Adolescence is often the most difficult time in a persons life.

In addition to ones
physical and emotional development, youth are expected to make critical decisions that will
impact them for the rest of their lives. The stress associated with these changes can be
overwhelming. Youth are turning to illegal substances as a means to cope and escape these
pressures more than ever before. While the effects of substance abuse can range from mild to
severe, the risks associated with this abuse is greater than it seems. We must educate not only the
youth, but parents and teachers as well. This is the only way a significant impact can be made.
The summary below provides an extensive look into three key areas in which substance abuse is
effecting youth today. We will separate fact from fiction and help expose the stigmas and myths
that surround this issue. We will explore: (i) brain development; (ii) mental health; and iii)
aboriginal youth.
The adolescent brain is still growing. When substances are introduced at a young age,
abnormalities can develop. The first abnormality that can occur is related to the quality and
amount of white matter found in the brains of adolescent users. White matter acts as a
communicator between different regions of the brain. Having less and lower quality white
matter affects the brains ability to learn and function properly. Another type of abnormality
reduces the volume of the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning,
inhibition and emotional regulation. During adolescent years, the brain goes through a process
called neuromaturation. Neuromaturation increases the brains efficiency and specialization
features. A smaller prefrontal cortex hinders this process and affects a persons ability to
verbalize, as well as their ability to pay attention. Continued abuse causes structural differences
within the hippocampal. The hippocampal is the region of the brain that is responsible for
keeping functioning memory intact. This is a particular problem for adolescents who abuse

alcohol. The difference in volume affects subsequent memory performance. It makes short-term
and long-term memory more difficult to retrieve. Adolescent substance abuse also affects blood
flow to the brain. Studies have shown a significant drop in cerebral blood flow in both heavy
and light drinkers. Blood flow is essential in all regions of the brain. Oxygen cannot be
distributed evenly without it.
Although the majority of mental disorders have always been considered genetic,
adolescents are at greater risk of developing disorders today simply because more triggers exist.
While the overall number of factors is not necessarily the concern, the concentration of these
factors is. Marijuana is considerably more potent now than it was 30 years ago. This increase in
potency has been known to trigger psychotic episodes in youth. Psychoactive drugs can affect a
persons state of mind. With extended use, a person can lose their ability to function. If a youth
turns to drugs and alcohol frequently enough, they run the risk of developing a dependency. The
average age of onset and time in which youths begin to experiment is 15 years old. When
problems of this nature intersect, concurrent disorders emerge. Concurrent disorders are more
difficult to treat because each disorder has different goals and may require separate approaches.
In addition to this, youth are finding new and inventive ways in which they can ridicule and bully
each other. While technology has undoubtedly improved many aspects of modern society, we
have also experienced many setbacks because of it. The Internet is the biggest perpetrator of
this. It provides youth with a false sense of security and anonymity. When you eliminate faceto-face communication between two people, the chances of one of them saying or doing
something harmful to the other individual increases significantly. Recent studies suggest victims
of cyber bullying experience the same aftereffects as someone who has been diagnosed with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Internet has also proven to be a major contributor towards

adolescent anxiety and clinical depression. It is a popular medium in which many youth turn to
in times of need. While it may not be considered as harmful as using drugs or alcohol, it is
another example in which youths are currently medicating themselves. Education and awareness
needs to be created specifically towards helping youth develop effective coping skills. The costs
of treating mental health and substance abuse extend far beyond financial.
Perhaps the most troubled group of adolescents are Aboriginal youth. Canadian
Aboriginal youth rank amongst the highest in the world for drug and alcohol dependency rates,
as well as attempted and completed suicides. Alcohol is no longer considered taboo because it
can be purchased by any one of age. Illicit drugs on the other hand are considered taboo due to
the degree of difficulty in which they are acquired and the legal ramifications that can result if
and when someone is caught with them. Recent studies suggest Aboriginal youth have a higher
prevalence of every other drug except alcohol. These results indicated Aboriginal youth are no
more likely to consume alcohol than any other non-Aboriginal youth. Smoking alone showed
nearly half the prevalence of non-Aboriginal youth. Amongst the Aboriginal population, studies
have shown females to be the most at risk. Regular exposure to second-hand smoke was a major
factor in this. While others admitted to smoking marijuana and other illicit drugs, binge drinking
ranked higher than either of these combined. Clearly the data collected is underestimated, if not
unreliable. Statistics are only as valuable as what people are willing to admit. The one statistic
we are certain of is how many Aboriginal youth die each year from drug and alcohol abuse.
When you add mental health and suicide rates into the mix, it becomes an epidemic. We need to
ask ourselves how is this happening? Who is responsible for this? Too many lives are being lost
for this to be overlooked.

Substance use and abuse in adolescents greatly impacts brain functioning and
development. The patterns of use and abuse play an important role in determining the size of
these impacts. While abnormalities may differ between each type of user, these findings were
similar and consistent enough to more than warrant an adequate amount of concern. Without the
proper supports in place, drugs and alcohol will continue to be a problem for not only the
adolescents of today, but for future adolescents as well.
All youth deserves an equal chance. While this idea may exist in theory, it is nowhere to
be found in reality. Aboriginal youth face more obstacles than any other group their age. If we
are to establish any building blocks towards helping Aboriginal youth, prevention programs need
to accommodate the specific risk factors they face, as well as their individual cultures. Current
cessation policies do more harm than good. Perhaps if they had a more restorative approach,
criminalization and institutionalization would decrease.
As future Child and Youth Workers, it is imperative we are aware of the impacts and
dangers surrounding adolescent substance use and abuse in order to help our clients effectively.
We must educate as many people as possible about the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol with
mental health issues. The social stigma surrounding mental health needs to change. If you or
any family member has experienced problems with mental health, it is imperative you educate
yourself on the potential danger you are putting yourself in each and every time you use. The
statistics surrounding youth with concurrent disorders and depression and self-harm are
staggering. We must teach our youth how to care for themselves, as well as their peers. Without
recognizing the necessary signs and symptoms, treatment might not be an option. We are allies.
This is a fight no one can win on their own. If we do not work together, nothing will change.

Bibliography

Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F. (2009). The Influence of Substance Use on
Adolescent Brain Development. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience: Official Journal of the EEG
and Clinical Neuroscience Society (ENCS), 40(1), 3138.

When Mental Health and Substance Abuse Problems Collide. (2013). Retrieved February 22,
2015, from http://www.ccsa.ca

Elton-Marshall, T., Leatherdale, S., & Burkhalter, R. (2011, May 9). Tobacco, alcohol and illicit
drug use among Aboriginal youth living off-reserve: Results from the Youth Smoking Survey.
Retrieved February 28, 2015, from http://www.cmaj.ca/