Drugs and Alcohol in Social and Academic Development in Adolescents

As time keeps changing, statistics are showing that alcohol and drug abuse in adolescents are starting at younger ages. Many adolescents start experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age usually beginning in middle school and gradually enter significant substance abuse.. Why are adolescents experimenting with drugs and alcohol at such a young age? Adolescents experiment with drugs and alcohol for several reasons: to fit in, to feel good/better, and to do better. And though their immediate short term goals may be filled substance abuse will cause serious damage long term, especially in academic and social development.

Teens are wired to want to take risks and try new experiences. They are going through a process of transforming and finding a place in the crowd they feel they belong in. Teens are more likely to give into peer pressure because of fear of rejection, not wanting to lose friends, and not wanting to be made fun of. According to Lauren King, as a teen she “had a hard time grasping” that her judgement was impaired and “kept making bad decisions because [she] desperately wanted to belong and be accepted”. Teenagers often want to be accepted and long for the embrace of others which makes them more susceptible to substance abuse. Peer pressure engulfs teenagers because they are spending so much time with friends, who in turn can enable strong addictions and bad decisions.

Many adolescents often abuse drugs and alcohol as an outlet to relieve their frustration and problems. Many teenagers go through many family problems and health/mental problems, which leads them to drugs and alcohol. According to the Medical Journal of Australia, “adolescents with moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms....had an increased risk of alcohol abuse or dependence”. Drugs and alcohol affect the brain in a way that raises dopamine (the hormone that makes a person happy) levels and makes adolescents feel pleasure. At first, it can give teenagers a big confidence boost and fill voids or problems that they may have. Drugs and alcohol rewires the brain to believe that this is the solution to feel better, often causing a substance abuse because adolescents want to continue to feel good/better.

Some adolescents are abusing drugs and alcohol to improve their athletic performance and/or improve their appearance by helping them build muscles. According to Matthew Martens, “Athletes have a clear incentives to perform at an optimal level....incentives generally increase as athletes progress..., culminating in major awards, international recognition, educational opportunities....”. Teenagers are driven to want to be better than others and often abuse substances to help them aid in their process. Drugs and alcohol might temporarily help adolescents look the way they want to look or perform better, but in turn have a detrimental effect on their health. Many adolescents have underlying body issues, which leads them to abuse these substances.They are often not looking at what the aftermath of abusing these substances will do to their bodies but how great they will look or how far they’ll be able to push their bodies.

Drugs and alcohol are detrimental to the health of adolescents. Drugs and alcohol create a numerous amount of health risks that can follow adolescents into adulthood. The adolescent brain is not fully developed, and when they use substances like drugs and alcohol, they are hindering the brain to properly develop and mature which can cause permanent brain damage and memory loss. Using drugs and alcohol during childhood or adolescence increases the risk of learning disabilities, impaired thinking, suicidal thoughts/tendencies, early sexual activity, dropping out of school, drinking and driving, violence, behavioral problems, health problems, etc.

Teenage drug and alcohol abuse is one of the largest problems in society today. Adolescents feel pressured by their friends to try risky and new things, they may have health or problems in their lives they want to get rid of, or they want to be able to do certain things or look a certain way. Drugs and alcohol is being seen as a solution for many adolescents but it is not the answer and can cause many problems even into their adulthood. Today’s adolescents face many problems and pressures that they don’t see the consequences of using drugs and alcohol, that later can turn into full fledged addictions.

Bibliography

King, Lauren. “Peer Pressure Is What Made Me Use Drugs and Alcohol.” Where Families Find Answers on Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, 30 Dec. 2009, drugfree.org.

Martens, Matthew P. “Alcohol Abuse and Drug Use in Sport and Performance.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology, 21 Mar. 2018, psychology.oxfordre.com.

McKenzie, Maria, et al. “Association of Adolescent Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety with Alcohol Use Disorders in Young Adulthood: Findings from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study.” The Medical Journal of Australia, 1 Aug. 2011, www.mja.com.au.