Effect of alcohol: Alcohol has an impact on the dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, glutamate, and GABA neurotransmitters. Genetics influence people’s tendency toward alcohol dependency. Effect of Barbiturates: cause relaxation, some euphoria, and diminished attention. 14. Stimulant: increase behavioral and mental activity.
praise or increased status within group. Another risk factor that could lead to the development of an addictive behaviour is stress. Stress is positively correlated with increased vulnerability to addiction, this is because many people seek an addiction in order to relieve stress, some more prone than others. Those who become addicted to smoking for example, use the cigarettes as a way to continuously reduce stress (coping method). However stress levels may also increase due to the addiction itself, e.g.
The social dynamics of school, puberty, life at home, and many other factors affect the psyche of teens during this time in their life both positively and negatively. Some of these transitions cause emotional instability in the lives of adolescents, spiraling some into depression. When dealing with major depression, antidepressants are often used to help the adolescent cope by creating a feeling of balance. There is debate on adolescents using antidepressants. Stephen Barlas reports in Psychiatric Times that antidepressants are found to cause “possible suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as side effects” (2006).
This increases the heart rate of the individual, which leads to the release of dopamine, associated with pleasure. Acetylcholine receptors in the brain adapt to what they regard as normal levels of the hormones released, making smoking a necessity to maintain the new ‘normal’ level of pleasure. This is why smoking becomes a ‘necessary’ habit to maintain, as stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritable behaviour, sadness, anger, stress, fidgeting and depression. Smoking is considered as ‘addictive’
During adolescence, one’s brain goes through major changes that include physiological, psychological, and social changes (Crego 2). This is one reason the drinking age should be raised. The raise in the drinking age would help prevent problems and set-backs to the student during the sensitive time of adolescence. Functions such as attention, working memory, planning, problem solving, and inhibitory control are developing during adolescence and can be harmed if students drink (Crego 2). According to Crego, “Given the extent of brain maturation occurring during this phase in life, adolescents who use substances appear to be vulnerable to alterations in brain functioning, cognition and behavior, and alcohol use may
Keywords: Adolescence –Substance abuse-Family-Peers-School. Drugs, is any chemical substance or natural origin that changes in the way humans perceive their environment. They are divided into broad categories, depending on their action in the Central Nervous System: The sedatives, stimulants and hallucinogens. Many drugs, however, are used occasionally for therapeutic purposes. We will be concerned with what nowadays is often abused.
This sends a conflicting message to the young person, that drinking is permissible at an earlier age than 21. Scientists conclude that early drinking by adolescents increases the lifetime likelihood of alcohol dependence, and that overall drinking levels in a society are directly linked to drinking problems (NIAA p. 2). The peers of an individual can also have a strong influence upon drinking habits. A person is likely to behave according to their friends’ standards in order fit in and be accepted. If peers encourage others to drink alcohol underage, often teens will drink to feel more accepted by their peers.
Alcohol: Underage drinking in the United States is widespread problem. Alcohol is ranked the highest for most abused substance within the United States, posing many problems for the youth. Some of the reasons one under 21 might drink is due to peer pressure, increased independence, or stress. The numbers can be alarming as by age 15, already a third of teens have had a drink, and then by 18, 60 percent of teens have had a drink. What is more frightening is 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United State is by 12 to 20-year olds; most of the time these people can get a hold of alcohol for free.
Another health concern is the effect that drinking has on the brain, which is still developing in all teenagers. Select Federal agencies quoted that “The brains and bodies of teens are still developing, and alcohol use can cause learning problems.” In addition, the drinking age should not be lowered because the argument among the youth won’t stop. Let’s assume that the drinking age is lowered from 18 to 16. Finally, 16 year olds will be satisfied and will pick up drinking heartily.
Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are factors that some youthful and vulnerable teenagers have to deal with in their adolescent lives. One of the significant reasons of teenage drug use is peer pressure, particularly from the social influences among friends, acquaintances, school, and the community. Depending on the person’s experiences and choices, circumstances and consequences may vary. If a teenager’s social main group is using drugs, then there may be a strong pressure due to the fact that drugs are present and can easily be offered. Also, the person might get convinced to think that there is nothing wrong with trying drugs because “everybody else is doing it.” In the effect that teenagers will try drugs just to fit in the social norms, they might do it to impress their buddies to be considered "cool" as part of being in the group and gain acceptance by friends.