Addiction among Adolescents

An alarming trend is increasingly on the rise, that of addiction among adolescents or young adults. This is a cause of serious worry as it becomes extremely difficult to eliminate substance dependence that begins at young age. Youngsters who are still in their formative years can easily fall prey to the habit of drug or alcohol consumption, owing to various reasons like peer pressure, impulsive urge to try out new things and sometimes, misguidance from seniors or older people.

The brain of an adolescent is different from that of an adult. This is part of the reason why adolescents are more vulnerable to addiction. The frontal part of the human brain is the part responsible for checking impulsive behavior and sending out warning signals. It is in a sense, the ‘brake mechanism' of the brain which stops us from performing actions that can be potentially dangerous. Now, in adolescents, this part of the brain is still developing and not yet fully efficient. Simply put, the brake mechanism of an adolescent brain is a little weak and thus, youngsters often act on impulse, not foreseeing the long term effects of their actions. This leads to a high incidence of drug abuse among them, ultimately leading to a point of no return.

Alcohol has been seen to be the most common form of addiction among youngsters. The fact that alcohol is legal and widely available, substantially adds to the problem. But it doesn't stop there. Once an adolescent has tried out alcohol, he or she begins to move on to different, more dangerous drugs like marijuana, which happens to be the second most widely abused substance after alcohol. From there on to heroin or cocaine etc. which are extremely harmful and nearly impossible to give up.

Shockingly enough, alcoholism among youngsters can start as early as the age of 12 or 13. And as disturbing as it may sound, most often the people responsible for such an onset are the parents. At such a timid age, most young teens obtain their first drink from their very home. Parents therefore need to be extra cautious about keeping alcoholic beverages, even as little as beer, out of the knowledge and reach of children. It's vital that families share mature conversations regarding such behavior and gain the children's trust early on, so that they turn to their parents in case of a problem, instead of resorting to alcohol or other harmful measures.

With the advent of internet, sourcing drugs or other addictive substances has become relatively simpler. And if the older child takes to drinking or substance abuse, it is highly probable that the younger sibling too will fall into this vicious trap. Therefore, the role of the parents is to be emphasized once again. If your child is showing signs of anxiety, alteration in school performance like falling grades, frequent violent behavior and withdrawal from the family, the child may be using drugs. Watch out for warning symptoms and act soon. Timely intervention, appropriate medical help and proper counseling may save your child from this evil trap.

About the Author

Affinity Lodge is a drug treatment center specialising addictions such as alcohol and drugs offering alcohol and drug treatment.