Substance Abuse
- Submitted by: jriv5
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- Date Submitted: 11/17/2013 10:01 AM
- Pages: 7
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Divorce and Substance Abuse
All teens are influenced by messages from today’s culture to smoke, drink or use other drugs and almost three-quarters have done so. However some teens have personal issue at home or in their life that put them at even greater risk of using addictive substances or more prone to becoming addicted to them. In 2011, over 20 million Americans older than the age of 12 were reportedly substance dependence of both alcohol and drugs. Approximately, 6.9 percent of the 20 million classified as substance dependence were between 12 and 17 years of age. Researchers state that these statistics could be caused due to the lack of development in the brain where decision making occurs. When parents go through divorce its can cause a moment of vulnerability for teens. The stress that teens inherit can become overloading and look elsewhere for an outlet. The outlet parents would like their teens to have is with them or professional help if needed. Unfortunately, teens tend to look to their peers for direction when dealing with issues.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has stated that substance abuse among adolescents is americas number problem in public health. Substance abuse has increased in the United States due to the exposure and accessibility to drugs and alcohol. High School is a testament to how adolescent become more exposed to risky activity and peer pressure. At least one out of four teens in high school have used more than one substance ranging from marijuana, alcohol or cocaine. Teens believe that their social status will increase by using drugs, or a way to relieve stress or coping. Another misconception using will help enhance their mood or social or academic functioning or seeking a thrill or a high--all affect their intentions and decisions to use addictive substances. The root of the substance abuse for teens may not be a result of the exposure at school, but it could come from home....
All teens are influenced by messages from today’s culture to smoke, drink or use other drugs and almost three-quarters have done so. However some teens have personal issue at home or in their life that put them at even greater risk of using addictive substances or more prone to becoming addicted to them. In 2011, over 20 million Americans older than the age of 12 were reportedly substance dependence of both alcohol and drugs. Approximately, 6.9 percent of the 20 million classified as substance dependence were between 12 and 17 years of age. Researchers state that these statistics could be caused due to the lack of development in the brain where decision making occurs. When parents go through divorce its can cause a moment of vulnerability for teens. The stress that teens inherit can become overloading and look elsewhere for an outlet. The outlet parents would like their teens to have is with them or professional help if needed. Unfortunately, teens tend to look to their peers for direction when dealing with issues.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has stated that substance abuse among adolescents is americas number problem in public health. Substance abuse has increased in the United States due to the exposure and accessibility to drugs and alcohol. High School is a testament to how adolescent become more exposed to risky activity and peer pressure. At least one out of four teens in high school have used more than one substance ranging from marijuana, alcohol or cocaine. Teens believe that their social status will increase by using drugs, or a way to relieve stress or coping. Another misconception using will help enhance their mood or social or academic functioning or seeking a thrill or a high--all affect their intentions and decisions to use addictive substances. The root of the substance abuse for teens may not be a result of the exposure at school, but it could come from home....