The Cause of Adolescent Substance Abuse - Essay Example

Over the years alcoholism has been prominent in a large number of teenagers around the world, despite the numerous campaigns of awareness of the effects of alcohol and how it can also directly affect the internal relationships in a family, the number of teenagers still grows consistently. Research shows that the average age of first time alcohol drinkers gets younger and younger. In 2003, average first time user was 14 years old and adolescents before the age of 15 were four times more likely to show alcohol dependence at some point in their lives (Underage Drinking, 2006). This shows that the influence of alcohol is now prominent even in the adolescent stage. Factor-analytic studies identified five contexts of adolescent drinking: social facilitation, stress control, school defiance, peer acceptance and parental control (Thombs, 2006 p.234). One of the most common reasons why teenagers are involved with alcohol is peer acceptance and social facilitation. This is to conform to group expectations (Thombs, 2006 p.234). Influence from peer groups may be come in all sorts of way and form for teenagers. In this stage, a teenager will experience to be out in the world, he will have friends that will later on influence his personality and activities. More often than not teenagers usually get along because of several things they like to do in common, having fun. Alcoholic advertisements creates a great impact on how to influence people to buy their product, advertisements also promotes drinking alcoholic beverages is fun and one way of enjoying and celebrating. These so called little celebrations are eventually turned to drinking sessions. The sad truth of this reality is that teenagers are unaware that they become addicted or dependent on alcoholic substance in the process. For some, the effect of alcoholic substances may not be immediate, this is why they neglect the causes and effects it may result teenagers in the long run. During the adolescent stage, a teenager tends to try stuff he has never tried before under the direct guidance of his parents or guardians. In this stage, a teenager also tries to find one’s self in order to establish one’s personality as this is one of the most difficult or confusing stage for a teenager. Social control and peer acceptance are the most common reasons or factors associated with drinking but contrary to popular belief that adolescent’s drink because of peer pressure, adolescent’s use drinking as a means for social control and interaction (Thombs, 2006 p.234). The problematic patterns that leads to alcoholism drinks under the context of self-medication or rebellion (Thombs, 2006 p.234-235). This causes alcohol dependency. Drinking level appears to correlate with problematic behaviors, deviance and low levels of conventionality and conformity to social norms (Jesor, 1998 p.187). This indicates that the higher the alcohol level, the higher deviance is. With the high level of alcohol consumption and intake, there is also a high level of problematic behaviors. Substance abuse and dependency is one of these problematic behaviors. Research conducted by Thombs found out that alcohol consumption is correlated with perceived norms or biased understanding of alcohol behavior fueling alcohol abuse (p.240). Such activities are drinking and driving and riding with alcohol-impaired drivers. During the adolescent stage, teenagers tend to be more emotional, this is also one reason why teenagers depend on alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is a substance that contains a drug that changes ones emotional and mental state. The affects of alcoholic beverages may be pleasant during the initial or early stage of drinking, this is sensation that teenagers get from drinking is what they seek in times that they get emotional. Everyday teenagers always come up with a reason to drink. These reasons may vary from one situation to another. Teenagers also get a lot of stress from home, school, love life and other personal issues they are encountering. This is why they turn to alcoholic beverages to cool them down. Alcohol is a substance that can reduce some of the stress and tension off the nervous system. The increase in the risk of alcohol use and abuse is associated with the following: family history of alcoholism, personal history of substance use and abuse, genetic factors (the body’s response to alcohol), personality factors (need for self-assurance and aggressiveness), cultural factors (high alcoholism in certain ethnic groups), availability and acceptability of alcohol use and emotional or psychiatric disorder (Griffith, et.al. 2006 p. 132). The first influences that an individual gets are the influence from the people living in their own homes. The possibility or chances a teenagers gets into drinking alcoholic beverages is huge when people from their own homes drink alcohol, this influence is not limited from the parents. They may also be influenced by an older brother or sister and any other adult that lives with them. Also, the higher the acceptance level of the community towards alcohol use, the higher the probability of adolescent use and abuse. This can be seen in communities with high availability of alcoholic beverages. Looking at these risk factors, it can be deduced that alcoholism in adolescence has a social trend or pattern since increase in use is associated with such factors as the family, the community and the society or culture of the adolescent himself. This is why teenagers get dependent on alcohol and later on leads to the abuse of its use or consumption. Abusive consumption may lead to many effects mentally and physically. Prevalent symptom among adolescent alcohol users that show possible alcohol dependency and abuse is a high tolerance for alcohol consumption, both in the level of alcohol intake and period of time the adolescent drinks (Galanter 2005 p.12). The more the adolescent shows increase in intake of alcohol over long period of time show increase in use and dependency on the substance. However, the validation of the consumption level of the user is based on his motivation for drinking, reasons for limiting alcohol use and perceived ability to control alcohol use within a drinking episode (Galanter, 2005 p.13). When the adolescent shows an impaired control over his actions, then there is a more possible result of alcohol dependency. The general definition of alcoholism as a chronic and progressive disease that involves dependency on, or addiction to, alcohol, involving a strong craving for drinking, loss of control over drinking, physical dependence such as withdrawal symptoms prevalent in the individual when not drinking, and increased tolerance are actually the symptoms of alcohol abuse (Griffith, et.al, 2006 p.132). These symptoms can be emphasized in situations like neglect of personal hygiene and school and home activities. This can also be seen in their social relations like changing peer groups, interaction with older and unfamiliar people, sudden involvement in activities and peers at odd hours of the day and thrill seeking behaviors such as riding with alcohol-impaired drivers, and worse driving under the influence of alcohol. There is also a possibility of alcoholism when the adolescent isolates himself from his family, negative attitude towards rules, regulations and authority itself, manipulation and lying. As indicated above, there is an increase in problematic behavior when involved with high levels of alcohol consumption or abuse, such as law-breaking incidences such as shoplifting, stealing, vandalism and even worse, being involved in the use and selling of other drugs. Alcoholism also shows through personality changes such as impaired judgment, suicide, mood swings and suicide. But the most prevalent symptoms are the physical symptoms, by which, the abuser smells of alcohol or stale smoke, minor illnesses such as headaches, vomiting and sluggishness, memory lapses, change in normal sleeping patterns, bloodshot eyes and frequent infections or illnesses which does not heal. The symptoms of alcohol abuse and dependency signify its effect on the family of the adolescent. With their withdrawal from their family and increased activities outside their homes, the relationship of the adolescent and their family is placed in danger or worse, broken down. It affects the family negatively, as such, because it creates a gap between the parents and their children. Since alcohol dependency increases problematic behaviors, the parents impose more rules on the adolescent on which he sees as a threat to his alcohol dependency. This increases conflict and tension within their homes. There is also a defined change with their relationship with other family members depending on how that family member sees alcohol. If the member is also at risk of alcoholism, then the adolescent is more inclined to having increased personal interrelation with him. Alcoholism has many negative effects on the individual and his family and friends. Since alcoholism is dependency on the substance, the individual becomes more centered on the substance and the activities associated with it rather than recognizing their family and friends, especially when intervention and treatment is presented to them. References Galanter, Marc. Alcohol problems in adolescents and young adults: epidemiology, neurobiology, prevention, treatment. NY:Springer, 2005. Griffith, H.W., et.al. Complete guide to symptoms, illness and surgery, 5th ed. NY:Perigee, 2006. Jessor, R. New perspectives on adolescent risk behavior. NY:Cambridge University Press, 1998. Saddock, V. and Kaplan, H. Kaplan and Saddock’s synopsis of psychiatry: behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry. MD:Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007. Thombs, D. Introduction to addictive behaviors, 3rd ed. NY:Guilford Press, 2006. No author. Underage Drinking: Why do adolescents drink, what are the risks, and how can underage drinking be prevented. Alcohol Alert, 67, 2006. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm, Accessed 11/13/09. Read More