It’s no secret that drug-related issues are becoming more prevalent in the US. Today, one of the biggest problems facing the country is the level of teen drug use.
Teens who develop drug addictions have poor relationships and lower grades. They might not be able to maintain employment, which can result in homelessness, other criminal activity, and other issues.
It’s important to find the cause of addiction if you notice your teen is using drugs.
So, finding the root causes is important for developing effective treatment plans in drug addiction rehabilitation centres.
Let’s explore this topic in detail.
What is a drug addiction?
When someone consumes drugs for the first time, they probably won’t develop an addiction in that time. It happens over some time when someone uses drugs repeatedly.
This thing can lead to increased dosages to achieve the same euphoric effect or high. This is because drugs have a drastic impact on the brain. These effects cause a literal change in its physical composition.
The common causes of drug addiction
Genetics
Nobody has a drug addiction from birth. However, the body and brain respond differently to different drugs, each with unique reactions based on one’s genetic makeup.
This explains why some people have more difficulty abusing opioid prescription drugs than others.
On the other hand, some people may be more susceptible to alcohol addiction if alcoholism runs in their family.
The environment
Addiction to drugs, like many other diseases, is primarily environmental. A person’s environment, which includes their house, community, family, and friends, all have chances of drug addiction in some way.
For example, living in a low-income neighbourhood with increased access to drugs and alcohol, even at an early age, is an environmental risk factor.
Other environmental factors include:
- peer pressure
- stress
- physical and sexual abuse
- early exposure to drugs
- lack of parental guidance or education about drugs.
Age
This category is generally broad, but it refers to two things.
First, it describes the age at which an individual takes drugs for the first time.
Second, the age of a person mostly impacts the likelihood of drug addiction and the type of drug most likely to be abused.
A co-occurring mental health disorder
Certain mental health disorders may predispose a person to developing a drug addiction, including:
- depression
- Anxiety
- chronic stress
- ADHD PTSD
Drug addictions often occur in tandem with these mental health issues but are not guaranteed to arise.
Life experiences
Drug addiction may arise due to some bad life experiences. Some situations like intense loss, grief, stress and trauma are favourable for drug addiction.
Sometimes, the aftereffects of a traumatic event, ongoing stress, or crippling grief can mislead an individual into thinking that drugs are the only source of relief. While the initial relief may be temporary, it is not long-lasting or beneficial in the long run.
Social Media
On social media, some friends and family members post photos of themselves doing drugs. Therefore, teens think that it is a trendy thing.
Curiosity
Some teenagers start using drugs because they want to see what it feels like to use drugs.