Mental health and drug/substance abuse in teens and young adults

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date Mental Health and Drug/Substance Abuse in Teens and Young Adults Introduction Background of the Study. Research has revealed that substance abuse is present mainly in teenagers and young adults within the age bracket of 18 to 25 instead of any other group. Young adults and teenagers do not realize the potential harm of substance abuse, which leads them to its frequent usage (Lu et al. 2). Substance abuse is considered to be a persistent problem in young adults despite the varying rates and drug usage trends in them. It is estimated that the United States had a population of around 34.1 million young adults in 2018 (Okoro 47). The indulgence of a considerable share of young adults in substance abuse presents a bleaker picture of the future generation that has grave impacts on different domains of life. The usage of alcohol and other substances is complicated and has various facets. There are various environmental, social, and individual factors behind the prevalence of substance abuse in teenagers and young adults. The lack of development of executive functions and heightened risk-taking behavior is regarded as one of the key reasons behind the issue of substance abuse in teenagers and young adults (Gao et al., 1458). Substance abuse during such an early age is considered to have several implications, including cognitive difficulties, interrupted education, disturbed social functioning, behavioral issues, cognitive challenges, mental health problems, and early mortality (Gao et al. 1458). Studies have demonstrated that one of the most common adverse impacts of substance abuse in teenagers and young adults is mental health issues. A higher level of substance abuse is present in teenagers and young adults, and most of them tend to seek treatment for mental health services (Halladay 739). Teenagers and young adults involved in substance abuse face several mental disorders that have grave implications for their development. Significance. The usage of drugs by teenagers and young adults during their developmental stage has lasting impacts on their brain development, which can result in a variety of adverse health outcomes, including mental health problems and addiction. There are various reasons behind the presence of substance abuse in teenagers and young adults (Lu et al. 2). However, the prevalence of substance abuse varies in young adults and teenagers according to socio-demographic factors such as education level, ethnicity, economic status, and gender. Information about socio-demographic factors is essential for identifying the role of these factors behind substance abuse and its subsequent impact on mental health (Lu et al. 2). The identification of these factors will help policymakers and stakeholders in devising relevant materials for improving the conditions of young adults and teenagers, who are experiencing mental health issues because of substance abuse. Purpose and Research Questions. The augmented usage of substance abuse in teenagers and its subsequent impacts on their mental health cannot be disregarded. The increased substance abuse is negatively impacting the mental health of teenagers and young adults, thereby reducing their focus and causing problematic behavior and aggression (Al Juboori et al. 3124). It can also increase their delinquent tendencies, which will be detrimental to societal fabric. Therefore, this study aims to identify the reasons that have played a critical role in increasing the rate of substance abuse in young ones and teenagers. The identification of reasons will reduce causative factors. It will also highlight the co-occurrence of substance abuse and mental health and its lasting impact on the future of teenagers and young adults. 1 What are the impacts of rampant substance abuse on the mental health of teenagers and young adults? 2 How does substance abuse in teenagers and young adults lead to mental health disorders? 3 What are the reasons behind the heightened substance abuse in young adults and teenagers? Literature Review Substance Abuse in Teenagers and Young Adults. Adults need to help teenagers and young adults as they lack the physical and mental skills to find their place and identity in society. Individuals are classified into intellectual activity, mental stability, and generative attributes (Baysan Arabacı et al. 146). People under eighteens are universally declared as children as per the Rights of the Child. The period between birth and puberty for children should be healthy for them to adjust and associate with the world at large, or else they can suffer through specific psychiatric disabilities resulting in their way of behaving, which is not appropriate. Various variables such as traumas, socio-economic conditions, and exposure to violence can hamper the developmental stage and result in mental disorders. Mental institutions have reported conditions like ADHD, eating, post-traumatic, bipolar, hyperactivity, stuttering, self-harm, autistic spectrum, and anxiety disorders are common in teenagers and young adults presented to them (Baysan Arabacı et al. 146). The rate of substance abuse is increasing steadily among teenagers and young adults, which is leading to numerous accidents, psychological disorders, and, ultimately, death in some cases. Studies have revealed that around forty-seven percent of children and adolescent patients in psychiatry outpatient clinics were experiencing two concurrent mental issues (Baysan Arabacı et al. 146). Teenagers and adolescents are navigating through a precarious developmental stage, where they are developing biologically and psychologically. They can get inclined towards illegal actions such as substance abuse after being influenced by their environment. Teenagers and young adults are unaware of the consequences of their indulgence in substance abuse and can get involved in criminal activities (Baysan Arabacı et al. 147). The engagement of children in criminal activities is regarded as juvenile delinquency. Engagement in substance abuse can result in hampering the growth and prosperity of teenagers and young adults as they are placed in correctional facilities after committing an offense or committing severe crimes. Substance abuse is one of the main causative factors that is contributing toward augmenting crime rate because of emotional rush, irrational behavior, physiological and hormonal variations in the body, and disturbance of self-regulatory process. There i...