Introduction
Drugs have been known to humanity for many years, but at the same time, not only adults resorted to pleasure through illegal substances. Drug abuse and dependence on medication remains a severe problem for the adolescent segment of the population. Nevertheless, many families are convinced that this threat does not extend to their children and continues to ignore the qualitative change in the teenager’s lifestyle, appearance, and social circle. Scientific research shows that the development factors for adolescent drug abuse are not limited to a set of three to five causes, but are usually linked to the integration of destructive environmental conditions. This research essay is aimed at discussing the causes underlying teenage drug addiction.
Reasons for Adolescent Addiction
There is a grave misconception among parents that if they do not tell their child about drugs as early as possible, they will ignore them in the future because they will remain unaware. In fact, this situation is not uncommon, and it is the lack of information from adults that often causes the first experience of drug use. On the other hand, adolescents often turn to psychoactive drugs in order to get relaxation, pleasure, and a state of euphoria: 46.4% of the adolescents in the sample offered to them had a history of drug use (22). This result makes it possible to understand how serious the problem of teenage drug addiction is.
In general, it is worth pointing out that the pathological state’s general development includes three categories — biological, social, and psychological. The biological factors include hereditary peculiarities of neurotransmitter exchange in the brain, which contribute to rapid addiction and rapid formation of attraction. At the same time, a considerable layer of factors is connected with the psychological features of the teenager’s personality. Davila and Jonathan are convinced that child abuse, domestic violence, is becoming a severe reason for a child to develop a drug use culture (1). While some researchers emphasize social factors, others conclude that statistical regularities are depending on gender, ethnicity, and culture (McCuish 448). Moreover, Spooner points out that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to explaining drug dependence, specifying that scientific results are influenced by sample bias (467). Ultimately, all causes above, taken together, can lead to addiction.
The structure of narcotic drugs used and their effect on conscious and motor activities can be considered one of the factors contributing to drug dependence. It is worth understanding that as long as heavy synthetic drugs cause radical degradation of consciousness, lungs and legal drugs produce fewer tangible effects. Thus, some members of the teenage audience turn to lung drugs, as they understand that it will not cause severe damage to their health. Another problem is an addiction to approved drugs, which, according to Charles Grassley, tended to rise sharply. Inadequate and unmeasured consumption of drugs can be a step towards the decision to use more substantial forms of drugs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that adolescent drug addiction is a severe medical and social problem in modern society and has become an epidemic in recent decades. The causes of drug use at this age are threefold: biological, psychological, and social. Although much research has been done on this issue, each scientific intervention forms a specific sample that directly influences the outcome. Thus, it is only possible to generalize the study of general factors, but each case of drug dependence should be taken individually.
Works Cited
Davila, Marissa, and Jonathan G. Tubman. “Gender, Maltreatment and Psychiatric Symptoms Among Adolescents in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment.” Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2019, pp. 1-12.
Grassley, Chuck. “Grassley Targets Prescription Drug Abuse in Ongoing Battle to Keep Kids Drug Free.” Chuck Grassley, 2007, Web.
McCuish, Evan C. “Substance Use Profiles Among Juvenile Offenders: A Lifestyles Theoretical Perspective.” Journal of Drug Issues, vol. 47, no. 3, 2017, pp. 448-466.
Paul, Anthea et al. “Teens, Drugs, & Vegas: Toxicological Surveillance of Illicit Prescription and Illegal Drug Abuse in Adolescents (12–17 years) Using Post-Mortem Data in Clark County, Nevada from 2005 to 2015.” Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, vol. 58, 2018, pp. 20-24.
Spooner, Catherine. “Causes and Correlates of Adolescent Drug Abuse and Implications for Treatment.” Drug and Alcohol Review, vol. 18, no. 4, 1999, pp. 453-475.