Are Teens Physiologically Vulnerable to Drug Addiction?

Teen addiction to drugs and alcohol has been on the rise in America. Researchers have presented these concerning statistics: about half of 9^th through 12^th-grade students reported they have used marijuana; four in ten students from these grade levels have tried cigarettes; by 12^th grade, two-thirds of teenagers have tried alcohol; and one-fifth of 12^th graders have used prescription drugs illicitly. 

The most alarming thing does not stop with the scale of this issue, but also the lasting consequences of substances on teenagers who are physiologically vulnerable to the risks. Without early intervention, many are likely to develop a lifelong dependency on substances. For example, research has shown that nine out of ten people with substance addictions first begin using before they even turn 18. Substance abuse before the age of 15 can make a person 6.5 times more likely to develop a full-blown substance addiction later in life. 

Why Are Teens Vulnerable to Substances?

There are risk factors that make teenagers vulnerable to the use of substances. First, environmental screening by parents has decreased. Teenagers are at a highly explorative phase of development when their social activities are increasing without much adult monitoring. They are open to trying new things, and when informed about the impacts of drugs and alcohol, that increases their risk of experimenting with them. Second, teenagers live under high peer pressure, and they may use substances due to such peer pressure. Other risky behaviors such as unprotected sex and dangerous driving may also increase with peer pressure.

In terms of negative consequences, teens are at a more vulnerable stage because of their brain development. First, we need to understand how the brain matures during adolescence. More specifically, during this phase, the brain’s limbic region (emotions) develops faster than the cortex region (reasoning), which may contribute to increases in risk-taking and novelty seeking. Drugs and alcohol affect the brain structures of teens. For example, scientists find that adolescents who have recovered from addiction had reduced volume in the brain’s memory region, the hippocampus. Ultimately, when teens begin drinking or using drugs at an early age, their chance of becoming addicted later in life increases. Addicted teens are also more likely to develop health issues, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders, when they approach adulthood. 

What Should Parents Do to Prevent Teen Addiction?

Because of teens’ unique vulnerability to substances, parents and educators must be informed about how to do early prevention. Parents should know that the safest pathway for an adolescent to grow emotionally and physically is to refrain from all drugs and alcohol while the brain is developing. There are many effective ways to prevent addiction based on the science of brain development. It is not enough to simply educate youth about the dangers of risk-taking because their unique developmental needs during this phase tend to encourage risk-taking. Rather, teenagers need to be taught more refined decision-making skills to help them take control of things when faced with difficult emotions. Parents can also have more constructive conversations about the reality of peer pressure and how to navigate it. 

Educating youth about how their brain is developing is a good first step. It helps them to know the physiology behind their emotions, a part of self-knowledge and self-care. This alone rebuilds reasoning into their inquisitive minds. With regard to risk-taking, parents can come up with creative and safe ways to encourage their teenagers in safe risk-taking activities under adult supervision. That can engage the youth in personal growth and teach them not to just satisfy the immediate arousal.

What Are Some Practical Strategies?

Most importantly, parents should model a healthy lifestyle with boundaries that promote emotional and physical health. Parents also need to educate themselves on the science of brain development, which can help them understand their own behaviors and habits in life. To prevent teen addiction, parents ought to inspect their own lives and see whether they are creating risk factors for their teenagers through dysfunctions and stress. Here are a few practical strategies to consider:

• Show more tolerance of risk-taking but relatively safe adolescent behaviors rather than over-reacting to them.
• Find teachable moments and engage in thoughtful communication about your teenager's risk-taking behaviors and encourage their self-reflection.
• Know your teen’s peer group and their parents, and try to set common rules.
• Show appreciation for your teen’s friends and talk about peer pressure.
• Help your teenager to anticipate situations that might give rise to risky behaviors and mock-practice making healthy choices in such situations.
• Educate the entire family on brain science and human behavior.
• Model a responsible and healthy lifestyle.

Are you troubled by signs of teen addiction at home? Do you know that teen addiction is related to the unique features of brain development during this phase? Understanding the brain science behind teen addiction can encourage early prevention and more effective intervention. It is crucial to curb the trend of teen addiction so they do not form a strong dependency on substances when they enter adulthood. If you don’t know where to start, we can help you. At South Florida Intervention, our professionally trained interventionists work with concerned parents who want their teens to recover. Our recovery coaches can also help parents understand more about teen physiology, risk-taking behaviors, and substance addiction. We have helped many families to support their loved ones. You can benefit from a range of services we offer, including recovery coaching, parent coaching, sober escort, and detailed case management. We can also connect you with trusted health professionals. Call us today at (202) 390-2273.