If you have kids, this is good info to know. This article explains many factors that could be contributing to drug abuse among the youth. Knowing the signs may help prevent your child from abusing drugs.
The youth are the country’s wheel that pushes its growth and development ahead. Most of the achievements today have come from the younger generation. However, drug and substance abuse and alcoholism have become a great threat to a significant youth population. Others have succumbed to the effects of drug abuse. Therefore, there is a need to understand what leads such young people to use and abuse drugs.
This is why it's important to figure out what exactly is causing one to succumb to these harmful substances. This is also a great way to figure out what kind of treatment for drug addiction one needs so doctors can get started on helping them out right away. Make sure to learn as much as you can about the common causes and factors so you can better understand what’s happening.
The Factors
Different regions have varying rules about drug usage. For instance, in India, you can get imprisoned if found with a kilo of opium, whereas, in Jamaica, opium is legalized. However, the factors contributing to young people indulging in alcoholism and drug abuse are almost the same globally. They include:
Peer Pressure
According to research by NIDA, peer influence is one of the conspicuous influences that lead young people to get into drug abuse. This is a scenario where individuals are tempted to try drugs just because their mates are doing it. In the end, you might find that person is unable to control their drug use, which later leads to addiction. The formation of deviant peer groups is also a significant contribution. These are groups that some youths form and share a particular inclination to use drugs and alcohol to gain social standing.
Emotional Abuse
During the youth phase, people get to understand their emotions better. However, there comes a time when such individuals are abused emotionally, maybe by the parents or their partners if they have one. Getting into drugs is deemed a form of stress reliever, although that is far from the truth. Experiencing fights, especially domestic violence, can also cause stress and emotional abuse for a young person.
Depression
Life has become tough today for many youths, thanks to the covid-19 pandemic. So many have lost their loved ones and jobs, which has been a significant cause of stress. Depression is a real threat when it comes to substance use by youths. Understanding depression is something parents need to focus on. The feelings of sadness, anger, pain, or gloom have been among the top motivators for young people to engage in alcoholism and substance abuse.
Neglect
This is a situation where a parent does not meet their child’s basic needs, such as education, clothing, and food. During the youth stage, an individual is not yet fully independent. Neglecting them during such a period can have long-term detrimental effects. Therefore, parents should always be concerned about providing for their families, especially young people, to prevent them from substance use.
Sexual and Physical Abuse
Cases of sexual and physical abuse in youths have skyrocketed over the last few years. However, research has not been detailed on which of the two forms of abuse is the strongest contributor to alcoholism and drug abuse among the young. Youths who have been sexually assaulted, especially females, have shown higher chances of indulging in substance use. Physical abuse is most prevalent among males, which can lead to alcoholism and drug abuse.
Familiar Risk Factors
These factors are well-known globally. They include child maltreatment, substance use by the parents, the parent's education level, and the individual's perception that the parents approve of their drug use. Child maltreatment is a common familial risk factor, but it is essential to understand that it is not perpetrated by family members only – outsiders, too, can do it.
Drug abuse, substance use, and alcoholism have become terrible nightmares among the youth of today. If the government and society, in general, do not do anything about it, the future of these young adults will not be pleasant. The above are the main factors that lead young people into drug abuse, but the good news is that there is a way of helping even those who have already started abusing drugs.
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2 comments:
Depression, covid-19 pandemic!
Covid 19 lost many people jobs
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