Experimenting and substance abuse tend to occur in the early teen years for most individuals. There are many reasons why this happens; however, peer pressure plays a significant role. Teenagers are still learning, growing, and trying to figure out themselves. They often fall into peer pressure to seem cool, fit in, or make friends. While some try it and don’t do it again, an increasing number fall into the downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse.
Substance Abuse Among Teens
While the most common reason teens abuse drugs and alcohol is peer pressure, other factors contribute. For example, social media and entertainment portray drugs and alcohol as “freeing.” Furthermore, some people with disorders like anxiety and mood disorders feel that drug abuse helps their condition and makes them feel better. Lastly, genetic factors play a prominent role, making teenagers 40 to 60 percent more vulnerable to addiction. In other words, if they’ve had a parent who has struggled with substance or alcohol abuse, they might need to be more cautious than other people.
What is Cross Addiction?
A lot of people tend to confuse cross-addiction with dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis is when a person has a physiological disorder and a substance use disorder. Cross addiction is when a person is severely addicted to a substance and is likely to start abusing another substance. If a person is struggling with addiction, they must be conscientious when getting prescribed drugs from doctors to help with illnesses to avoid risk of cross-addiction.
Long Term Consequences of Drugs
Your physical, mental, and psychological health are all affected when it comes to the long-term consequences of drug use. It can also harm your relationships with people and hurt you financially. The effects depend on the person, the drug, how much of that drug, and how long they were using for.
- Physically- Heart disease, heart failure, lung disease, lung cancer, kidney damage, kidney failure, liver damage, decay of stomach intestines, and chronic stomach pain.
- Mentally- It’s hard to learn and retain information. Addiction affects memory, cognitive function, and attention span.
- Psychologically- Drug use can cause or worsen mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety.
Long-term consequences of drug abuse also include relationships that may have been damaged or broken. These relationships could be with family, friends, or a significant other. Healing from these can be a challenging step to come to and get across.
American Treatment Network in Havertown, PA
We specialize in opioid and alcohol abuse along with mental health services. We provide treatment at three locations: Havertown, PA, Newark, DE and Dover, DE. Let American Treatment Network help you. Contact us and get help today.
