Adolescents & Addiction:

An alternate approach to a preventable

problem

by Mikaela Elam

What is Addiction?

Substance use disorder defined by meeting clinical criteria for abuse or dependence as outlined in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Our current crisis

90 % of Americans meeting clinical criteria for addiction started using substances before age 18.

The earlier substance use begins, the greater the risk for use becoming abuse or dependence= addiction.

The Adolescent Brain (ages 12-18 years old)

More inclined to engage in risk-taking behaviors such as trying drugs or alcohol.

Increased vulnerability to brain damage and addiction.

Adolescence is a critical period for developing an addiction.

Who is really at fault?

Reframe this issue as A Public Health crisis; not solely the fault of teens.

Youth development is largely influenced by the community:

American Culture

The Media

Family

School

American Culture & The Media

77% of popular teen TV shows contain or mention drinking.

American culture normalizes self-regulating and medicating through substances.

Media, tobacco, & alcohol industries glamorize substance use- increasing chances of teens using.

Family: Mixed Messages

Significant developmental factors:

Risk: Families often normalize & enable substance use for stress relief & coping.

Parents have the most influence & control over teen substance use through messages taught and behaviors exhibited in homes.

School: Failure to support

New cultural climate:

Pervasive belief that teen substance use is a norm/expectation.

Inappropriate interventions:

Punitive measures place significantly more teens in the juvenile justice system than in substance-related treatment programs.

Community: Failure to understand

Some Treatment Barriers

Misunderstanding the problem:

Government spends more money on consequences of substance use than prevention/intervention measures.

Ex: Crime, academic, & health problems.

No insurance coverage & limited health care education

What can we do?

Prevention

Involve youth in organizing effective and relevant preventive measures.

Youth-Adult partnerships: Promote open communication between youth and adults about substances, health issues, and media influence

Intervention

Fund training of more specialized addiction healthcare professionals

Create more adolescent-focused treatment facilities

Earlier intervention with comprehensive, age-appropriate services

As Parents

Set a good example- Promote positive self-identity

Restrict access to substances

Monitor your child’s activities and mental health

Give clear, consistent messages about substance use

Communicate frequently and openly with your child

Know the facts and share the dangers of adolescent addiction.

As Educators

Raise awareness of this issue reframed as a public health problem

Recognize warning signs of substance use

Avoid punitive policies and adopt a health-based approach (access to healthcare services)

Make appropriate treatment referrals

As Policymakers

Reduce teen exposure to substance-related advertising

Increase prevention & treatment options and funding (including research)

Raise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products

Fund and create public health campaigns to educate population on this issue

As the Advertising Industry/Media

Stop marketing addictive substances as attractive to adolescents audiences

Create messages discouraging teens from using substances

Use technology (social media, texting, apps, etc) to counteract problematic (pro-substance) adolescent marketing

An Alternate Approach

Resolving this issue is a community effort!

Promote systemic change

Youth are not the problem! Educate others and increase awareness

Re-evaluate American cultural norms and advertising

Redistribute government funding to support prevention/intervention

Community Youth Development

Empower youth through valuing their voice and engaging them to organize relevant programs

Comprehensive, age-appropriate interventions

Foster youth-adult partnerships (parents, teachers, community organizers)

Create more opportunities for youth to lead in combating this issue

References

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. (2011). Adolescent substance use: America’s #1 public health

problem. New York: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. http://www.casacolumbia.org/upload/2011/20110629adolescentsubstanceuse.pdf

ImagesSchool image. http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNrQENMPPR51kjJzEmyg8iiCGjkADnpgs28XbhYxpU__B17ImvVQ

Media image: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSbfuNq_fXoV_jrcew4QYsgNumMubJnnM-gmeYHLSeSqmPN_Tg & http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSSTRJpYCz08G4T_1Wpmrms6wVkB0XtlEmRgQpA_ybXuc0VzHqAoA

Pills image: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShvk9Lntb0ugvxlNWOWHet5_2pFcx3fgZhXxdgu82BkHY9gMMn

Crisis image: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSjvTzIf06Z3gN3ix1UhNFUcF5X5x0a-VmjdRgFSE-zc1-f3pz

Family image: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9JvND2_swAM68KXsbYI9pgbA_VDVSYjfnd74R8m-ZeIOKGrduLQ

Comm image: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZcaTblL1LN1N3N1gixc6V_bwquJj44xJ35EGT9JDgp4xPavKLow