Youth Substance Abuse

Research shows “Young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties, health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships, and involvement with the juvenile justice system”(Consequences of youth substance abuse, ojjdp.gov). I think this not only affects the natural well being of the person but also society. What exactly are the causes of substance abuse in teens and young adults? Factors leading up to Substance abuse includes; Stress, In which people use the drugs as an outlet for stress. Peer groups, and their influence on the person who is abusing the substance. And gateway drugs (such as marijuana) which usually ends up leading to other hard drugs such
Sometimes we as people have certain expectations that either don't end up getting done, or are out of our control. Most people that are induced to high amounts of stress are teenagers and young adults. How many teens deal with this stress varies, but the most commonly overseen way they chose to ease the stress is by the intake of drugs which leads to a repetitive abuse and addiction. One factor of the stress caused is School. For example, Many kids at my own school smoke weed when being stressed out over a test or simple homework, especially during finals. Although they think smoking marijuana is harmless, and not an addictive drug, it becomes a habit of using the drug which leads to the abuse of it. I think this plays a major factor in the causes of substance abuse with teens because what teenagers and young adults don't understand, is that every time they are stressed about school and decide to smoke marijuana or whatever it is they take, that truly is a bad habit and is in fact abusing the substance. Therefore stress is certainly one of the main causes of substance abuse with teens and young
By definition gateway drugs are drugs (such as marijuana) that is thought to lead to the use of more dangerous drugs (such as cocaine and heroine). Gateways drugs are the overall start to an addiction. For example, many people think that since marijuana is considered a “light drug” that they cannot get addicted to it since it is less addicting compared to other drugs. This might be true but it's also the leading factor in slowly transitioning into trying the harder drugs like cocaine and painkillers which are highly addictive. I think that many young adults and teens who have an addiction to drugs like cocaine, take these drugs because they got bored of the lighter drugs such as marijuana. This obviously results into an abusive relationship involving the drug. In conclusion The causes of substance abuse are very widespread, but the main factors that play a key role in the abuse of a substance are; stress, and the drugs usage as a stress relief/outlet. Peer groups and the negative influence they have on their surrounding people, or younger adolescents. And gateway drugs which starts of with an already abusive lighter drug and then leads to a more serious drug(cocaine). Therefore resulting with an overall