In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that the abuse of drugs, especially among the youth of the nation, is responsible for the rising cases of mental health challenges in American families. There is a noticeable connection between drug abuse and mental health. Especially with young adult substance abuse and adolescent mental health issues. In fact, one in every ten young persons in the American suburbs across the nation is abusing substances like codeine, marijuana, cough syrups, painkillers, anti-depressants and other drugs which should not be bought over the counter by any means.
A lot of parents get the incorrect idea that their children are suffering from mental health problem and that those issues are exclusive and unique by themselves. But this is not the case. Their kids are abusing drugs. That’s what’s making them appear to be crazy or at least mentally unstable, not this incorrect concept that they might have some serious mental problem. True, there is a mental concern to some degree, but it wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for the fact that the kid was abusing drugs and alcohol, to begin with. Or, at least it wouldn’t be even close to being on the same level that it is thanks to the individual’s substance abuse problems.
The problem is that when parents begin to notice erratic, mentally odd and strange actions and attitudes in their kids, they will often just assume that it is a mental problem and not a drug-related one, as that eventuality is undoubtedly a lot easier to confront than the alternative. What makes it worse is that nine out of ten times kids, adolescents, young adults, and teens will go along with their parents’ incorrect assumption rather than admit to the fact of having a drug problem.
Drug Abuse and Mental Health Issues on the Rise Among Our Youth
Substance abuse is a very concerning and prevalent issue indeed. It tends to permeate every aspect of American society, and it indeed is more widespread than it ever was before, to say the least. The best way to show these truths is with drug abuse and mental health statistics.
For example:
- Substance abuse now affects the American youth more so than ever before. Americans between the age of sixteen and twenty-five are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than any other age demographic. This demographic is also more likely to suffer adverse consequences from substance abuse too. They are more likely to overdose, to die, to spread it to someone else, to get in an accident, and to commit a crime from it or get it into some other kind of trouble because of it.
- Young adult drug and alcohol abuse made a pretty negative impact on the general youth population of the nation. Studies now show that young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are the most at risk age group for a substance abuse crisis. These individuals not only tend to get addicted more easily than any other, but they also tend to experience disastrous consequences from drug and alcohol abuse too, such asks accidents, injuries, crime, legal issues, and death.
- Among middle and high school students, the rate of those who abused prescription drug within the last month increased from 4.0 percent in 2002 to 8.8 percent in 2012. Furthermore, the rate of non-medical pain reliever use increased during this period from 3.2 to 5.2 percent among youths.
- Substance abuse is getting much worse with the nation’s youth. In fact, substance abuse among kids between the ages of 12 and 18 has skyrocketed. Today, no less than twenty-five percent of kids this age have admitted to trying a drug at least once in their lives, and not less than seventy-five percent admit to having gotten drunk at least once already.
What to Do About the Problem
If a young adult does have a drug or an alcohol addiction, then it is time to consider rehabilitation as a valid and valuable potential recourse for action. With effective rehabilitation, anyone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol can finally address their drug problem on a permanent level. These are by far the most successful and beneficial methods that one can use to help young adults who are struggling with addiction issues. With rehab, an addicted youth can finally find freedom again. It is not the right thing to do just to prescribe them some other drug substance that will not make a big difference.
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