Why do Adolescents use illegal substances?
Now-a-days more and more adolescents are using illegal substances such as alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. It is a growing trend that has lasting side effects. Illegal substances for children under the age of 18 consist of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco products, bath salts, steroids, prescription drugs, and street drugs (such as meth, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, etc.). These drugs all effect how the brain functions and how the person feels. The abuse of illegal substances by young people is becoming a larger issue everyday. There are millions of teens throughout American and the world that are using these substances every day. This issue needs to be dealt with sooner than later so that it can be prevented.
Alcohol can damage nerve tissue in the brains of adolescents who drink heavily and can also affect thinking and memory functions. Some of the effects of marijuana use are: problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, loss of coordination, increased heart heart, anxiety, and panic attacks. Marijuana use can lead to the development of depression and anxiety in teens and puts them at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. Some marijuana users can also develop schizophrenia because marijuana use increases the risk of developing the disorder. Tobacco products can lead to many types of cancers such as lung, throat, and/or gum cancer. The nicotine is highly addictive and the tobacco causes a decrease in the lungs' ability to function properly. Bath salts are a type of stimulant that's use can lead to panic attacks, violence, high blood pressure, paranoia, hallucinations, and a whole slew of other problems. Steroid use by people under the age of 18 can lead to kidney problems or failure, liver damage, cardiovascular problems, increased risk of heart attack or stroke, and various gender specific complications. The effects of the abuse of prescription drugs by people under the age of 18 varies greatly by the type of drug that they are abusing. Some types of prescription drugs that teens abuse are: stimulants, opioids, depressants, medicines with DXM, and/or mind-altering drugs. Street drugs also can have a wide variety of effects on a young person. Depending on the drug that is being abused a young person could be paranoid, hallucinate, suffer from anxiety, become depressed, become violent, suffer from changes in perception, and many other hurtful complications.
Kohlberg's moral development theory would explain this behavior. Kohlberg's theory of moral development is divided into 6 stages. The stages are punishment vs. obedience, self-interest, interpersonal relationships, maintaining social order, social contract and individual rights, and lastly universal principles. Children who use illegal substances are most likely are in the 3rd stage of moral development; interpersonal relationships. This behavior would occur because the child is looking to fit in with their peers. If their peers are smoking weed and drinking alcohol the child is more likely to do the same. Once a child passes through the 3rd stage then they will see that illegal substance use is wrong and focus on living as a good, and just citizen.
This behavior usually lasts throughout the teen years if a teen is just experimenting with the substances and stops, on own or with help, before adulthood. If the teen becomes addicted to the substance then it could be an issue that plagues their whole life. They will have many problems throughout their lives and at some point they will probably have to go to rehab.
This behavior can provide many things for the person who is using the substance. The person can feel accepted, happy, relaxed, and they can forget their problems for a little while. People under the age of 18 use illegal substances for many different reasons. A few of these reasons could be: curiosity, attractiveness of the substance, the feeling that is brought about by the substance, learned behaviors from their parents, the availability of the substance, peer pressure, seeking a thrill, rebellion, escape from life, relief from pain, and/or the lack of understanding that there are consequences. This behavior of substance abuse serves many purposes in the minds of the abuser. Some of the reasons as to why a child may get involved in this behavior are: to fit in, they get in over their heads and don't know how to get out, to self-medicate, to be "better" (ultimately worse) than other people, to get attention, to get rid of boredom, they think its normal, and/or they are addicted. Most often times the young person who is abusing the illegal substance/s is suffering from emotional pain and wants an escape from it. However, some young people who use drugs do it for strictly recreational purposes or to rebel against societal norms.
There are a lot of things that a parent can do to discourage this behavior. Parents can be good role models for the young person so that they see that illegal substance use is not okay or the norm. Show the child love and give them limits. Help the adolescent know that there are consequences for illegal substance use. Parents can build a positive identity of their family and make it known that "Our family does not use illegal substances." It is also important to build a sense of religious faith within the child, starting from an early age. Parents need to start talking about how illegal substance abuse is wrong from an early age and keep talking about it as the child grows up and opportunities arise. Parents should not allow their child to go to any activity that isn't supervised by someone that they trust such as parties, sleepovers, or other events. Parents need to be able to step up and curtail their child's interaction with friends who abuse illegal substances or even sell them. Another thing that a parent can do to discourage this behavior is set consequences/limits for if the child uses the illegal substances. Parents can also get their child professional help to help the child cope/deal with whatever it might be that is leading them into using the illegal substances. Parents can also discourage this behavior by encouraging good behavior. They can, in a sense, reward the child for not using illegal substances and being clean.
Illegal substance use can hurt a child significantly. Their brain is not fully developed yet and these substances can alter how and when it does develop. A person who is an illegal substance user should be aided by their loved ones to quit/stop and if necessary should seek professional care. Teens like to experiment with things because they are getting more freedom and independence. They also feel a sense of immortality that could lead to them losing their lives. A parent needs to treat their child who is a substance abuser with dignity and respect. They must show them unconditional love and aid them in the recovery process.
Alcohol can damage nerve tissue in the brains of adolescents who drink heavily and can also affect thinking and memory functions. Some of the effects of marijuana use are: problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, loss of coordination, increased heart heart, anxiety, and panic attacks. Marijuana use can lead to the development of depression and anxiety in teens and puts them at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. Some marijuana users can also develop schizophrenia because marijuana use increases the risk of developing the disorder. Tobacco products can lead to many types of cancers such as lung, throat, and/or gum cancer. The nicotine is highly addictive and the tobacco causes a decrease in the lungs' ability to function properly. Bath salts are a type of stimulant that's use can lead to panic attacks, violence, high blood pressure, paranoia, hallucinations, and a whole slew of other problems. Steroid use by people under the age of 18 can lead to kidney problems or failure, liver damage, cardiovascular problems, increased risk of heart attack or stroke, and various gender specific complications. The effects of the abuse of prescription drugs by people under the age of 18 varies greatly by the type of drug that they are abusing. Some types of prescription drugs that teens abuse are: stimulants, opioids, depressants, medicines with DXM, and/or mind-altering drugs. Street drugs also can have a wide variety of effects on a young person. Depending on the drug that is being abused a young person could be paranoid, hallucinate, suffer from anxiety, become depressed, become violent, suffer from changes in perception, and many other hurtful complications.
Kohlberg's moral development theory would explain this behavior. Kohlberg's theory of moral development is divided into 6 stages. The stages are punishment vs. obedience, self-interest, interpersonal relationships, maintaining social order, social contract and individual rights, and lastly universal principles. Children who use illegal substances are most likely are in the 3rd stage of moral development; interpersonal relationships. This behavior would occur because the child is looking to fit in with their peers. If their peers are smoking weed and drinking alcohol the child is more likely to do the same. Once a child passes through the 3rd stage then they will see that illegal substance use is wrong and focus on living as a good, and just citizen.
This behavior usually lasts throughout the teen years if a teen is just experimenting with the substances and stops, on own or with help, before adulthood. If the teen becomes addicted to the substance then it could be an issue that plagues their whole life. They will have many problems throughout their lives and at some point they will probably have to go to rehab.
This behavior can provide many things for the person who is using the substance. The person can feel accepted, happy, relaxed, and they can forget their problems for a little while. People under the age of 18 use illegal substances for many different reasons. A few of these reasons could be: curiosity, attractiveness of the substance, the feeling that is brought about by the substance, learned behaviors from their parents, the availability of the substance, peer pressure, seeking a thrill, rebellion, escape from life, relief from pain, and/or the lack of understanding that there are consequences. This behavior of substance abuse serves many purposes in the minds of the abuser. Some of the reasons as to why a child may get involved in this behavior are: to fit in, they get in over their heads and don't know how to get out, to self-medicate, to be "better" (ultimately worse) than other people, to get attention, to get rid of boredom, they think its normal, and/or they are addicted. Most often times the young person who is abusing the illegal substance/s is suffering from emotional pain and wants an escape from it. However, some young people who use drugs do it for strictly recreational purposes or to rebel against societal norms.
There are a lot of things that a parent can do to discourage this behavior. Parents can be good role models for the young person so that they see that illegal substance use is not okay or the norm. Show the child love and give them limits. Help the adolescent know that there are consequences for illegal substance use. Parents can build a positive identity of their family and make it known that "Our family does not use illegal substances." It is also important to build a sense of religious faith within the child, starting from an early age. Parents need to start talking about how illegal substance abuse is wrong from an early age and keep talking about it as the child grows up and opportunities arise. Parents should not allow their child to go to any activity that isn't supervised by someone that they trust such as parties, sleepovers, or other events. Parents need to be able to step up and curtail their child's interaction with friends who abuse illegal substances or even sell them. Another thing that a parent can do to discourage this behavior is set consequences/limits for if the child uses the illegal substances. Parents can also get their child professional help to help the child cope/deal with whatever it might be that is leading them into using the illegal substances. Parents can also discourage this behavior by encouraging good behavior. They can, in a sense, reward the child for not using illegal substances and being clean.
Illegal substance use can hurt a child significantly. Their brain is not fully developed yet and these substances can alter how and when it does develop. A person who is an illegal substance user should be aided by their loved ones to quit/stop and if necessary should seek professional care. Teens like to experiment with things because they are getting more freedom and independence. They also feel a sense of immortality that could lead to them losing their lives. A parent needs to treat their child who is a substance abuser with dignity and respect. They must show them unconditional love and aid them in the recovery process.