ADDICTION & ADOLESCENCE 2
Drug Usage and Addiction in Adolescence
When a child enters adolescence, the changes that begin to materialize are not only
physical, but cognitive, emotional, and social as well. Because of these changes, an increase in
depression, anxiety, and decrease in self-worth may be affected (Wong, et. al, 2020). Without a
strong, positive social environment, the probability of self-medication to increase the feelings of
happiness and self-worth increase, and self-medication could be seen in the form of substance
use and ultimately addiction, or a substance use disorder (Nawi, et. al, 2021). This essay will
discuss what may drive a teen to partake in the usage of harmful substances, the effect these
substances can have on cognitive development, local drug usage reports in Omaha, Nebraska and
the role spiritual development and positive influences can have on adolescents who are subject to
drug use.
Risk Factors
There are three areas in which risk factors may arise when considering what may drive an
adolescent to drug usage, individual, family, and community. These factors are further broken
down into traits such as impulsivity, low religious identification, poor supervision and substance-
using family members, and peers who abuse substances. When some or all of these factors are
present in an adolescent’s life, the predisposition of drug usage increases, further hindering the
potential for positive cognitive development (Nawi, et. al, 2021).
Cognitive Development
The majority of drugs impact the brain’s reward system by inundating it with dopamine,
a chemical messenger. These dopamine surges within the reward circuit promote the
reinforcement of enjoyable yet harmful behaviors, compelling users to engage in the same
actions repeatedly (Kumar, et. al, 2019). Studies have shown that adolescents who have used
ADDICTION & ADOLESCENCE 3
substances, and continued to use substances, when compared to peers who have not used
substances, have altered neuropsychological functioning. There were significant differences in
the ability to maintain complex attention, processing speed, memory, as well as processing speed
and executive function (Squeglia Lindsay & Gray, 2016).
Teen Illicit Substance Usage in Omaha, Nebraska
The most recent report regarding local drug use released by the Nebraska
Epidemiological Outcomes Work Group was produced in November 2021. This report shows the
percentage of high school students who reported binge drinking (8.2%), compared to the national
average (13.7%). When considering the usage of marijuana and other illicit drugs, it was
reported marijuana use was higher amongst females in Nebraska (12.4%) when compared to
males (10.9%). These reported numbers also showed that Nebraskan teens have a higher
percentage of using needles to inject an illegal drug into their body (2.2%), when compared to
the national average (1.6%) (Byregowda, et. al, 2021)
The most common illicit drug used amongst adolescents is cocaine (3.5%), when
compared to heroin (1.9%) and methamphetamine (2.1%). These numbers however are
comparable to the national average of illicit drugs usage amongst adolescents between the grades
of 9-12 (Byregowda, et. al, 2021).
Protective Factors and Future Studies
Studies have shown protective factors include individual traits of optimism and an
increased level of mindfulness, positive social connections, strong feelings against substance
abuse, a commitment to one’s health, high parental involvement regarding drug abuse, school
involvement, engagement in social activities, and strong religious beliefs (Nawi, et. al, 2021).
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Strong religious beliefs and spiritual development can play a role in protecting against an
adolescent’s desire to partake in drug usage, due to the beliefs many religious societies hold
regarding partaking in actions that can harm the body, as well as holding oneself to a higher
moral code found in differing religions (Nawi, et. al, 2021).
Drug usage amongst teens is an uphill battle that must be tackled head-on, through
involvement of parents and positive societal preventative tactics. Further studies could focus on
what different areas of the country are doing to combat the uptick in drug usage amongst teens,
as well as the changes in cognitive development in teens who previously used drugs, and if they
were able to be comparable to their peers who never used drugs, after ceasing to abuse
substances.
Adolescents are inevitably faced with a multitude of changes in their life that may make
them perceptible to drug use. These varying risk factors and the ultimate choice to partake in
substance abuse plays a negative role in the cognitive development of the brain, hindering
adolescents in the ability to react and make positive decisions when compared to their peers who
have chosen not to partake in illicit drug use. Highschool aged teens within the state of Nebraska
have used drugs at the rate similar to the national average, but local agencies should continue to
strive to develop and research positive treatment and preventative tactics to fight the ever-
growing epidemic of drug usage amongst adolescents.
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References
Byregowda,>H., Hicks,>Z., Moore,>J., & Winfrey,>C. (2021, November 10).>2020 Nebraska State
Epidemiological Profile. Department of Health and Human
Services.>https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Statewide-Epidemiological-
Outcomes-Work-Group.aspx
Kumar,>A., Dangi,>I., & Prawar,>R.>S. (2019). Drug addiction: A big challenge for youth and
children’s.>International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences,>4(35), 35-
40. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331299146_Drug_addict
ion_A_big_challenge_for_youth_and_children's
Nawi,>A.>M., Ismail,>R., Ibrahim,>F., Hassan,>M.>R., Manaf,>M.>R., Amit,>N., Ibrahim,>N., &
Shafurdin,>N.>S. (2021). Risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents: A
systematic review.>BMC Public Health,>21(1).>https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-
021-11906-2
Squeglia Lindsay,>M., & Gray,>K.>M. (2016). Alcohol and Drug Use and the Developing
Brain.>Current Psychiatry Reports,>18(5).>https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-016-
0689-y
Wong,>D.>W., Hall,>K.>R., & Hernandez,>L.>W. (2020).>Counseling individuals through the
lifespan>(2nd>ed.). SAGE Publications.
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