Addiction in Adolescence Essay 

Today, the issue of addiction in adolescence has reached unprecedented levels. More and more individuals become addicted to drugs and other substances, which later can make a strong negative impact on the individual’s physical and mental health, emotions, behaviors, and the overall brain functioning. There are a number of possible risk factors that may contribute to abuse of substances and addiction in adolescence. These factors may include the early stressful life experiences, genetic influences, early traumatic events, physical/sexual abuse, early childhood suffering, and prenatal exposure to alcohol. A range of environmental influences, lack of parental supervision, emotional problems, and loneliness, lack of support, mood instability, anxiety, and depression can also make a powerful impact on the individual’s psychological health and promote addiction to drugs, alcohol, and other substances.  Adolescence is a unique period in a person’s life and development. According to Squeglia et al. (2009), “adolescence marks a period of rapid development between childhood and adulthood involving complex social, biological, and psychological changes.” (p.31) Unfortunately many young individuals do not completely understand all the potential influence and consequences of alcohol/drug use. Abuse of substances and addiction in adolescence negatively affect brain maturation, which in its turn may lead to significant abnormalities in brain structure and functioning. Study after study shows that “substance use during adolescence has been associated with alterations in brain structure, function, and neurocognition.” (Squeglia, et al., 2009, p. 31) Substance abuse may result in low cognitive control, lack of attention, poor social interaction, emotional instability and abnormal behaviors.Addiction in Adolescence Essay Paper