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Teenage Addiction: Drug Abuse, Alcohol, & Nicotine

Published: November 6, 2020
Published: 11/06/2020
Headshot of Mary Swims, LCSW
Written by:

Mary Swims

LCSW
Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Reviewed by:

Dena Westphalen

PharmD
  • What Makes Teenagers Vulnerable to Addiction?Vulnerability
  • Teenage Substance Abuse: Common Types of Physical AddictionsTypes
  • Symptoms of AddictionSymptoms
  • Causes of Teenage AddictionCauses
  • Treatment for Teens Dealing With Addiction Treatment
  • Getting Help for Your TeenGetting Help
  • How to Support Yourself While Helping Your TeenSupport Yourself
  • Additional ResourcesResources
Headshot of Mary Swims, LCSW
Written by:

Mary Swims

LCSW
Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Reviewed by:

Dena Westphalen

PharmD

Addiction is a disease of the brain that impairs cognition and behavior and the inability to quit using the substance despite the resulting negative consequences.1 Without receiving the substance, the body feels a craving for the substance, causing a dependency—a physiological tolerance to a substance. Once a dependency is developed, consequences may arise.

Mental health help for substance use disorder 

Get help from a real doctor that takes insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and supportive therapy in online visits with expert psychiatrists. Talkiatry believes that treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that commonly lead to or coexist with substance use disorders are a critical part of treating SUD. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment in days. Free assessment.

Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by Talkiatry.

Free Assessment

What Makes Teenagers Vulnerable to Addiction?

In 2020, drugabusestatistics.org reported that 50% of teenagers will have used drugs by the time they graduate from high school.2 Teenagers are especially vulnerable to addiction because this is a time when friends become the focus and risky behavior starts to occur. As they are focused on gaining independence from their parents, peer influence can trump concerns from parents.

Teenagers’ brains are also still developing. The prefrontal cortex, associated with decision making and judgment, does not finish developing until someone is 24-26.3 As a result, there is a much higher chance of teens experimenting with drugs and engaging in other harmful or risky activities.3

Teenage Substance Abuse: Common Types of Physical Addictions

The most commonly used substances by teenagers are those that are most easily accessible: Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are the top three on the leader board.4 One study shows that teens who use drugs before the age of 13 have a 70% higher chance of developing an addiction. That rate decreases to 27% if a person uses after the age of 17.4

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely-used substance by teens. Every year, 11% of the total amount of alcohol drank in the US will be by teens binge drinking.2 Binge drinking is defined as consuming 5-6 drinks within 2 hours.5 The major effects that alcohol has on the adolescent brain is in memory and learning.3 Also, alcohol is one of the three leading causes of deaths among teens.2

Marijuana

Marijuana is the second most commonly used substance by teens. A total of 36% of high schoolers use marijuana every year.2 Since the introduction of vaping, using THC has become increasingly popular and easier for teens to hide. The term “dabs” typically refers to the highly concentrated THC that is used in a vaping device and includes other harmful chemicals.  As of February 2020, 2,807 teens and young adults have died as a result of using dabs contaminated with Vitamin E acetate.9

Marijuana can have a significant impact on the livelihood of teens. Those who begin using at a young age have a higher chance of developing mental health issues later in life.1 Despite popular belief, THC is an addictive drug in that it can cause a dependency on the substance, making the individual feel it is necessary to use in order to achieve a specific feeling.

Nicotine 

The rate of nicotine use in teens was rapidly declining until the introduction of electronic cigarettes or “vapes.” Out of every 5 students, 2 are regularly using these devices to ingest nicotine.6 Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that interferes with brain development, especially in regards to attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.7

Vaping devices contain toxic substances such as ultra fine particles, diacetyl, volatile organic compounds, cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals.7 Compared to cigarettes, vapes present less exposure to harmful chemicals but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. Plus, most teens who use electronic devices also use cigarettes at some point or end up becoming a regular user.7

Symptoms of Addiction

Being addicted to a substance can feel like many things. For example, being addicted to marijuana can cause a person to feel quite uncomfortable if not used. This can cause anxiety, depression, inability to sleep, loss of appetite, loss of motivation, fatigue, to name a few. If regular use occurs, a tolerance is built up, meaning that one needs to use more of the substance to achieve a particular result.

Addiction to alcohol is also based on tolerance. If one regularly uses alcohol, they will need to increase the amount they use in order to feel the desired effects. Then after a dependency is developed and one goes without alcohol, a person may feel shaky, irritable, restless, anxious, nauseous, tired, foggy, and lack appetite.

Nicotine addiction does not have as many severe symptoms or consequences as other substances, but it is the most addictive by far because of the short-acting effects on the brain. When nicotine is ingested, whether orally or through inhalation, nicotine quickly reaches the brain releasing a surge of the drug’s pleasurable effects and enhancing cognition. This feeling goes away within seconds, causing the user to ingest often in order to maintain the feeling.2 This is the process of withdrawal.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal is the physiological state the body goes through when the substance begins the process of leaving the body. All substances have a withdrawal period, just like medications.  Some withdrawals are harder than others, such as heroin, that can be so painful it makes it hard for people to stop. Overall, all substances have the potential to create a dependency, and in order to avoid the unwanted effects of withdrawal symptoms, one must continue using.

Causes of Teenage Addiction

The causes of teenage addiction can be derived from many factors. For each individual, it could be a combination of factors, but the primary reason is because addiction is a brain disease.8 Addiction used to be viewed as a moral failing or weakness, but modern science today classifies addiction as a disease of the brain with underlying neurobiological adaptation that reduces one’s ability to change behavior.

Deciding to use a substance is voluntary in most cases, but over time with consistent use, “the choice” to use becomes irrelevant and can then become “the only choice.” Drugs can become a way to seek relief for different reasons. Once drug use becomes a way to cope with life stressors, that reinforces the behavior.

Addiction & Brain Chemistry

Neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate are the primary chemicals responsible for the disease of addiction. When a substance enters the body, a rush of chemicals are released in the midbrain, the part of the brain responsible for reward and motivation. The amount of chemicals released is far greater than what would normally be released when doing other pleasurable activities, such as eating. This is why the reinforcement to use is so high.

A person begins to crave the feelings it produces and this creates a vicious cycle wherein use becomes more frequent in efforts to achieve the same feeling. A tolerance will slowly build, causing one to use more and more. The reward center in the brain is then hijacked by the substance.

Environmental & Genetic Factors

Other factors that contribute to teenage addiction are the environment and genetics. If a child is exposed to tough circumstances and never appropriately addressed, seeking temporary relief in drugs can easily become an easy escape. Childhood trauma can result in developmental damage and difficulty regulating emotions. Drugs provide instant temporary relief and outweigh the consequences of drug use.

Social situations in teenage years are when most people are exposed to drugs of some kind. Peer influence can be a major factor in why a teen decides to try drugs. The most common age for a teen with addiction starts using is 13 years old. The younger a person starts to use, the greater the chances of them developing an issue becomes.

Genetics can also predispose one’s chances of developing addiction. If parents or grandparents have experienced addiction, there is a 50% chance the child will develop one.8 If the gene is activated either by use or adverse experiences, the person has a greater chance of developing an issue.

Treatment for Teens Dealing With Addiction 

Addressing substance use in teens is crucial for their development and safety. If drug use occurs, a parent should have their child evaluated by a professional as the first step. The earlier the intervention takes place, the better. Setting strict conditions for continued use and gaining help from a professional with experience working with teen addiction are primary.

More than likely, these conditions will deter continued use. Sometimes, however, it can be more complicated than that, especially if any of the aforementioned conditions are involved.  If the substance use has progressed to a certain point, the professional who evaluated the teen will give a recommendation for treatment.

Treatment has different levels of intensity. The lowest-intensity type of treatment is individual counseling or a small therapy group that usually takes place 1-2 times a week. Above that would be what is referred to as an intensive outpatient program. This is group therapy that would take place several times a week for multiple hours. This level is often used when a teen needs more structure and support.  Beyond that would be residential treatment, which is the most intensive and structured form of treatment. This is when the addiction has progressed to the point that the only way to control use is to be removed from the current environment for a certain period of time until stabilized.

Help For Addiction

Ria Health: Effective, Evidence-Based Alcohol Treatment 100% Online Quickly change your relationship to alcohol with our at-home program. On average, Ria Health members reduce their BAC levels by 50% in 3 months in the program. Services are covered by many major health plans. Visit Ria Health


Mental health help for substance use disorder  Get help from a real doctor that takes insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and supportive therapy in online visits with expert psychiatrists. Talkiatry believes that treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that commonly lead to or coexist with substance use disorders are a critical part of treating SUD. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment in days. Free assessment.


Want to drink less? – Sunnyside helps you ease into mindful drinking at your own pace. Think lifestyle change, not a fad diet. Develop new daily routines, so you maintain your new habits for life. Take a 3 Minute Quiz.


Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Ria Health, Talkiatry,  and Sunnyside.

Getting Help for Your Teen

Learning how to help an alcoholic or an addict can be overwhelming if you have just discovered that it is your child that is using substances. In a time of what feels like a crisis, it can be difficult to know what is the first step to take. One suggestion would be to take the teen to a pediatrician—they would be able to refer you to someone in the local area with education and experience in addiction.

If this is not an option, find a local therapist with a background in addiction who has the ability to evaluate the teen for the appropriate level of care. A google search or browsing a directory could provide a list of results in your area after filtering for the criteria that include “addiction” and “adolescence.” If your teen has experienced issues with the justice system due to their addiction, it may be helpful to search for a therapist specializing in multisystemic therapy, an intense form of treatment geared towards youth.

After you find the correct person to do an evaluation or assessment on your teen, this person should also be able to provide you with resources in your local area that will compliment the treatment the teen will be receiving.

How to Support Yourself While Helping Your Teen

Make sure to inquire, as a caretaker, about resources that you can access for support as well. This may be things like Al-anon or Nar-Anon, support groups for families of people experiencing addiction.  There may be other types of support groups depending on where you live.

It is so important to get support from others experiencing the same thing because knowing you are not alone and finding out how others made it through the difficult times can be so helpful. Education is the best way to understand addiction. It is a complicated disease that brings up a lot of feelings. By having a greater understanding of how addiction affects people and learning how to react and take care of yourself, will make the experience much easier to handle.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Alcohol Treatment – Cut Back or Quit Entirely

Ria Health – Quickly change your relationship to alcohol with our at-home program. On average, members reduce their BAC levels by 50% in 3 months in the program. Services are covered by many major health plans. Visit Ria Health

Mental health help for substance use disorder 

Get help from a real doctor that takes insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and supportive therapy in online visits with expert psychiatrists. Talkiatry believes that treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that commonly lead to or coexist with substance use disorders are a critical part of treating SUD. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment in days. Free assessment.

Drinking Moderation

Sunnyside – Want to drink less? Sunnyside helps you ease into mindful drinking at your own pace. Think lifestyle change, not a fad diet. Develop new daily routines, so you maintain your new habits for life. Take a 3 Minute Quiz.

Opioid Use Treatment

Bicycle Health – Offers medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone to help patients stop their opioid use. No office visits required. 95% of patients report no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days. See the doctor online. Most insurance is accepted. Visit Bicycle Health

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Ria Health, Talkiatry, Sunnyside, and Bicycle Health.

17 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Drug addiction (substance use disorder). (2017, October 26). Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112

  •  Teenage Drug Use Statistics [2020]: Data & Trends on Abuse. (2020, January 22). Retrieved October from: https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/

  • NIAAA Publications. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh284/213-221.htm

  • Johnston, L., Bachman, J., Schulenberg, J., & Miech, R. (1970, January 01). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975-2014: Overview, key findings on adolescent drug use. Retrieved from: https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/137913h

  • Binge Drinking is a serious but preventable problem of excessive alcohol use. (2019, December 30). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm

  • NIDA. 2020, April 13. Is nicotine addictive? Retrieved from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes/nicotine-addictive

  • Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults. (2020, September 29). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

  • What Causes Addiction? The Science of Drug & Alcohol Addictions. (2020, September 14). Retrieved from: https://drugabuse.com/causes-of-addiction/

  • Center for Disease Control & Prevention. Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products. (February 25, 2020). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

  • Addiction Treatment Models. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/treatment/models

  • Early Warning Signs of Teen Substance Use. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/warning-signs-teen-substance-use

  • Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council (US) Committee on the Science of Adolescence. (1970, January 01). Biobehavioral Processes. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53414/

  • NIDA. 2020, August 3. Anyone Can Become Addicted to Drugs. Retrieved from: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/anyone-can-become-addicted-drugs

  • NIDA. 2020, September 9. Brain and Addiction. Retrieved from: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction

  • NIDA. 2020, October 9. Tobacco, Nicotine, & Vaping (E-Cigarettes). Retrieved from: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco-nicotine-vaping-e-cigarettes

  • Substance use screening and intervention implementation guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/substance_use_screening_implementation.pdf

  • Teen Substance Use & Risks. (2020, February 10). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/features/teen-substance-use.html

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Headshot of Mary Swims, LCSW
Written by:

Mary Swims

LCSW
Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Reviewed by:

Dena Westphalen

PharmD
  • What Makes Teenagers Vulnerable to Addiction?Vulnerability
  • Teenage Substance Abuse: Common Types of Physical AddictionsTypes
  • Symptoms of AddictionSymptoms
  • Causes of Teenage AddictionCauses
  • Treatment for Teens Dealing With Addiction Treatment
  • Getting Help for Your TeenGetting Help
  • How to Support Yourself While Helping Your TeenSupport Yourself
  • Additional ResourcesResources
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