Addiction does not discriminate, meaning anyone, regardless of age, can develop a substance abuse problem. While teen drug use and abuse have slowly declined over the past decade, 5% of teens have a substance abuse problem and do not receive treatment. Overall, nearly 40% of teens have experimented with marijuana at least once, while another 30% drink alcohol at least once a month.
Social media, teens, and substance abuse can create a perfect storm, as social media is commonly used by teens to arrange parties or to plan ways to obtain tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other substances. Drug dealers also utilize social media platforms, like Instagram and Facebook, to connect with clients. This can make it easier for teens to find ways to buy drugs and alcohol.
Social Media, Teens, and Substance Abuse
About 75% of teens use social media, which makes social networking an integral part of teen life. Social media, teens, and substance abuse are connected in several ways. Social media is used to organize parties, especially among teens. Messaging functions on websites like Facebook and Instagram also create a way for teens to arrange drug deals or to plan on how to procure alcohol and other substances. Social media, teens, and substance abuse can create a potentially dangerous combination, as social media use can sometimes be difficult for parents to monitor.
Since it takes until your late 20s for your brain to fully develop, teens are more prone to making risky or irrational decisions than adults, meaning teens are more likely to cave to peer pressure. Additionally, since teenage brains are still maturing, drugs and alcohol can create major disturbances to brain chemistry in teens.
Social pressure and immaturity can make teens more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, especially if they are friends use or abuse substances.
How Addiction is Treated in Teens
During addiction, drugs, and alcohol cause changes and alterations to your pleasure and reward center and create significant neurotransmitter imbalances. Your brain associates your substance of choice with pleasure, as well as everything that reminds you of your substance of choice. This causes intense cravings when you are exposed to triggers, which can be people, places, or things.
Treatment is typically necessary to recover from a substance abuse disorder because it takes time for your brain to relearn how to properly release neurotransmitters. Physical addictions also cause your body to rely on your substance of choice. This results in withdrawal symptoms when you stop using.
Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers can offer:
- Individual therapy program
- Group therapy program
- Family counseling
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Medication-assisted therapy
- Medically supervised detox services
- Aftercare and discharge planning
Starting Treatment Today
Social media, teens, and substance abuse disorders can create a toxic combination. Addiction can be beaten, no matter how long your teen has been struggling. If your teen is struggling with an addiction, early treatment is essential to recovery. Contact us today at 855.786.1978 to learn more about our teen substance abuse treatment programs. Get help for your loved one today.
Licensed Physician and Surgeon
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, and is the medical director at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at both campuses. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.