Addiction doctors agree that substance misuse among teenagers has become an epidemic. According to research, more people become hooked on drugs if they start using them as teenagers than if they start using them later in life. Adolescence is a crucial time for physical and mental growth. However, the brain is still maturing and has some ways to go before it reaches full maturity, particularly in the part of the brain responsible for self-regulation. In addition to stress, peer pressure, and low self-esteem contribute to why so many teenagers use drugs for the first time.
Most Commonly Used Drugs By Teens
As an addiction treatment clinic in White Marsh, we see different substances abused by teenagers in different quantities and having varied impacts. Some of the most popular drugs consumed by them are:
§ Alcohol
Even though it’s illegal to offer alcohol to minors, alcohol is nevertheless widely available. To this day, alcohol remains the substance with the highest incidence of addiction and alcoholism.
§ Marijuana
One possible explanation for marijuana’s popularity among young people is that it is so accessible. The rising use of marijuana among teenagers may be directly attributed to the decriminalization of the drug in certain jurisdictions and the legalization of medicinal marijuana in others. Adolescent use of this substance has serious risks, including the development of psychoses, lung damage, and addiction.
§ Spice (K2)
Spice, often known as K2, is a synthetic cannabinoid that has recently emerged on the illicit drug market. This stuff—dubbed “synthetic marijuana”—is usually not even close to the real thing. While many spice items may claim to be “natural,” chemical studies have shown that most include a designer or synthetic cannabis ingredient. Expert drug detox doctors in White Marsh state that spice is highly addictive and linked to mental disorientation, anxiety, hallucinations, hypertension, nausea, and even cardiac arrest in certain users.
§ Prescription Drugs
Teenagers and young adults are disproportionately affected by the rising prevalence of prescription drug usage. Given the prevalence with which doctors prescribe them, teens may falsely assume that these medicines pose no health risks. Evidently, this is not a complete list of all the trendy drugs. Cocaine (and its derivatives such as crack) and other stimulants, methamphetamines (meth), and heroin, are particularly problematic and widely used by teenagers and young adults.
Having a reason to believe your teen is involved with substance abuse is terrifying. MD M.A.T.T. is staffed by compassionate addiction doctors in White Marsh eager to aid you and your adolescent in the fight against substance abuse. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our highly experienced drug detox doctors in White Marsh.
