ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 1
Addiction And Substance Abuse in Adolescence
Taylor Davis
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Addiction And Substance Abuse in Adolescence
Adolescents are at a particularly vulnerable age for addiction and substance abuse.
Individuals at this age still have significant brain growth and cognitive development to achieve
(Wong et al., 2021). Due to the underdevelopment, many adolescents struggle with impulse
control, self-regulation, and peer acceptance (Wong et al., 2021). It is crucial for adolescents to
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be accepted with their peers. However, the peers that an individual chooses is often who
introduces them to unhealthy behaviors, such as addiction and substance abuse (Wong et al.,
2021). Most adolescents are motivated to continue these unhealthy habits because of a desire
for a happy mood and peer sanction (Dykes & Casker, 2021). The effects of drugs on the
developing brain leads to a greater chance of addiction.
Addiction and Substance Abuse
Impact On Family Systems
Addiction and substance abuse do not only affect the individual. Family systems are
significantly impacted when these traits are introduced to the dynamic. This is true at any age of
development, but especially adolescence. Many parents reported feeling like they failed while
raising the child because of their poor decision making (Mathibela & Skhosana, 2021). In some
instances, the parents end up financially supporting the addiction, which creates strain on the
financial wellbeing of the entire family (Dykes & Casker, 2021). Parents feel so trapped by the
actions of the adolescent that some even reported that they wished the adolescent would die,
making the parent’s life easier and less shameful (Mathibela & Skhosana, 2021).
Siblings are often left feeling emotionally and physically drained. The lack of
responsibility and relationship effort that is portrayed by the adolescent with an addiction tends
to push siblings towards a stance of indifference. Additionally, siblings can shoulder the
emotional burden for their parents, especially in cases of parental denial (Dykes & Casker, 2021).
All members of the family system can develop a lack of trust in the adolescent. This theme is
often due to the addicted relative stealing money or belongings and, consequently, lying about
their actions (Dykes & Casker, 2021). Ultimately, addiction and substance abuse negatively affect
nearly every facet of the family system.
Interventions
Arguably the most effective intervention method is school based intervention (Das et al.,
2016). This is largely due to peer influence. If the peer leader accepts intervention, there is a
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greater chance that the other adolescents will follow suit. These school-based intervention
methods should include reframing the adolescents view of the unhealthy behavior (Das et al.,
2016). Additionally, it should teach refusal skills, self-management skills, and social skills (Das et
al., 2016).
Family-based interventions were not as successful with adolescents, primarily due to the
adolescents egocentric thinking (Das et al., 2016; Wong et al., 2021). It is worth noting that
these interventions work better if the family is persistent (Das et al., 2016). Involving the
community is crucial to interventions (Dykes & Casker, 2021). The more impacted individuals
that are involved the more the substance abusing individual will see the ripple effect of their
choices. Additionally, counseling is recommended for not only the adolescent, but also anyone
that has been or continues to be affected by substance abuse.
Healthy Spiritual Developments Impact
Adolescents are at the age where they are making their own choices, for better or for
worse. These include spiritual decisions. Adolescents that are spiritually developed are
associated with less substance use (Olson & Metzger, 2019). Specifically, the individuals that
identify as spiritual are less likely to engage with alcohol and marijuana (Olson & Metzger,
2019). Peer choice has a great influence here, as the chosen peers of spiritually developed
adolescents are often also spiritually developed individuals. Healthy spiritually developed peers
are most often positive leaders. Additionally, adolescents that are spiritually developed are
seeking to live a life that is pleasing to a higher power. While it is still important, they are less
interested in peer acceptance and more interested in spiritual acceptance.
Conclusion
Adolescence is a very impressionable stage of life. Addiction and substance abuse is an
issue that affects not only an adolescent’s brain development, but also every other aspect of
their life. Family systems are negatively impacted, leaving parents and siblings feeling hopeless
and hurt. Interventions that are reliant on peer and community involvement are the most
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successful. Additionally, spiritually developed adolescents are less likely to engage in substance
abuse behaviors. Further studies should be conducted to determine the influence of parents or
other siblings on the peer leaders that encourage the initial unhealthy behavior. Additionally,
future research should focus on the long-term effectiveness of substance abuse intervention
programs.
References
Das, J. K., Salam, R. A., Arshad, A., Finkelstein, Y., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2016). Interventions for
Adolescent Substance Abuse: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Journal of
Adolescent Health., 59(4), S61–S75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.021
Dykes, G., & Casker, R. (2021). Adolescents and substance abuse: The effects of substance abuse
on parents and siblings. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 26(1),
224-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2021.1908376
Mathibela, F., & Skhosana, R. (2021). I just knew that something was not right! Coping
strategies of parents living with adolescents misusing substances. Journal of Substance
Abuse Treatment., 120, 108178–108178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108178
Olson, R., & Metzger, A. (2019). Disaggregating behavioral and psychological components of
religious and spiritual development across adolescence: Variations by geographic
location. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality., 11(1), 1–8.
https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000132
Wong, D. W., Hall, K. R., & Wong Hernandez, L. (2021). Counseling Individuals Through the
Lifespan. Sage.
