Addiction has become a global issue, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, from every country in the world. Governments are struggling to find a solution to this crisis, but until now the measures that have been taken have proved to be insufficient or inefficient. There's still much to be done in order to address the situation, but the first step towards solving such a complex problem should be understanding what we're dealing with.
Amongst the many categories of people whose lives are severely affected by drugs and alcohol use, teenagers seem to be one of the most vulnerable. Data provided by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that over 60% of teenagers have consumed alcoholic beverages and over 30% have experimented smoking marijuana.
The challenges of being a teenager
For certain people it may seem incomprehensible why someone would try harmful substances at such an early age, knowing that they risk suffering serious consequences for the rest of their lives. But adolescence is an extremely difficult period, even though adults might forget how it feels. It's a phase of transformation and discovery that puts a tremendous amount of pressure on teenagers. Studies conducted by the American Psychological Association have shown that teenagers suffer from higher levels of stress than adults.
Considering the above aspects, it's not hard to understand why teens are prone to drug and alcohol addiction. There are many things going on in a teenager's life: school, friends and family, the modern challenges brought by social media, the decisions they have to make about their future - the whole picture seems a bit overwhelming. So, it's important to understand the real reasons behind teenage drug and alcohol abuse.
Friends' influence
As rebellious as they may seem, most teenagers simply want to fit in. To do so, they try to adopt their peers' behavior and mirror what they are doing. Peer pressure isn't about teens being forced to use harmful substances by schoolmates or friends, although in some cases some sort of bullying might be involved. But usually this pressure refers to the fact that they feel the need to act like others in order to be accepted in a certain group. Making friends is much easier when you have common interests, therefore teens use drugs and alcohol as a bonding method. Since they see other teenagers drinking or trying different drugs, they start seeing it as something normal and ignore the possible harmful consequences.
Curiosity
Curiosity is part of human nature, as we all feel a certain impulse to learn about what surrounds us. This natural curiosity is much more intense in teenagers who are avid to expand their horizons and are willing to do a lot of things to quench their thirst of knowledge. Although they can learn about a certain topic from movies, the internet or by talking with other people, they still feel the need to try things for themselves. Nowadays, teenagers have access to a lot of information and that can make them want to know more, even if satisfying their curiosity implies trying dangerous things like using drugs.
The need to experiment
As stated before, adolescence is a time of exploration, of getting to know oneself and trying new things. Teenagers are eager to find out more about the world and to live their life to the fullest. Sometimes, they can feel like they are missing out if they don't go through a certain experience. So, they believe that there's no harm in trying drugs or alcohol a few times, just to see how it feels like. But those few times can rapidly transform into a habit and before they even realize it, they can become addicted to these substances and can't quit on their own. At this point, getting professional treatment from a rehab center is the best approach to overcome the issue.
Boredom
Sometimes teenagers have no reason for trying drugs and alcohol other than being bored. Some may feel that their life is completely boring and nothing ever happens to them. If they have no hobbies, passions or anything to keep them entertained in their spare time, their minds can wonder off in inappropriate directions. Therefore, to break their routine and make things a little bit more interesting, teenagers use drugs and alcohol to fill the gap.
Stress and depression
Teenagers have a lot on their plate. Increasing responsibilities, trying to live up to society's standards and their own, adapting to the changes they are going through and dealing with overwhelming realizations all add up and can put a lot of stress on them. That's why so many adolescents struggle with anxiety, depression or some other mental health issue. Since most of them won't open up about what they're going through and fail to understand the seriousness of the situation, they try to find a quick fix for these problems. Using drugs and alcohol might seem like a great way to forget about their troubles and feel better, at least for a short while, and in time it becomes their coping mechanism.
Lack of confidence
Since teenagers go through a myriad of changes and are in full process of developing their identities, it's common for them to deal with insecurities and self-esteem issues. They become more self-conscious and aware of their physical appearance and they start comparing themselves with others. It's not easy for teens to be confident, when they receive so many external influences and pressure. They turn to harmful substances to make them feel less like misfits and boost their self-esteem, even if this confidence is short-lived.
Genetic predisposition
Genes also play a role in teenagers' decision to use drugs and alcohol. Although there's not a specific gene that is responsible for becoming an addict, studies have shown that there's a link between a person's genes and his predisposition towards developing an addictive behavior. Teenagers who come from families with substance abuse history are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
