In today’s modern-day American society, teenagers across the country are falling into the trap of substance use and abuse. More time and money have been spent on studies in the last two decades that research and prove the adverse effects of obsessive, and seemingly compulsive, drug use among adolescents. Drug and alcohol use among teens lead to physical changes and the compromise of brain development, and other physical health issues, as well as putting them at risk for psychiatric disorders and the potential for developing addiction. Short-term effects also include trouble with the law and strains academic grades.
One of the long-term effects of substance abuse that starts during a teenager’s adolescence is the stunted growth of the brain’s development and internal physical health problems. The chronic use of marijuana has been seen to cause “impaired problem solving,” “difficulty with memory recall,” and a “persistent lack of motivation.” This is because when the brain is exposed to drugs, synapses, which process information, change in their organization. Therefore, when drugs consistently interact with synapses, their organization changes so drastically that it is impossible to undo their effects during adulthood, thus debilitating young people. The misuse of alcohol can lead to liver damage, heart problems, and a physical dependence on it. Alcoholism causes the destruction of liver cells which can cause scarring and even liver cancer. Excessive drinking causes a dramatic increase in blood pressure. These two factors lead to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke later on in life. Overall, incessant use of substance as an adolescent lead to an altered brain development and other physical defects that can heavily effect teens’ health in their adult life.
A new trend targeted primarily to teenagers is the e-cigarette and vape. Their popularity has soared because it promises to deliver the effect of the nicotine or TBC oil without the consequences of traditional smoking. Though the damage to the lungs is dramatically decreased through the use of these devices, new studies are showing the long-term effects of them. Not only is nicotine a highly addictive substance, but researchers like Krishnan-Sarin have found a link between teenagers who vaped in high school and the number of those who continued on to the tobacco cigarette. She also mentions that nicotine can severely affect the development of the brain by interfering with “memory and attention processing.” Many believe that this will lead to a new generation that is addicted to nicotine.
Another affect of substance abuse as a teen is the risk of developing an addiction to the substances used as well as other psychiatric disorders. Consistently using marijuana has been proven to cause an increased risk of mood disorders (i.e. depression), anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders (i.e. schizophrenia). In 2016, the number of adults in the United States who dealt with addiction as well as a cooccurring mental disorder was a whopping 8 million. A theory as to why this occurs is because the person has an underlying psychiatric disorder that they try to treat with drugs as a way to self-medicate and lessen the severity of their symptoms. The reason why teens that abuse drugs are at such a high risk for developing addiction later into adulthood is because the brain is wired to encourage activities that flood dopamine into the pleasure-reward center. Activities such as exercise do the exact same thing but at a much smaller level compared to drugs that enter the body at a much faster rate. Another reason can be linked with genetics as people whose families have a history of addiction are 40%-60% more likely to also develop one. Like other health related issues, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, these people are especially vulnerable to the potential development of an addiction than their peers. But because teenagers are more likely to base their decisions on how quickly a pleasurable activity rewards them, they are therefore more likely to disregard these statistics, again increasing their risk. Many people argue that the use of substances like marijuana actually help to alleviate the symptoms of their anxiety or depression. While this is true in the short-run, the consumption of weed, in any form, only serves to cover those symptoms up. It does not actually help to fix them. Ultimately, a teenager who abuses substances are almost twice as likely than their peers to develop disorders, and those with a history of addiction, quadruple.
More immediate consequences of drug use include trouble with the law, a decline in academic performance, and other external struggles. When someone becomes addicted to a certain substance, their brain rewires its hierarchy of needs and compels that person to prioritize that drug higher than most things in their life. Matthew, whose name has been changed, was interviewed to describe his experiences with drug addiction and how it continues to affect him to this day. In his early years of high school, Matthew experimented with methamphetamines and inhalants, offered to him by a past girlfriend. He recalls multiple occasions from which he ran from the police and skipped school to do drugs. Though he has been clean for almost six months, his academic performance still suffers. It takes him a long time to answer and solve relatively simple problems; his attention span is extremely short and causes him to get distracted easily. He expresses his frustration with not knowing what time it is, constantly being on “tweaker time,” which is slang for the immeasurable time it takes to complete any task, regardless of its difficulty. Because of his drug abuse, Matthew also struggles with a sense of self and identity. These dramatic consequences are a part of his, and millions of other addicts’ lives. Overall, the use of drugs leads to trouble with the law and puts stress on relationships as well as academic performance.
Overall, substance use and abuse lead to negative physical changes, an increased of mental illness, and external consequences involving the law. The compulsive and recreational use of drugs is a serious issue as it severely limits adolescent growth, both physically and mentally. In order to solve these issues, society must encourage those in the science and medical fields to continue to further their research and help to spread their findings and inform the public.
Works Cited
FCD Prevention Works. “Effects of Drugs on the Teen Brain.” Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. 28 Dec. 2016, www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/fcd/effects-drugs-teen-brain. Accessed 28 Feb. 2019.
NIDA. "Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 14 Jan. 2014, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide. Accessed 28 Feb. 2019.
One of the long-term effects of substance abuse that starts during a teenager’s adolescence is the stunted growth of the brain’s development and internal physical health problems. The chronic use of marijuana has been seen to cause “impaired problem solving,” “difficulty with memory recall,” and a “persistent lack of motivation.” This is because when the brain is exposed to drugs, synapses, which process information, change in their organization. Therefore, when drugs consistently interact with synapses, their organization changes so drastically that it is impossible to undo their effects during adulthood, thus debilitating young people. The misuse of alcohol can lead to liver damage, heart problems, and a physical dependence on it. Alcoholism causes the destruction of liver cells which can cause scarring and even liver cancer. Excessive drinking causes a dramatic increase in blood pressure. These two factors lead to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke later on in life. Overall, incessant use of substance as an adolescent lead to an altered brain development and other physical defects that can heavily effect teens’ health in their adult life.
A new trend targeted primarily to teenagers is the e-cigarette and vape. Their popularity has soared because it promises to deliver the effect of the nicotine or TBC oil without the consequences of traditional smoking. Though the damage to the lungs is dramatically decreased through the use of these devices, new studies are showing the long-term effects of them. Not only is nicotine a highly addictive substance, but researchers like Krishnan-Sarin have found a link between teenagers who vaped in high school and the number of those who continued on to the tobacco cigarette. She also mentions that nicotine can severely affect the development of the brain by interfering with “memory and attention processing.” Many believe that this will lead to a new generation that is addicted to nicotine.
Another affect of substance abuse as a teen is the risk of developing an addiction to the substances used as well as other psychiatric disorders. Consistently using marijuana has been proven to cause an increased risk of mood disorders (i.e. depression), anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders (i.e. schizophrenia). In 2016, the number of adults in the United States who dealt with addiction as well as a cooccurring mental disorder was a whopping 8 million. A theory as to why this occurs is because the person has an underlying psychiatric disorder that they try to treat with drugs as a way to self-medicate and lessen the severity of their symptoms. The reason why teens that abuse drugs are at such a high risk for developing addiction later into adulthood is because the brain is wired to encourage activities that flood dopamine into the pleasure-reward center. Activities such as exercise do the exact same thing but at a much smaller level compared to drugs that enter the body at a much faster rate. Another reason can be linked with genetics as people whose families have a history of addiction are 40%-60% more likely to also develop one. Like other health related issues, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, these people are especially vulnerable to the potential development of an addiction than their peers. But because teenagers are more likely to base their decisions on how quickly a pleasurable activity rewards them, they are therefore more likely to disregard these statistics, again increasing their risk. Many people argue that the use of substances like marijuana actually help to alleviate the symptoms of their anxiety or depression. While this is true in the short-run, the consumption of weed, in any form, only serves to cover those symptoms up. It does not actually help to fix them. Ultimately, a teenager who abuses substances are almost twice as likely than their peers to develop disorders, and those with a history of addiction, quadruple.
More immediate consequences of drug use include trouble with the law, a decline in academic performance, and other external struggles. When someone becomes addicted to a certain substance, their brain rewires its hierarchy of needs and compels that person to prioritize that drug higher than most things in their life. Matthew, whose name has been changed, was interviewed to describe his experiences with drug addiction and how it continues to affect him to this day. In his early years of high school, Matthew experimented with methamphetamines and inhalants, offered to him by a past girlfriend. He recalls multiple occasions from which he ran from the police and skipped school to do drugs. Though he has been clean for almost six months, his academic performance still suffers. It takes him a long time to answer and solve relatively simple problems; his attention span is extremely short and causes him to get distracted easily. He expresses his frustration with not knowing what time it is, constantly being on “tweaker time,” which is slang for the immeasurable time it takes to complete any task, regardless of its difficulty. Because of his drug abuse, Matthew also struggles with a sense of self and identity. These dramatic consequences are a part of his, and millions of other addicts’ lives. Overall, the use of drugs leads to trouble with the law and puts stress on relationships as well as academic performance.
Overall, substance use and abuse lead to negative physical changes, an increased of mental illness, and external consequences involving the law. The compulsive and recreational use of drugs is a serious issue as it severely limits adolescent growth, both physically and mentally. In order to solve these issues, society must encourage those in the science and medical fields to continue to further their research and help to spread their findings and inform the public.
Works Cited
FCD Prevention Works. “Effects of Drugs on the Teen Brain.” Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. 28 Dec. 2016, www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/fcd/effects-drugs-teen-brain. Accessed 28 Feb. 2019.
NIDA. "Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 14 Jan. 2014, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide. Accessed 28 Feb. 2019.