Substance Abuse Amongst Adolescents: An Issue of Public Health Significance

Abstract

Adolescence is a crucial time for biological, psychological, and social development. It is also a time when substance addiction and its adverse effects are more likely to occur. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to the negative long-term effects of substance use, including mental health illnesses, sub-par academic performance, substance use disorders, and higher chances of getting addicted to alcohol and marijuana. Over the past few decades, there have been substantial changes in the types of illegal narcotics people consume. The present article deals with the review of substance abuse as a public health problem, its determinants, and implications seen among adolescents. A systematic literature search using databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar was undertaken to search all relevant literature on teenage stimulant use. The findings have been organized into categories to cover essential aspects like epidemiology, neurobiology, prevention, and treatment. The review showed that substance addiction among adolescents between 12 to 19 years is widespread, though national initiatives exist to support young employment and their development. Research on psychological risk factors for teenage substance abuse is vast, wherein conduct disorders, including aggression, impulsivity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, have been mentioned as risk factors for substance use. Parents' attitudes toward drugs, alcohol, academic and peer pressure, stress, and physical outlook are key determinants. Teenage drug usage has a significant negative impact on users, families, and society as a whole. It was found that a lot has been done to provide correct intervention to those in need with the constant development of programs and rehabilitative centers to safeguard the delicate minds of youths and prevent them from using intoxicants. Still, there is much need for stringent policy and program guidelines to curb this societal menace.

A Multi-Level Analysis of Biological, Social, and Psychological Determinants of Substance Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Mental Health Outcomes

“…These substances can also lead to addiction, especially in younger people. It was proved that those who start smoking, drinking, and taking drugs before the age of 18 are more likely to develop addictive behaviors toward these and other substances [4].…”

“…The co-occurrence of substance use and psychopathology (dual diagnosis) can be explained by shared risk factors such as socioeconomic status and personality traits [30][31][32]. Many people with SUDs show psychiatric comorbidity, personality, mood, and anxiety disorders [12,[30][31][32][33], especially in cases of poly-drug use, where eating disorders, psychotic symptoms, schizophrenia [2], and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) [4,34] can also be found; in some cases, the dual diagnosis of SUD and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is also found [35].…”

“…This is a very interesting result when compared with peer support, as opposite effects are obtained: peer support is correlated with higher alcohol consumption. Both the subject's perceived rejection of parents and peers and loneliness are associated with alcohol consumption [4,42,46]. Social support is the most effective tool used to aid in the disorder's resolution; it encompasses a variety of behaviors ranging from simply being present, listening, and sharing problems to providing concrete help.…”

“…The authors found that some psychological factors, such as the presence of generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder or the experience of childhood trauma, are related to substance use. Psychological factors such as childhood trauma may modulate social perceptions and adaptation to stressful life contexts, which may promote the approach to substance use [4].…”

Characterization of alcohol levels in autopsies carried out by Forensic Medicine (Honduras) during December 2022 and January 2023

“…Therefore, an uncertainty value is used in the analysis to indicate how reliable the results of the alcohol analyses in various biological fluids are. According to statistics, alcohol consumption is more frequent in economically active young adults, usually occurring at night, on weekends, and especially during festive seasons 5 .…”