Young people who abuse substances are at greater risk than non-users of having mental health problems, such as depression, behavioral problems, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide. Drug abuse by teens significantly increases their risk of death due to illness, accident, homicide, or suicide. Substance abuse in teens can cause risky behavior, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or unsafe sexual practices. 7.Certain substances can cause drowsiness and slow breathing, while others can cause insomnia, paranoia, or hallucinations.
Chronic substance use is linked to cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases. Ongoing use can be the result of insecurities or a desire for social acceptance. Teens may feel indestructible and may not consider the consequences of their actions, leading them to take dangerous risks with drugs. Brain damage among adolescents who abuse drugs includes brain shrinkage, impaired learning ability, amnesia and memory problems, problems with reasoning, perception and intuition, increased or decreased socialization, and changes in sexual desire.
Drug abuse among young people increases the risk of problems related to their well-being and health, resulting in an increased risk of injury and death from interpersonal violence, traffic accidents, risky sexual behavior, unwanted pregnancies, diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and problems. When teens start drinking at an early age, they are more likely to become addicted to substances or to continue to abuse them later in life. Increased accessibility to drugs and alcohol poses a serious threat to drug abuse among teens, and education for teens and parents is imperative. Drug addiction can cause poor grades, low self-esteem, memory problems, attention deficit and poor social skills.
Studies show that the younger a person is when they start using drugs, the more likely they are to develop a substance abuse problem and relapse later in life. If a parent identifies possible signs of adolescent drug use, the next step is to consult with the adolescent's primary care provider, the school social worker, or a drug rehabilitation center. The physical effects of drug abuse among young people include accidental injuries, increased suicide threats, homicides, illnesses and disabilities. Motivation enhancement therapy (MET) is a form of treatment that can provide teens with the skills needed to avoid drug and substance misuse in the future.
Young people who suffer from serious drug abuse face many problems, such as academic problems, physical and mental health problems, disturbed relationships and, even worse, interaction with the juvenile justice system. In addition to some individual and family factors, participants emphasized the impact of peers (as a social factor) on increasing the likelihood of drug abuse among young people. Drug abuse at any age can cause serious health effects, but teens who abuse drugs are at particular risk of suffering negative consequences. Drug abuse impairs short- and long-term memory and can cause learning and memory problems later in life.
Signs of drug abuse in teens may include changes in mood, changes in personality, behavioral cues, changes in hygiene or appearance, and signs of physical health. Preventing substance abuse among adolescents requires understanding the characteristics that place young people at risk and focusing on modifiable risk factors. .