Addiction Among Adolescents
Abuse and addiction are common problems with adolescents in almost all parts of the world. These two words have substantial differences which will be discussed in this context. Substance abuse indicates that someone is using something in the wrong way. Substances are abused when people smoke, drink or take illegal drugs. Addiction means that an individual has no control over the substances that he or she takes. People get addicted for medicines, glue, cocaine, marijuana or even cigarettes, among others. Normally, addiction begins as abuse after which the person cannot live without the substance. Majority of the adolescents begin by tasting substances like cocaine, marijuana, cigarette, and many others before getting used to them (Feldman, 2014). This is what is referred to as addiction in adolescence. The developing brain of an adolescent can be affected by abuse and addiction in the following ways. To begin with, drugs cause
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psychological consequences on the brain of an adolescent. Studies have depicted that these substances alter the functioning of the brain. In the adolescent age, the brain is still developing, in that, it undergoes specific roles. When chemicals are transmitted to the brain, they alter perception as well as the developing skills of perception. Neurotransmitters are also damaged and barred from developing neuro-connections (Squeglia, Jacobus & Tapert, 2009). The choices and habits of the chemicals are instilled into the wiring of the brain. Repeated action which comes in after addiction changes the functioning of the brain even during adulthood. A healthy spiritual development can affect the likelihood of use, abuse, or addiction in the adolescent years.
It is noted that the adolescent stage is quick to discovering new things, ideas and acts. Therefore, a child who has been brought up in a healthy spiritual living is likely to use these substances. Peers are the destroying agents for such adolescents. Adolescents are tempted to use drugs after their friends indulge in such habits. They are eager to taste the substances and experience the feeling thereafter. Adolescents lack control of thoughts and actions. Therefore, the knowledge acquired in spiritual development may not be applied in the adolescent stage. These adolescents are likely to use and abuse drugs in order to be like their peers. A survey that was conducted on the grounds of addiction and spirituality indicated that adolescents who were considered to be more religious would smoke and take alcohol, as well as illicit drugs. The people who successfully recovered showed greater levels of spirituality and
faith. My area encompasses diverse drug-related stories that revolve around adolescents. The Louisiana teen challenge program has been formulated in efforts to help teens change their lives of drug abuse. It is noted that a man who changed after being a drug and alcohol addict is helping teens to change their drug lives. The relationship with one’s family can be harmed by the use of drugs. Justin’s mother, Penny Branch, never thought she could one time be seated in a conversation with her son due to substance abuse. Justin says that he watched his family suffer in pain for 14 years because of his shortfalls. He mixed prescription drugs with marijuana, smoking, and any other sort of drug abuse. However, Justin joined the Louisiana teen challenge where he changed his behavior. He was able to keep off from drugs where he had his teenage men like him. After completing the program, Justin became part of it. Currently, he is the director of the Louisiana teen challenge. Based on the above context, there is a prevalence of addiction in many parts of the world. Adolescents are the targeted group due to their lack of control of thought and actions. It is noted that they can transform after visiting rehabilitation centers just like Justin did. This is because abuse and addiction has serious consequences on the victims and the people around them. Being a global challenge, abuse and addiction can be conquered through spiritual development.
References
Feldman, R. S. (2014). Development across the life span (7th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN: 126962198X
Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F. (2009). The influence of substance use on adolescent brain development. Clinical EEG and neuroscience, 40(1), 31-38.
psychological consequences on the brain of an adolescent. Studies have depicted that these substances alter the functioning of the brain. In the adolescent age, the brain is still developing, in that, it undergoes specific roles. When chemicals are transmitted to the brain, they alter perception as well as the developing skills of perception. Neurotransmitters are also damaged and barred from developing neuro-connections (Squeglia, Jacobus & Tapert, 2009). The choices and habits of the chemicals are instilled into the wiring of the brain. Repeated action which comes in after addiction changes the functioning of the brain even during adulthood. A healthy spiritual development can affect the likelihood of use, abuse, or addiction in the adolescent years.
It is noted that the adolescent stage is quick to discovering new things, ideas and acts. Therefore, a child who has been brought up in a healthy spiritual living is likely to use these substances. Peers are the destroying agents for such adolescents. Adolescents are tempted to use drugs after their friends indulge in such habits. They are eager to taste the substances and experience the feeling thereafter. Adolescents lack control of thoughts and actions. Therefore, the knowledge acquired in spiritual development may not be applied in the adolescent stage. These adolescents are likely to use and abuse drugs in order to be like their peers. A survey that was conducted on the grounds of addiction and spirituality indicated that adolescents who were considered to be more religious would smoke and take alcohol, as well as illicit drugs. The people who successfully recovered showed greater levels of spirituality and
faith. My area encompasses diverse drug-related stories that revolve around adolescents. The Louisiana teen challenge program has been formulated in efforts to help teens change their lives of drug abuse. It is noted that a man who changed after being a drug and alcohol addict is helping teens to change their drug lives. The relationship with one’s family can be harmed by the use of drugs. Justin’s mother, Penny Branch, never thought she could one time be seated in a conversation with her son due to substance abuse. Justin says that he watched his family suffer in pain for 14 years because of his shortfalls. He mixed prescription drugs with marijuana, smoking, and any other sort of drug abuse. However, Justin joined the Louisiana teen challenge where he changed his behavior. He was able to keep off from drugs where he had his teenage men like him. After completing the program, Justin became part of it. Currently, he is the director of the Louisiana teen challenge. Based on the above context, there is a prevalence of addiction in many parts of the world. Adolescents are the targeted group due to their lack of control of thought and actions. It is noted that they can transform after visiting rehabilitation centers just like Justin did. This is because abuse and addiction has serious consequences on the victims and the people around them. Being a global challenge, abuse and addiction can be conquered through spiritual development.
References
Feldman, R. S. (2014). Development across the life span (7th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN: 126962198X
Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F. (2009). The influence of substance use on adolescent brain development. Clinical EEG and neuroscience, 40(1), 31-38.