High School Adolescents &

Substance Abuse Addiction

Dana Marku

Advanced General Psychology

Increasing Rate for Substance Abuse

Due to…

• Environmental Factors

• Brain Physiology

&

• Genetic Risks

Environmental Factors

• Family• Peers

& • School environment

•Family–High levels of family conflict or stress–Poor parenting practices

•Low levels of parental supervision•Inconsistent & harsh discipline tactics•Poor display of problem-solving skills•Low levels of emotional support

(Burrow-Sanchez, J., Clark, E., & Jenson, W., 2009)

Environmental Factors

• Family methods to reduce the risk of substance abuse – Adequate emotional sharing– High flexibility in rules– Good levels of satisfaction

of all family members

(Baiocco, R., & Tafa, M., 2009)

Environmental Factors

• Peers– Adolescents who associate with drug-using peers are more likely to use drugs themselves

(Burrow-Sanchez, J., Clark, E., & Jenson, W., 2009)

Environmental Factors

• School– Lack of programs in education of substance abuse– Low expectations for students futures

(Burrow-Sanchez, J., Clark, F., & Jenson, W., 2009)

Brain Physiology

• Deals with different parts of the brain and their contributions– What takes place in the human body

(during the time of decision making in correlation to substance abuse)

– Future consequences in the body

Brain Physiology• Stress in an adolescent’s daily routine

– Family– Social groups– Extra-curricular activities– Part-time or full-time jobs– Excessive amount of school work, etc.

•Stress leads to…•Rapidly acting sympathetic nervous system

•Slower hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis

•Increase heart rate

•Enhance blood flow to skeletal muscles

•Dilation of pupils

•“Fight-or-flight” response (hormones) ….addiction

(Dickinson, A., Schwabe, L., & Wolf, O., 2011)

Genetic Risks

• Mental health disorders in combination with environmental settings

• Families with long history of addiction– Treatment is not an option for an

adolescent unless all family members are clean and sober at all times

(Hogue, A., & Liddle, H., 2009)

• Family-based treatment produces longer lasting treatment gains– Support of family members– Positive family environment for adolescent– Decreases the need for substances to cope with emotions

(Dakof, G., Greenbaum, R., Henderson, C., & Liddle, H., 2008)

• Individual intervention– Student Assistance Program (SAP): School professionals refer students

with substance abuse problems & work together on a goal to help student

• DrugFree.com & TeenScreen National Nation– Mission is to help educate adults & parents about substance abuse

addiction and proper methods in approaching, preventing, and fixing the issue

(Anonymous, 2011)

Prevention

• Anonymous. (2011). ProQuest. Marketing and licensing agreements; The partnership at Drugfree.org and TeenScreen National Center announce collaboration, 1656.

• Baiocco, R., & Tafa, M. (2009). The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Addictive behavior and family functioning during adolescence, 37, 388-395.

• Burrow-Sanchez, J., Clark, E., & Jenson, W. (2009). Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah. School-based interventions for students with substance abuse, 46, 238-245.

• Dakof, G., Greenbaum, P., Henderson, C., & Liddle, H. (2008). Society for the Study of Addiction. Treating adolescent drug abuse: a randomized trial comparing multidimensional family therapy and cognitive behavior therapy, 103, 1660-1670.

• Dickinson, A., Schwabe, L., & Wolf, O. (2011). ProQuest. Stress, habits, and drug addiction: A psychoneuroendocrinological perspective, 19, 53-63.

• Hogue, A., & Liddle, H. (2009). Journal of Family Therapy. Family-based treatment for adolescent substance abuse: controlled trials and new horizons in services research, 31, 126-154.