Addiction among young adults is prevalent because their young brains are still in the developing phase. It makes it difficult for them to differentiate what is good for them and what is not. But does that mean they cannot socialize and enjoy their lives while young? No, definitely not!
However, it is important to keep a close eye on your teenager’s friend circle and behavior to ensure that they don’t fall into the substance use trap. You must educate them about substance use and build a strong relationship with your teen to ensure that they can confidently rely on you if anything goes wrong in their lives.
However, seek professional help immediately if your teen has a severe addiction. For instance, people living in California can explore Bay Area rehab centers. Such centers offer the necessary amenities to ensure the safety and comfort of your child. Besides this step, you must understand the complexities of addiction in the younger generation. So, read on.
Reasons Risk of Addiction is Higher in Young Adults
During the teenage years, your child gets a taste of freedom. They start socializing and have a few drinks occasionally. While this behavior is common in young adults, problems arise when they start indulging in illicit substances such as cannabis, party drugs, or hallucinogens.
Here, you need to know that not every adult who indulges in these substances becomes addicted to them. It is when individual starts chronic substance use that they become highly dependent on it, which starts impacting their lives.
Substance use becomes life-threatening when it takes the following form:
- Misuse of prescription drugs
- Use of injection drugs (this increases the chance of STDs and HIVs)
Why do young adults take drugs?
The main reason adults take drugs is peer pressure. Other reasons include:
- To fit in their friend group: If your teenager is surrounded by a friend circle that frequently indulges in substance use, there is a high chance that they will also be pressured into consumption.
- To feel confident: Young adults often struggle with confidence issues. Hence, many of them resort to drugs to feel good and confident about themselves.
- To experiment: Sometimes, they also get involved in drugs just as an experiment and soon become addicted.
Ways to Identify Substance Addiction in Teens
While numerous signs will help you identify if your child is addicted to any substance, the following are the most common ones:
- They Will Start Neglecting Their Responsibilities:
The first and the earliest sign of addiction is that your child will start neglecting their school and college work. You will see their grades gradually degrade, and they may also start bunking school and instead spend most of their time consuming the substance.
- They Will Start Isolating Themselves:
When a person starts getting addicted to the substance, they start withdrawing themselves from social gatherings. They start feeling that they don’t fit into their surroundings and prefer spending time alone or with peers who consume these illicit substances.
- They Will Start Having Frequent Mood Swings:
Another common sign of addiction is terrible and frequent mood swings. When the person is not under the influence of the substance, they start experiencing anxiety, stress, and even hallucinations. They may also start acting distant and have terrible anger issues when you start communicating with them.
- They Will Most Likely Have Money Problems:
Addiction to substances is very expensive. As a teenager, your child may not have access to money to procure drugs for consumption. So they will start stealing money from the house.
- There Will be Numerous Unsuccessful Attempts at Quitting:
When your child starts to realize that their consumption is starting to impact their lives, they may attempt to quit it on their own. Most of these unsuccessful attempts result in them falling back to the same pattern.
- They Will Experience Withdrawal Symptoms:
A person who is addicted to illicit substances also experiences severe withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not available. They will start having mental health issues, and if the addiction is severe, they may also try to take their lives.
Become Their Pillar of Strength
If your child is addicted to the substance, it is important that you navigate through the problem carefully. Firstly, you must encourage them to speak the truth and win their confidence. Ensuring them that you are always here to help is a great place to start.
In addition to this, you also need to find a rehab program that will provide them with the right support and guidance and help them fight back their addiction.
you may also read
