Relation Between Unknown Adolescents’ Mental Health And Drug

12relation Between Unknown Adolescents Mental Health And Drug Usedunia

Enter the Abstract section. Keywords : enter five keywords Relation Between Unknown Adolescents Mental Health and Drug Use Could there be a relation between the undiagnosed mental health of adolescents and the drug use? In recent years there has been a significant increase of drug use in the adolescent population. Youth between ages 12 through 17 have been consuming several illicit substances that can affect the brain, especially during those so important years of cognitive development. Also, there is an increase of adolescents suffering from at least one type of mental health disorder. Not much have been researched or demonstrated to be the real cause of this progressive problem. What can be done to help these adolescents? If the cause for which these teenagers are giving in to the use of these drugs can be found, maybe many of them can be helped, and given the opportunity of a better solution and outcome to their situation. This study aims to find if there is a link between the possible unknown mental health condition and the drug use among these adolescents, and possibly to raise awareness on the increase of a very concerning issue affecting our youth.

Paper For Above instruction

The mental health of adolescents has become a growing concern worldwide, closely intertwined with the rising prevalence of drug use among young people. This complex relationship necessitates a comprehensive understanding of how undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions influence adolescent behavior, particularly regarding substance abuse. The significance of this issue lies in its capacity to impair development, affect academic and social functioning, and increase the risk of long-term health problems.

Introduction

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by significant physiological, psychological, and social changes. During this phase, individuals are especially vulnerable to mental health disorders which, when left undiagnosed, can lead to maladaptive behaviors, including experimentation with drugs and alcohol (Mewton et al., 2019). The surge in drug use among adolescents aged 12-17 has sparked concern among healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers. Studies suggest that mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders are often unrecognized or untreated within this population (Fidalgo et al., 2016). The lack of proper diagnosis and intervention can perpetuate a cycle where mental health problems contribute to drug use, which in turn exacerbates mental health deterioration.

The Relationship Between Mental Health and Drug Use

Multiple studies have indicated a significant correlation between mental health disorders and substance abuse among adolescents. Fidalgo et al. (2016) highlight that approximately 60% of adolescents with substance use issues also exhibit conduct disorder or other psychiatric symptoms. These mental health conditions often serve as underlying causes for experimentation with drugs, as youths seek relief from their emotional distress or attempt to cope with psychological discomfort. Furthermore, Meredith et al. (2018) point out that primary care physicians often detect signs of substance use during routine examinations, yet systematic screening and treatment are lacking. This gap highlights the importance of early detection and intervention to prevent escalation.

Research by Gattamorta et al. (2017) emphasizes that Hispanic adolescents in the USA are particularly vulnerable to these issues due to cultural stressors, such as balancing American and Latin social identities. The stress associated with cultural conflicts can increase susceptibility to mental health disorders and subsequent substance use. Additionally, mental and behavioral disorders tend to foster a pattern where drug use begins at an earlier age and follows a more severe trajectory (Vermeulen-Smit et al., 2015). This underscores the necessity of culturally sensitive prevention strategies and early mental health screening to curb the progression of substance abuse fostered by unrecognized mental health conditions.

Barriers in Detection and Treatment

Despite the clear linkages, detection of mental health disorders in adolescents remains inadequate. Many youths do not get screened for mental health issues or substance use because of stigma, lack of access, or insufficient training among primary care providers (Meredith et al., 2018). Consequently, many adolescents with undiagnosed mental health issues resort to drug use as a form of self-medication or escape from psychological distress. Family-based interventions and school programs have shown promise in mitigating these issues by fostering supportive environments and promoting mental health awareness (Vermeulen-Smit et al., 2015).

Implications for Intervention and Prevention

To address the intertwined issues of mental health and drug use, multi-tiered strategies are essential. Integrating mental health screening into routine adolescent health care can facilitate early diagnosis. Implementing culturally competent and family-centered intervention programs can offer supportive frameworks to prevent substance abuse. School-based programs that focus on resilience, coping skills, and mental health literacy have demonstrated efficacy in reducing drug experimentation and use among adolescents (Odenbring, 2018). Furthermore, training primary care practitioners to recognize early signs of mental health problems and substance use can lead to timely referrals and treatment.

Conclusion

The evidence indicates a significant association between undiagnosed mental health conditions and drug use in adolescents. Addressing this issue requires collaborative efforts among healthcare providers, educators, families, and policy-makers. Early identification and culturally sensitive intervention strategies are critical in breaking the cycle of mental health issues leading to substance abuse. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand causality and develop targeted prevention programs tailored to diverse adolescent populations.

References

• Fidalgo, T. M., Sanchez, Z. M., Caetano, S. C., Maia, L. O., Carlini, E. A., & Martins, S. S. (2016). The association of psychiatric symptomatology with patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among Brazilian high school students. American Journal on Addictions, 25(5), 416–425.
• Gattamorta, K. A., Varela, A., McCabe, B. E., Mena, M. P., & Santisteban, D. A. (2017). Psychiatric Symptoms, Parental Attachment, and Reasons for Use as Correlates of Heavy Substance Use Among Treatment-Seeking Hispanic Adolescents. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(3), 392–400.
• Mewton, L., Champion, K., Kay-Lambkin, F., Sunderland, M., Thornton, L., & Teesson, M. (2019). Lifestyle risk indices in adolescence and their relationships to adolescent disease burden: findings from an Australian national survey. BMC Public Health, 19(1).
• Meredith, L. S., Ewing, B. A., Stein, B. D., Shadel, W. G., Brooks Holliday, S., Parast, L., & D’Amico, E. (2018). Influence of mental health and alcohol or other drug use risk on adolescent reported care received in primary care settings. BMC Family Practice, 19, 1.
• Odenbring, Y. (2018). Mental health, drug use and adolescence: Meeting the needs of vulnerable students in secondary school. The Urban Review, 50(3).
• Vermeulen-Smit, E., Verdurmen, J. E., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2015). The Effectiveness of Family Interventions in Preventing Adolescent Illicit Drug Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 18(3), 218–239.
• Onigu-Otite, E., Patel, B., Ansari, I., Rai, K., Lee, S., & Shah, A. A. (2019). Substance use in adolescents: Diagnostic dilemma with case examples. Psychiatric Annals, 49(6).
• Whitten, T., Burton, M., Tzoumakis, S., & Dean, K. (2019). Parental offending and child physical health, mental health, and drug use outcomes: A systematic literature review. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(5).
• Mishina, K., Tiiri, E., Lempinen, L., Sillanmäki, L., Kim Kronström, & Sourander, A. (2018). Time trends of Finnish adolescents’ mental health and use of alcohol and cigarettes from 1998 to 2014. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(12).
• Riley, S., & Shields, M. (2020). Adolescent mental health and substance use: Impacts and prevention. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 49(2).