Substance Use

Substance Use/Addiction: America's Dangerous Epidemic

By: Mackenzie Thompson

Index

7. Taking Action

6. Prevention/Treatment

5. Crime

4. Academic Achievement

3. Mental Health

2. Statistics

8. Sources

1. Background

Background Knowledge

Substance Use/Addiction

• A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain
• Complex brain disorder and mental illness that typically begins during adolescence
• Recognized as significant problem in teens and adolescents for the past 40 years
• Impacts mental health, academic achievement, and crime rates

Statsitics

Recent Research

• Reports show illegal drug use is rising in the teenage age group
• 14 is the average age for a teenager's first time using marijuana
• 40% of experimental smokers between the ages 14-18 eventually transitioned into daily smokers
• In 2016, about 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose

Mental Health

Effects on the Brain

• Heavy drinking causes the frontal lobes to shrink, impairing decision-making skills
• Affects hippocampus, which is in charge of memory and learning
• Leads to depression, anxiety, and even suicide
• Dopamine in the brain leaves users wanting more, causing an adidction
• Leads to the feeling of depression and lifelessness

Academic Achievement

Substance Use and Academics

• Substance abuse impairs cognitive development, reducing academic achievement
• Disrupts progress made in the classroom
• Decrease brain functioning affects individuals emotionally, cognitively, and mentally
• All necessary for being active learners
• Leads to association with antisocial groups, which diminishes engagement in schools
• Increases behavioral and social issues

Crime Rates

Criminal Activity

• Statistics show correlation between juvenile crime and substance use
• Due to increased anger, outbreaks, and aggression
• In a study, out of 487 juveniles, 86,44% of them had a history of drug use
• Cocaine, inhalants, illicit drugs, cannabis, and opiods increases the chance of teens commiting crimes
• Creates changes in personality
• Individuals who were once caring and determined people, are now manipulative and liars.

Prevention & Treatment

Supporting the Youth

• Studies have found research-based programs can significantly reduce early use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs
• Customized for each individual victim
• Educating the youth about substance abuse
• Includes the harm it can cause and sharing images so teens can make more informed decisions
• D.A.R.E is a school-based prevention program
• Focuses on peer relationshos, devleloping refusal techniques, and enhancing coping mechanisms

Supporting the Youth Continued...

• Make personal changes
• Find new coping strategies such as physical exercise, listening to music, hanging with friends, etc.
• Find new ways to handle stress
• Surround yourself with different people
• Ask a friend, parent, or trusted adult to keep yourself accountable
• Make those difficult decisions to live a life of sobriety

Taking Action

The Time Has Come

• Help take action to save the lives and future of our youth
• Fight for more public policies to end the substance use epidemic
• Our job as a community is to protect its citizens
• We can do this by confronting the problem and supporting programs
• If we work together, there will come a day where this epidemic will decrease significantly

Sources

Works Cited

B. Lindgren, & Michael Grossman. (2005). Substance Use : Individual Behavior, Social Interaction, Markets and Politics. JAI Press Inc.Donna B. McKinney. (2021). Substance Addiction. Essential Library.Gordon, S. M. (2019). Teens and Addiction. ReferencePoint Press.Lawrence M. Scheier, & William B. Hansen. (2014). Parenting and Teen Drug Use : The Most Recent Findings From Research, Prevention, and Treatment. Oxford University Press.Sharma, S., Sharma, G., & Barkataki, B. (2016). Substance use and criminality among juveniles-under-enquiry in New Delhi. Indian journal of psychiatry. Sheri Mabry Bestor. (2013). Substance Abuse : The Ultimate Teen Guide. Scarecrow Press.

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