Teen drug exposure remains a common phenomenon, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the chance exists for casual experimentation to cross the line and become full-blown addiction. Adolescent drug addiction is a complex disorder where teens feel an overwhelming, uncontrollable need to use, even in the face of negative consequences. Drug addiction can have many serious effects, many of which are long-lasting and can make recovery challenging.
Changes in the Brain
While different drugs produce different physical side effects, all drugs affect the brain in the same way. They all affect the brain similarly by taking control of the reward system mechanism, according to HelpGuide.org, while altering the parts responsible for judgment, self-control, emotions, motivation, memory and learning. Depending on the drug, effects on the brain can continue long after use has ended and can even be permanent, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Social Consequences
There are many reasons why adolescents abuse and become addicted to drugs. Some take them to escape from physical and emotional pain, to feel or act better or even to fit in socially. While drug use may mask problems in the short-term, in the long-term, it will only make problems worse. According to HelpGuide, the changes in the brain resulting from prolonged drug use can impair a person’s ability to function normally on a daily basis. Social consequences include strained or ruined relationships with family and friends and academic decline, according to Teen Drug Abuse. Eventually, the social consequences of addiction become worse than the original problems that led to drug use in the first place.
Physical Dangers
The physical damage caused by drug use can be severe and is greatly impacted by the type and amount of drug used. Because drugs can impair judgment and decision-making, teens who abuse and are addicted to alcohol and drugs often engage in risky behavior like unprotected sex or driving while under the influence.
As the body becomes physically addicted, it will demand more and more drug quantity to achieve a satisfactory “high,” according to Kids Health. Depending on the drug, physical withdrawal can be painful and potentially fatal. Physical withdrawal symptoms include shaking, sweating, nausea, anxiety, and depression, along with hallucinations, fever and convulsions.
