Addiction is the use of any substance in increasing amounts without treatment and without meeting a physiological need. Spending a lot of time to obtain, use or quit the substance; decreasing or abandoning social, professional and personal activities due to substance use; emergence of withdrawal symptoms when the substance is stopped or reduced; continuing to use the substance despite physical or mental problems are among the basic elements of substance addiction .
Stages of Substance Addiction
There are some stages of substance addiction. Although these stages are not the same for every substance addict, they are very important in terms of understanding substance users and making the right and appropriate interventions. In addition to various psychological stages, there are also some biological stages in people at risk of addiction: The first stage is the period when the person is not afraid of any substance they may use and the idea that they can use this substance develops. Then, the substance is tried for various reasons. After this, the substance is tried again and again for various reasons such as the desire to repeat the emotional fluctuation experienced, or to relieve the mental pain suffered. In these stages, the idea that people can control the substance used is often seen.
After this stage, the substance is used very frequently and begins to bring negativity to the person’s life. When the negativity in the person’s life reaches more serious levels, attempts to quit the substance begin. Although the individual may quit the substance for a while, they then start using it again, thus entering a vicious cycle.
There are many substances with varying levels of addictive potential. Some of these substances are legal, while others are illegal. Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, morphine, LSD, ketamine, phencyclidine, and volatile substances are the main substances that can cause addiction.
Types of Substance Addiction
There are many types of substance addiction, including cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, marijuana/cannabis, hallucinogenic substances, opioid-like substances (morphine), inhaled substances, sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic substances, stimulants (cocaine, amphetamine). Today, it is known that substance abuse has increased especially among adolescents/young people and has decreased to the age of 13.
Causes of Substance Abuse in Adolescence
There are many environmental factors that trigger substance abuse during adolescence. The presence of cigarettes, alcohol, and substance use in the circle of friends makes the adolescent ready to access substances. The popularity of such substances among young people and their becoming a kind of status in the circle of friends reinforces substance use.
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Young people tend to use substances to feel more confident and good, and to seek new excitement. The prefrontal cortex , which continues to develop during adolescence and into the 20s , is the brain region that shapes decision-making in humans . The decision-making skill associated with risk-taking behavior is directly linked to this brain region, which continues to develop during adolescence.
Adolescents think that substances are good for reducing anxiety and becoming more courageous. This temporary feeling of well-being after substance use brings about a search for substances again when the effects of the substance on the body end . The young person who thinks that they need the substance to feel good now enters a vicious cycle and each time the dose required is greater than the previous one.
On the other hand, disadvantaged groups with low socioeconomic status have much easier access to drugs. The sale of drugs around schools or the neighborhood they live in poses another threat to children.
Substance use within the family is another risk factor. Substance use by a parent, physical violence within the family, neglect and/or abuse of children are among the factors that lead to substance use.
Observed Signs of Child Substance Use
It is not functional for families to control their children or set limits on their own. In many cases, it is also necessary to be sensitive to the child’s emotional and behavioral symptoms. Both parents within the family and teachers in the school environment being alert to signs of substance use will help detect many problems before they become bigger.
The mental images of substance use that people have in their minds may not be enough to detect these signs. Not every child will have a needle mark on their arm as evidence of substance use. There are many different types of substance use: substances used by inhalation, injection, or pill. Therefore, it is very critical to be sensitive to different signs: sudden increase in spending, not telling what you do with your money, a noticeable change in your skin odor, a change in your circle of friends, academic decline, noticeable behavioral and emotional changes, and family conflict.
Problems Related to Substance Use in Adolescents
In addition to problems observed at school, many areas of functioning are observed in the adolescent’s life due to substance abuse. Attention and memory problems, risky sexual behavior, loss of interest/desire, risk-taking behavior towards substance seeking, infection, suicide risk and deaths due to overdose are at the top of these problems.
The Treatment Process for Substance Addiction
Treatment of substance addiction is a multi-component process. The intervention in treatment is not limited to hospital and psychotherapy support; it also includes family support and a major change in the young person’s environment.
Behavioral interventions (group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), family-based interventions, medical treatment, and support groups for treatment are among the most commonly used approaches. In cases requiring hospitalization, the simultaneous use of necessary psychotherapy and medical treatment increases functionality. In the rehabilitation process, interventions that will provide self-control, strengthen coping skills, and prevent relapse (substance use again) constitute the most important goal of treatment.
