proposal design

Literature Review

Arisbel Delgado

West Coast University

Research Utilization

Literature Review

Introduction

People's reasons for abusing substances like alcohol, narcotics, and tobacco are typically complex and multifaceted. Our culture unquestionably contributes to the prevalence of this habit. Everyday hospitalizations for substance-related health problems and numerous instances of drug-related criminality are two of the most telling signs of the epidemic of substance addiction that we are witnessing. Drug misuse, in general, and particularly the abuse of certain drugs, has far-reaching consequences for modern civilization. Adolescents are reported to be among the highest number in the population known for substance abuse, whereby 64% percent of them use alcohol, 31% use cigarettes, and 45% use marijuana (Gray & Squeglia, 2018). Adolescents do not understand the negative impact that their actions have on their future health, which results in limited adherence to healthy living. This shall analyze different factors that contribute to adolescents' addiction.

Overview

Adolescents, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), are defined as those between the ages of 10 and 19, while this definition can be expanded to include young adults up to the age of 24 (Singh et al., 2019). Due to the age restrictions on adolescents, jurisdictional representatives must perform decision-making procedures that connect with adolescents' actions to handle criminal behavior. Behavioral factors often develop due to adolescents' exposure to people and items which influence them to start performing substance abuse. Any close friends and family members around adolescents can be the main influencers of the addiction. Peer pressure, socioeconomic position, physical, mental, and sexual abuse, early drug exposure, and parental supervision (or lack thereof) are a few of the many elements that can significantly influence an individual's propensity for substance abuse and addiction.

According to Ferschmann et al. (2022, adolescents experience development in their brain parts which causes a diverse change in terms of adhering to environmental conditions. It influences focus, inhibition of impulses, memory, and cognitive flexibility. The amygdala is a part of the prefrontal cortex that controls emotional reactions, impulses, aggressive tendencies, and other types of automatic behavior (Raising Children Network, 2021). Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to engaging in dangerous behaviors and activities, such as substance use, as they negotiate this developmental period. Adolescents' worldviews can be significantly shaped by the quality of their relationships with family members.

Family dynamics have been shown to affect children's prosocial conduct, as stated by Shek et al. (2020). The author also draws parallels between a family's internal and external dynamics and their effect on its young members. The adolescent years are a pivotal time in which families can shape their children's development and, by extension, their adult behavior. When substance abuse starts getting performed at an early age, negative consequences shall get displayed in adolescents' lives when they progress into their thirties. If adolescents get raised in families whereby drug usage is avoided, there can be a cohesive process of developing well-managed substance use procedures. Lack of family bonds or socially low-income families increases young people's vulnerability to drug and substance misuse (Ballester et al., 2018). All these factors must be addressed to determine how to manage adolescents' issues.

More research indicates that predisposing variables, such as genetics or personality, play a role in the onset of substance abuse or addiction (NIAAA, 2020). Extreme impulsiveness and aggression, hostility toward authority, and insensitivity to the feelings of others are all indicators of trouble. Adolescents' perspectives on substance use can be influenced by their parents' attitudes and experiences with addiction. The types of behavioral outputs developed by adolescents thus can get studied depending on how their parents understand their conditions and then develop suitable changes.

Critical Assessment of Researched Data

The destructive impacts of drug and substance use among adolescents have made this issue a public health and safety priority. According to Trujillo et al. (2019), these destructive behaviors are strongly linked to the onset of adulthood. This finding demonstrates that young people are especially susceptible to substance misuse. The authors also argue that early drug experiences contribute to a lifetime of addiction (Trujillo et al., 2019).

Substance abuse is a behavior learned among young people when exposed to conditions that make them more prone to developing an addiction. There are two main risk factors for substance misuse among young people: dysfunctional homes and traumatic events. When parents are already drug abusers, there is a high chance their children can adopt the behaviors, especially when they can access different substances at home. Adolescents are more prone to experiment with drugs and alcohol if their parents do not provide them with a nurturing home environment that encourages positive socialization. Young people can begin substance abuse because of the culture in which they live. According to Ballester et al. (2018), teenagers from low-income homes face a higher risk of engaging in substance addiction. Children's parents and other family members can have a wide range of effects on their development.

Adolescents are more vulnerable to the influence of drug and substance addiction when members of their immediate family engage in such behavior. How different families talk to one another and stay organized varies widely. Furthermore, parents differ in the abilities necessary to manage their young children, particularly as they enter adolescence. When family members do not talk to one another, it might be difficult for adults to notice changes in their children that can indicate substance misuse. These children may be more vulnerable to substance abuse since their parents lack the necessary skills. Parents must keep a careful eye on their children and guide them appropriately to forestall any negative intents that could lead to substance misuse. As a result of not having these abilities, these young people are more likely to experiment with drugs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, substance abuse and addiction among adolescents are caused by multiple factors, including peer pressure, the challenge associated with academic life, trying out new life experiences, and the family relationship that triggers substance abuse. Understanding the risk factors helps in the prevention process and addresses the community's challenges. There can be a proper social change process when adolescents are properly instructed on dealing with their growth requirements.

References