens With Diabetes: Be Active
- Help Teens Lower Their Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
- Adolescence: Preparing for Lifelong Health and Wellness
- Back to School: A Good Night's Sleep
- How to Talk to Teens: A Developmental Approach
- Bedtime Wake Up Call
- Game Change! Focus on Families - Engaging Young Adults and Their Families
- Endocrine System
- Behavioral Health on College Campuses
- Notebook: Sexual Harassment
- Flu Shots: Young Adults Need Immunity
- Most Teens Need a Rest
- Screen Time vs. Bedtime
- What is Puberty? Decoding Puberty in Girls
- All About Boys Puberty
- Inside Puberty: What Are the Stages of Puberty?
- Puberty Explained - What Is Happening To Your Body?
- Another Reason for Teens to Eat Their Vegetables
- Dangers of E-Cigarettes
- HPV Vaccine: A Pediatrician’s Recommendation
- Healthy Weight
- Getting through to your teenager with ADHD
- Back-to-School: A Time to Think about Health & Academics
- Impact of Cyberbullying: Addressing the Needs of Children and Youth
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