Addiction & Adolescence 1
Addiction in Adolescence
Waleska Marrero
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Author Note
Waleska Marrero
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Waleska Marrero. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract
Addiction has become a common part of the adolescent experience, but that does not
mean it should be accepted as normal. In reviewing this week’s resources and research, this
essay explores how drugs, alcohol, and risky behaviors have become less feared and more
expected among teens.+Using developmental theories from Piaget and Erikson, we take a closer
look at why teens make these choices and how their desire to belong plays a role.+The essay also
highlights the importance of resilience, strong support systems, and spiritual grounding.+Family
involvement and faith-based practices are discussed as protective factors that can help teens find
hope, identity, and healing in the middle of a confusing and often harmful culture.
Keywords: Teen, Adolescence, drug abuse, trauma, addiction
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Addiction in Adolescence
Addiction in adolescence is no longer seen as shocking. For many teens, experimenting
with drugs, alcohol, or sex is typical part of growing up and a society norm. But just because it is
common does not mean it is healthy. This essay looks at how addiction is shaped by
development, why resilience matters, and how faith and family can make a difference when a
teen is struggling to find their place.
In this week’s chapters and resources, we can see how addiction plays a major role in
both early and late adolescence and continues to leave a lasting impact. Behaviors once viewed
as dangerous, like drinking, drug use, or casual sex, are now seen as normal. Teens are not
simply acting out or rebelling, many are simply mirroring what has been modeled by culture,
media, and peers. As discussed in Piaget’s theory, adolescents begin using abstract thought in the
formal operational stage, but that does not always lead to wise decision-making. Erikson’s
identity versus role confusion stage reminds us that teens crave belonging and will often conform
to what is accepted. According to Wong et al. (2024), adolescents in this stage experiment with
roles and behaviors to figure out who they are, often shaped by peer expectations and social
influences. This helps explain why many teens follow risky trends without stopping to ask if
those choices are healthy or right and how it would affect them.
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As discussed in recent research, one major factor that influences a teen’s ability to recover from
or resist addiction is resilience. In reviewing Glenn’s (2014) study on trauma and spirituality, we
learn that young people who build meaning or hold on to faith tend to respond more positively to
hardship. Resilience does not remove pain. It teaches teens how to survive it. Supportive
relationships, structure at home, and counseling interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT) help create safety and stability (Wong et al., 2024). In addition to CBT, interventions such
as motivational interviewing and school-based prevention programs have also shown promise in
helping teens build resilience and avoid substance use early on. Tambelli et al. (2022) explain
that emotional regulation and strong social support are essential protective factors. Without them,
teens face a greater risk of developing long-term behavioral and mental health struggles. We can
say that resilience begins with connection, and teens must be seen, supported, and grounded
before the problem spirals.
The family system can either help or harm recovery. When addiction enters a household, it
impacts everyone. Some parents enable the behavior. Others withdraw in fear or guilt. Siblings
may feel overlooked. As mentioned in Wong et al. (2024), families that provide clear
communication, healthy boundaries, and emotional regulation are better equipped to support a
struggling teen. Counseling that includes the family is often more effective because it treats the
home as a whole. In reviewing these dynamics, we can say that healing cannot happen in
isolation. The family must learn and grow together.
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Spiritual development offers something culture often cannot: hope and identity. Glenn
(2014) found that spiritual practices, even something as simple as prayer, helped adolescents
process pain and regain emotional balance. This aligns with biblical truth. Romans 12:2 reminds
us not to conform to the world but to renew our minds in Christ (New International Version,
2011). A teen who believes they are loved, created with purpose, and capable of change is less
likely to seek approval through addiction. Faith offers a foundation that can resist peer pressure
and push back against cultural numbness.
Conclusion
Addiction in adolescence is more than a personal issue. It is shaped by society,
development, and relationships. We can say that when a teen is surrounded by chaos or apathy,
their risk for addiction grows. But with structure, resilience, and spiritual growth, healing
becomes possible. Counselors must stand in the gap, ready to offer truth, support, and a path
forward. Future research should continue to explore how faith-based interventions and family
involvement can protect adolescents before they lose themselves completely. It may also be
helpful to study how community mentorship or early prevention efforts in faith-based schools’
impact long-term outcomes for adolescents at risk.
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Resources
1. Wong, D. W., Hall, K. R., & Hernandez, L. W. (2020).+Counseling Individuals Through
the Lifespan+(2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US).
2. New International Version. (2011).+Holy Bible. Zondervan.
3. Glenn, C. T. (2014). A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Spirituality and Resilience with
Emerging Adult Childhood Trauma Survivors.+Journal of Spirituality in Mental
Health,+16(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2014.864543
4. Tambelli, R., Favieri, F., & Casagrande, M. (2024). New addictions in late adolescence
and emerging adulthood: How attachment style may predict problematic use of social
networks and binge-watching..Healthcare (Basel),.12(5),
556.+https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050556
