Drug and Alcohol Addiction Information

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

• Substance Abuse and Adolescents
• Attitudes Towards Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Availability of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs
• Addiction as a Medical Disorder
• Consequences of Adolescent Substance Abuse
• Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse
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Drug addiction is a major public health problem that puts millions of adolescents at an increased risk for alcohol and drug-related traffic accidents, risky sexual practices, poor academic and job performance, juvenile delinquency, and developmental problems.

National surveys indicate that most illicit drug use has been steady during the past few years. However, adolescent drug abuse is on the rise, including the dangerous club drug, ecstasy, is increasing among older youth.

Substance Abuse and Adolescents:

Over 1 million adolescents, age 12-17, meet the diagnostic criteria for dependence on illicit drugs and over 900 thousand of them are dependent on alcohol.

More than half (55%) of our Nation's 12th graders have tried illicit drugs, and more than one-forth (29%) of them have tried more potent drugs like cocaine, inhalants, and heroin.

Youth age 16-17 have the second highest rate (16.4%) of current illicit drug use in the U.S. The highest rate (19.9%) is found among young adults age 18-20.

Although the legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, over 10 million youth age 12-20 drink alcohol; half of them engage in binge drinking, and over 2 million are heavy drinkers.

One-forth of youth age 10-17 say their friends "huff" (inhale the fumes of household products). More than one-third (34%) of youth age 13-15 were exposed to peers using inhalants.

In 1998, nearly 10% of adolescents age 12-17 reported using an illicit drug at least once during the past month. More than 8% of them are current marijuana users, the most frequently used illicit drug, and almost 20% drink alcohol.

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Attitudes Towards Alcohol and Drug Abuse:

Over half (54%) of youth age 12-17 believe there are risks associated with smoking marijuana once or twice a week, or cocaine once a month. Among 12th graders, less than two-thirds (62.5%) disapprove of occasional marijuana use.

Among adolescents age 12-17, less than half (47%) believe there are risks associated with having five or more drinks once or twice a week, and two-thirds ( 66.4%) believe there are risks in having four or five drinks nearly every day.

About 40% of teens age 13-18 strongly agree that "cool" teens do not use drugs. Nearly one in four teens age 12-17 view drugs as the most important problem facing people their age.

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Availability of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs:

In 1998, 56% of youth age 12-17 reported that marijuana is easy to obtain. Other illicit drugs they perceive as easy to obtain include cocaine (reported by 30%), crack (reported by 29%), and heroin (reported by 21%).

In 1999, alcohol was considered easily obtainable by over 70% of 8th graders and almost 90% of 10th graders.

In 1998, nearly 14% of youth age 12-17 said they were approached by someone selling illicit drugs within the past 30 days. By the time adolescents reach age 17, more than half (56%) of them know a drug dealer.

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Addiction as a Medical Disorder:

Addiction is a chronic disease involving brain chemistry, which over time makes it difficult for a person with an addictive disorder to stop using drugs or alcohol despite his/her wish to do so. Lapses in the prescribed treatment therapy also can interfere with a person's ability to stop using drugs or alcohol. Addiction treatment is as effective as treatments for other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. Recovery from addiction is dependent on the availability of treatment and may require multiple courses of treatment, as with other relapsing conditions.

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Consequences of Adolescent Substance Abuse:

Adolescents face unique risks associated with substance abuse. The use of substances may compromise an adolescents mental and emotional development by interfering with how they approach and experience interactions. In addition, adolescents are at serious risk for a number of direct and indirect consequences, including the following:

• Traffic Accidents - Nearly half (45%) of all deaths from traffic accidents are related to the consumption of alcohol. Almost 20% (2.5 million) of drivers age 16-20 drive under the influence of alcohol.
• School Related Problems - Adolescent substance abuse results in declining grades, excessive absences from school, and possibly dropping out of school. Cognitive and behavioral problems interfere with their academic performance.
• Risky Sexual Practices - Adolescents who use marijuana at least once a week are six times more likely than non-users to have sex, initiate sex at a younger age, and have multiple sex partners, increasing their risks of unplanned pregnancies and contracting Sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
• Delinquent Behavior - Adolescents who use marijuana weekly are six times more likely than non-users to run away from home and five times more likely to steel from people, and four times more likely to start physical confrontations.Juvenile Crime - Adolescents age 12-16 who smoke marijuana are over 20% more likely to sell marijuana, 25% more likely to carry a handgun, and 10% more likely to join a gang than non-users.
• Developmental Problems - Substance abuse can impair psychological and social development, including the sense of self-identity and self-worth, emotional and intellectual growth, establishment of a career, and development of worthy personal relationships.
• Physical and Mental Consequences - Smoking marijuana can have negative effects on the mind and body. It can impair the short-term memory and comprehension, alter the sense of time, and reduce the ability to perform tasks that require concentration and coordination, such as driving a car. Long-term effects of using marijuana include increased risk of lung cancer and other chronic lung disorders, head and neck cancer, sterility in men, and infertility in women.
• Future Use Disorders - The earlier the age an adolescent first drinks alcohol, the more likely they are to develop an alcohol disorder. A 13-year-old is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who starts drinking at age 20.

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Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse:

People who interact with adolescents in there home community need to be aware of changes in an adolescent's behavior and appearance that may signal substance abuse.

By recognizing the early warning signs and symptoms of substance abuse and intervening with treatment, an adolescent will have a much better chance of recovering.

The following behavior changes, when persistent for several days, may indicate drug or alcohol use and will need further screening by a professional:

• Sudden changes in personality without another known cause
• Sudden Loss of interest in hobbies, sports, or other activities
• Sudden decline in performance or attendance at school or work
• Changes in friends and reluctance to talk about new friends
• Deterioration of personal grooming habits
• Difficulty paying attention, forgetfulness
• Sudden aggressive behavior, irritability, nervousness, or giddiness
• Increased secretiveness, heightened sensitivity to inquiry

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