Substance Abuse in Adolescent : Causes, Signs & Best Prevention Strategies

Reviewed by Public Health Expert (MPH), with experience in maternal and child health programs.

Medical Disclaimer : This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. For personalized guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider. This article was reviewed by a Public Health Expert (MPH) with experience in maternal, infant and adolescent programs aligned with WHO and UNICEF frameworks.

Adolescence is a major stage of development marked by curiosity, experimentation and peer influence. During this phase, young people are more vulnerable to risky behaviors, including substance use. Without timely guidance and support, early experimentation can develop into harmful patterns with alcohol, tobacco or any other substance. Such experimentation may develop into destructive habits of substance use without prompt guidance and support.

Prevention of substance abuse among adolescents depends on early education, effective family participation, intervention programs in schools and community based support mechanisms. Promoting factors that are protective like involvement in sporting activities, hobbies and good peer groups go a long way toward diminishing the chances of substance abuse.

Healthcare providers, teachers, counselors, and parents are key stakeholders when it comes to recognizing at-risk adolescents and referring them to relevant support services as early as possible.

Adolescence is the time of a quick brain development. The brain is particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of harmful substances during this period and constant exposure of alcohol or drugs may have long-term structural and functional effects.

The principal causes of early attention are:

• Teens who enter into alcohol consumption prior to the age of 16 years are at a very high risk of developing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in adulthood.
• Postponing the initial use of substances to adulthood (preferably, to approximately 25 years) helps to significantly decrease the risk of addiction throughout the lifetime.
• The problems concerning substances that manifest themselves in adulthood are often initiated during adolescence.
• Adolescents have become more vulnerable because of events like the COVID-19 pandemic which have resulted in stress, isolation, and disrupted education.

Early detection and intervention can save people, families, communities and healthcare systems massive damage in the long run.

Substance Use Disorders can be described as a pattern of development of substance use that continues after it has become harmful. Common features include:

• Tolerance: Requirement of more and more amounts of a substance to acquire the same effect.
• Withdrawal: When an individual deters in the use or consumption of a substance, physical or mental symptoms may be displayed.
• Loss of control Consuming more or taking longer to use substances than intended.
• Persistent use despite harm: This is the persistent use of substances even with the awareness of the harmful effects.
• Impaired functioning: Difficulty performing responsibilities at school, home or in social situations.
• Cravings: Powerful cravings of substances.

The Continuum of Substance Use

The use of substances in adolescents usually follows phases:

• Experimentation: Using drugs because they are curious or because their friends are using.
• Occasional use: Sociocultural use of substances which are occasionally used or not frequently used after trial.
• Regular or dependent usage: It acquires a compulsive nature and loss of control and growing destructiveness.

Intervention at the earliest stage is very vital in preventing further down this continuum.

Physical:

• Luxury drowsiness or excessive drowsiness.
• Sudden weight changes
• Red or watery eyes
• Tremors or shaking
• Slurred speech
• Lack of co-ordination or walking a straight line.
• Smell of alcohol or smoke

Emotional and Behavioral Signs:

• Acute mood swings or aggravated.
• The inability to take pleasure in activities that they once enjoyed.
• Problem in living normal lives.
• Legal issues and school failure.
• Family and social withdrawal.

Social signs :

• Secrecy or often locking doors.
• Unaccounted school absenteeism.
• Committal of crimes or theft.
• Wasting too much time with new peer groups, who are linked to substance use.

• Tobacco and nicotine products
• Alcoholic beverages
• Cannabis-based substances
• Prescription medications used without medical advice
• Opioid substances
• Stimulants and hallucinogens
• Inhalants and household chemicals

Use of these substances can significantly affect adolescent brain development, mental health and academic performance.

Factors that protect

• Intellectual and physical maturity.
• Good self-esteem and sociable.
• Favorable family background.
• Positive school engagement
• Healthy peer relationships
• Availability of recreational and cultural activity.

Factors at Risk:

• Genetic predisposition or inborn problems.
• Poor nutrition
• The availability of substances is easy.
• Sexual neglect, abuse or violence.
• Family discord or incompatible care giving.
• School failure or victimization.
• Community disorganization, stigma or discrimination.

Social media addiction in adolescents can increase vulnerability to substance misuse.

The Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies

The prevention process includes open communication and skills development:

• Honestly and without being judgmental, have non-judgmental discussions with the adolescents regarding substance use.
• Demonstrate clearly the short-term and long-term effects of substance misuse.
• Promote goal-setting and assist the adolescents to define risk-enhancing situations.
• Educate the ability to avoid and choose.

Make use of the 4Ds method:

4D	Uses
Delay	Postpone the decision
Distract	Change focus to some other activity.
Drink water	Create a pause
Deep breathing effectiveness	Reduce stress.

Development of a Supportive System

A good support system is very vital in prevention and recovery. This can involve parents, teachers, seniors, peers, counselors, health practitioners, mentors and community groups.

Encourage adolescents to:

• Designed personal safety programs.
• Participate in good community work.
• Ask others without being ashamed.

They should be patient, encouraging and supportive. Even minor advances must be rewarded and supported.

People and external factors

• Places
• Occurrences
• Circumstances
• peer pressure

Internal elements:

• Adverse emotional mood.
• hunger
• negative thoughts
• discomfort in the body
• fond memories of substance use

Various strategies: Increase your skills of saying no:

People should beware about the frequent use of pressure strategies by social groups.

• pleading
• comforting
• challenging
• threatening
• Anger

The examples when a person who practices assertiveness and rejection behavior can be found:

• My alcohol habit is final and I have broken it severally
• Since I am on medication that does not allow me to do so.
• I was about to go
• I had a headache
• Something necessary, and which can only be fulfilled by rising early.

Different assertiveness and refusal techniques to be ensured.

• Young people’s friendships shape them a lot • Help youth understand various pressure situations

• They might also do these activities by pretending to be in the moment.
• Idea generation about challenging circumstances involves participants to collaborate on responses they will utilize during such situations.

• In addition to its other jobs, many NGOs help in the prevention of substance abuse.
• The support system may include: Parents, teachers, elders, friends, relatives, peers, counseling people, mentors, medical practitioners, and non-governmental organizations.
• Let the teenagers develop their own method for keeping safe.

Be engaged with nearby Communities, Families & friend.

For the purpose of preventing substance abuse

• An abnormal coping style in behavior or mood
• Getting to know parents while learning to speak clearly and teaching children discipline marks the essential elements of proper education.

For the control of drug abuse

• Encourage them to: Attach blame no moral failing to substance abuse.
• Attention needs for their day to day needs viz. health, medicine and nutrition.
• Show the teenager patience.
• Encouragement may be done for any little progress even it may tiny.

A Few Things Not To Do

• Focus on excuses for using drugs or choose to hide what the addiction is costing. Convey other regarding past substance abuse matters & issues.
• Keep harping on their faults, bicker and keep questioning their loyalty.

Helping people to learn about the damaging consequences

• Addiction is more common in teenagers.
• Give information to people about why substance abuse causes negative consequences.
• Give information for any misconceptions or untruths/unreal and un-biased regarding substance usage.
• Motivate community members to live away from drugs and keep them away from drug sources. Different types of outreach initiatives & session may be conducted to commemorate health days with adolescent people and school authorities/stakeholders to increase awareness.
• Required support may be provided with necessary encouragement to be done in the environment where people who are struggling with substance abuse.

• The brain of an adolescent is extremely flexible and susceptible to negative things.
• The use of substances may start as early as adolescence, and may develop very fast.
• Early use raises the chances of addiction in the long-term and health issues.
• Biological mechanisms that support substance dependence are tolerance and withdrawal.
• There must be effective family, school and community connections towards prevention and healing.

A small video from youtube on this topic is as mentioned below: https://www.youtube.com/embed/aMCXQ__c3F0?si=BmgagND_z3SBITis

FAQs:

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Trusted References and Research Sources:

1. WHO-Aligned Evidence on Mental Health, Brain Health, and Substance Use Disorders
   Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use – Peer-Reviewed Article (PMC)
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11003516/
2. New Approaches to Preventing Youth Substance Misuse
   American Psychological Association (APA) – Evidence-Based Strategies for Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention
   https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/03/new-approaches-youth-substance-misuse
3. How Drugs Affect the Brain and Lead to Addiction
   National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Drugs, Brain, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction
   https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/references
4. Global Public Health Research on Substance Use and Mental Health
   The Lancet Public Health – Substance Use, Brain Development, and Population Health Impact
   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00115-X/fulltext
5. Academic Perspectives on Addiction, Brain Health, and Public Policy
   Oxford Academic – Scholarly Research on Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions
   https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34487

This article is intended for parents, teachers, adolescents, counselors, and public health professionals seeking evidence-based information on preventing substance abuse among adolescents.

If an adolescent shows persistent behavioral changes, withdrawal symptoms or declining academic performance, professional evaluation by a healthcare provider or counselor is strongly advised.

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