Research suggests that the legalization of cannabis may be linked to an increase in use among adolescents as a result of increased accessibility and social acceptance 98. Given the evolving norms and evidence regarding adolescent cannabis use, clinicians should emphasize relevant evidence-based information when working with patients and families. Given the impact that early and effective treatment interventions for adolescent SUDs can have, the need for understanding potential treatment options and research advances in the field is imperative. Table 1 provides a summary of the current treatment recommendations and options for adolescent substance use disorders. Further research is needed to ensure that treatments remain durable and continue to exert their effect well into adolescence and young adulthood. To address this issue, decades were spent on the development and testing of substance use EBPPs.
Evidence-Based Interventions for Preventing Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents
Ensuring that adequate resources and education are available remains critical in tackling substance use and supporting the well-being of today’s youth, as they represent the foundation for a healthier future. As awareness grows around the consequences of drug abuse, shifts in public perception and policy related to substance use are anticipated. There may be more emphasis on mental health resources, and educational programs focusing on the dangers of both illegal drugs and misuse of prescription medications. Such changes could foster a more informed youth population, potentially reducing the current statistics on substance abuse in future generations.
Child Abuse Prevention Month
- For instance, the dramatic increase (61%) in drug use among 8th graders between 2016 and 2020 highlights periods of concern that necessitate ongoing education and intervention efforts.
- Meta-analysis could not be conducted in most of the included reviews since the interventions varied in intensity, follow-up periods, and reported outcomes.
- This article delves into current statistics, exploring trends, commonly abused substances, and the impact of drug use on young people.
- Cannabis is one of the most popular drugs worldwide and initiation of cannabis use commonly occurs in adolescence.
- While the long-term consequences of AAE’s effect on microglia are still being determined, it is known that microglia-induced systemic inflammation has many consequences including contributing to long-term neurodegenerative disease 83.
Additionally, all three program types must have the necessary organizational capability, manuals, training, technical assistance, and other supporting infrastructure required for high-quality implementation in communities and schools. Blueprints programs, therefore, are not only evidence-based but also implementation ready 34. Find the latest science-based information about drug use, health, and the developing brain. Designed for young people and those who influence them—parents, guardians, teachers, and other educators—these resources inspire learning and encourage critical thinking so teens can make informed Drug rehabilitation decisions about drug use and their health. Early warning signs can be hard to spot, and unhealthy patterns can develop into a full-blown substance use disorder (often referred to as substance abuse) if not addressed. If their old friends weren’t using drugs or alcohol, they may not fit in with your teen’s new lifestyle.
Teen Drug Abuse: Signs, Risks, and Treatment
If you believe your teen is experiencing more than one of the signs or symptoms of a substance use disorder, it’s best to make an appointment to speak with a doctor you and your teen trust. But when your teen has developed a substance use disorder, changes in mood and behavior may be more severe, to the point where it seems to you that their entire personality has changed. Everyone experiences changes in mood and behaviors from time to time, and teens are no exception. But teens with a substance use disorder may not seem to care as much about their looks and choose to focus their attention more on the substance. It can be difficult to determine whether your teen is acting differently because they’re simply going through adolescence or if they have developed a substance use disorder. When someone uses these or other substances on a regular basis, a healthcare professional may diagnose a substance use disorder.
Young people who inject drugs expose themselves to additional risks, including contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne viruses. Chronic injection drug users also risk scarred or collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and liver and kidney disease. In addition, early adolescent marijuana use is related to later adolescent problems that limit the acquisition of skills necessary for employment and heighten the risks of contracting HIV and abusing legal and illegal substances.
Learn More About the Adolescent Brain and Substance Use
One of the most consistent findings in research on the etiology of adolescent substance use is that social influences are central, powerful factors that promote experimentation or initiation of use. Along with exposure to positive teenage drug abuse attitudes and expectations regarding substance use, the modeling of substance use behavior by important others (e.g., parents, older siblings, and peers) is a critical negative social influence (7). Other powerful negative influences involve the positive portrayal of substance use and abuse by celebrities in movies, television, and music videos (8). Advertisements that communicate positive messages about alcohol and tobacco use promote pro-substance use attitudes, expectancies, and perceived positive consequences of use that can translate into an increase of cigarette smoking and alcohol use behavior among young people (9). “Self-medicating” with recreational drugs and alcohol works temporarily to alleviate symptoms of anxiety or depression because they affect the same brain regions that the disorders do.
Depression
In 2018, 95% of adolescents reported that they own or have access to a smartphone, a figure that is not significantly influenced by gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status 73. Almost half of teens report that they are online “almost constantly” 73, indicating the potential for digital interventions to be broadly accessible to youth. Digital interventions are not only perceived as more private and less stigmatized than traditional clinical evaluations, but have also been found to facilitate participant motivation, self-efficacy, relapse prevention, and social support 72–75. Family-based therapies engage parents, caregivers, and siblings in the treatment of adolescent SUDs.