Drug Addiction affects people of all ages, backgrounds and intelligence levels; it doesn’t bias anyone. Addiction to drugs in teens’ lives can have a damaging impact, whose signs, symptoms, effects, and intensity might vary from person to person. Drug addiction in teens is a severe national threat. It affects the public and social and economic welfare. Teenagers are highly vulnerable in getting in contact with drugs and alcohol, exposure to which can have a devastating impact on the functioning and development of the brain on a short-term and long-term basis. Teenagers are generally very sensitive to drugs as they generally tend to incline towards the devastation of drug addiction earlier than adults do.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF DRUG ADDICTION IN TEENS?
As teenagers are highly vulnerable to drug addiction, the answer to the questions varies a lot. Below are some common ways teenagers get exposed to drug addiction and its consequences:
- Coming from a low-income family
- Bad parenting
- Suffering from peer pressure
- Impulsive behaviour
- Performance pressure
- Stress
Sometimes exposure to a traumatic experience at school or a community, in hope, can lead to the deadly trap of addiction.
It all starts with snorting or drinking, but some get addicted, lose control over their lives, and displace healthy pursuits. Many consider it a regular aspect of their development, like a desire to try something new and experiment. We cannot deny the fact that genetic and environmental factors initiate and drench in drug addiction.
THE IMPACT OF DRUGS ON OUR BRAIN
Our brain changes dramatically from childhood till the stage of adulthood. According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) research, drug addiction disrupts brain circuits and chemical systems that manage learning, memory, behaviour, decision-making ability, judgment, and stress. They all stated that the chemicals in drugs could stimulate the natural neurotransmitters and tricks brain receptors into activating nerve cells. Drugs produce dopamine, a brain reward system, resulting in momentary pleasure to the brain, causing harmful effects in the long term.
HOW CAN HEAL DRUG ADDICTION IN TEENS?
As teenagers are vulnerable to get soaked in the world of drug and alcohol addiction, it is the community’s responsibility who needs to develop a curriculum to teach teenagers about drug abuse and addiction. Shed light on the impact of drug abuse, inform them about how addiction to drugs can change the brain’s working, damaging our ability to think, feel, ultimately leading to destructive behaviours. A person can undo the impact of drugs on the body through sheer willpower; they only need management, community, and evidence-based solutions to deal with the effects.
