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Outline
Thesis Statement: With the increasing number of adolescents using drugs or alcohol, there needs
to be more attention given to this rapidly intensifying issue.

I.
II.
III.
IV.
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VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.

Introduction
Underlying Causes
A. Family, media, friend group/peer pressure
Why Adolescents Cannot Quit on Their Own
A. How substances change the brain
B. Understanding the teenage brain
How Many Teenagers Are Actually Using Substances
A. Adolescent dependency on drugs
Why Adolescents May Not Seek Treatment
A. Family issues, lack of support, denying their addiction
The Possible Outcome of Not Getting Help
A. Overdose and death
Treatment Options for Adolescents
Why Is Medication Treatment Not Available for Adolescents?
Conclusion

Ryley Hess
Davey Mills
English IV Honors
18 November 2016
The Youth Left Behind: Teenagers Who Need Help
Remember your teenage years? Years filled with questions, doubt, and situations that
some wish they could take back. Some people may argue that those years were the best years of
their lives, however others make decisions that impact their future forever. A teenager wakes up

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every day with the insecure thoughts of fitting in. Peer pressure, among other things, lead teens
to make poor decisions for the sake of fitting in somewhere. Decisions like drug and alcohol
abuse.
Today's youth is struggling with substance abuse now more than ever before. Recent
studies have shown that daily cigarette use was lower than daily marijuana use among high
school seniors (Substance Abuse and Addiction). With testimonials from many people than
marijuana is a gateway drug to more illicit and dangerous drugs, that number proves to be
terrifying. Teenagers typically start using marijuana to begin with and move towards more
harmful choices that can truly have a negative impact on their lives.
Thanks to recent studies that have shed light on the alarmingly increasing abuse of drugs
and alcohol, it is so important that we do not turn away from those who need help. Better
treatment options for teens is something that needs to be looked at with importance. Drug rehab
facilities in North Carolina, among the rest of the United States, are few and far between. As a
result, teenagers who require help are often times sent to facilities more commonly designed for
those who suffer with a mental illness. These facilities are simply not the answer. Where are the
specialized hospitals focused on providing teenagers with the help they need? More money
should be advocated to help youth who struggle with substance abuse. Simply put, there need to
be more treatment options available for youth with substance abuse issues.
Stories of youth abusing drugs, and sadly similar stories that extend throughout their
lifetime, are prevalent across the nation. College students with futures ahead of them overdosing
and losing their lives. High school students throwing away full ride scholarships by making poor
decisions with drugs and alcohol. Drugs impact everyone, not just the user. Not only is it the
teens health, reputation, and future on the line, it is also that of their loved ones. Drugs and

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alcohol changes lives. Something must be done to aid in the treatment of these teens struggling
with the vice grip of substance abuse.
The first thing to understand about teenagers who use drugs is why they do it. According
to drugfree.org, there are 8 main factors for why teenagers decide to use drugs. These factors
include other people, the media, an escape of reality, boredom, rebellion, instant gratification,
lack of confidence and misinformation about the substance. Teenagers are easily swayed. They
see people on television that they admire and want to be like that person using drugs and alcohol.
They see them doing it and wonder why they cannot do it themselves. Not only are teenagers
easily swayed by role models and what they seen on TV, but they also have high expectations of
fitting in. They may have someone in their peer group that drinks or uses drugs. In an attempt to
fit in, even though some may know it is not a good choice, they do it anyway. Some teenagers
lack the confidence to stand up and say no to their friends. Some may be misinformed by their
peers of the effects that drugs and alcohol have on their bodies and their future. Some teens may
simply be bored or have no one around them to warn them about the side effects, both physical
and social, that drugs have on them. Once they get started, no matter the reason, it is very hard
for teenagers to stop. Some may choose not to stop, but others cannot stop once it is beyond
their control. Some people say why not just quit? Why can teens not stop using drugs on their
own? It all starts with the brain.
Most every drug releases dopamine in the brain. This gives off the feeling of pleasure and
reward. This makes willpower and the desire to stop using drugs almost useless. The use of drugs
compromises the parts of the brain which allow you to say no to certain things (How Drug Use
Can Progress to Addiction). Drugs release much more dopamine than normal, making it
extremely hard to stop using. An immature brain already struggles with balancing self control

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and impulse, therefore adding substances to this equation will more than likely lead to repetitive
drug use. Each time one uses a drug, neurons in the brain links pleasure to drug use, making the
urge to do them much stronger (How Drugs Can Progress to Addiction). People choose to try
substances for many different reasons, but once it reacts with the brain it often times cannot be
controlled. Treatment and medical help then become necessary to the user.
Teens already struggle with critical thinking skills. Adding in drugs that break down that
ability is a recipe for disaster. It is a tough decision for teens to make the change to stop using
drugs and alcohol because of many issues, especially peer pressure. However, if they want to
quit, many do not know how. This is why teens must have more access to information. Not many
teens are going to go to their parents about seeking help. Yet another reason why some of these
teens feel forgotten about.
To begin providing someone with the help they need, you must place yourself in the
shoes of that person. Think about what is being done. The causes of their actions. Getting to
know the signs of substance abuse. Most teenagers will try some form of substance at least once.
By the time adolescents reach their senior year, 70 percent have tried alcohol, more than 50
percent have taken an illegal drug, and more than 20 percent have taken a prescription drug for
nonmedical use (Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment). According to
the TEDS Report, adolescents ages 15 to 17 most frequently reported marijuana (71.9 percent)
or alcohol (17.7 percent) as their primary substance of abuse. 57.8 percent reported more than
one substance of abuse. So what exactly is substance abuse?
You may think using and abusing are two of the same, but others can control their urge to
use substances or drink alcohol more than others can. When one cannot control that urge or their
cravings for a substance or alcohol, then it becomes substance abuse (What is Teen Substance

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Abuse). Many teens use substances because they wish to fit in, it makes them feel grown up, or
because they like the euphoric feeling it gives them. They feel the high, and continue to chase it
once they come down. Adolescents are biologically wired to seek new experiences and take
risks (Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment). Substances seem like
something new; something exciting. Teenagers are impulsive and overly ready to fit in and try
new things, sadly without thinking of the possible addiction that could come from doing them
(Why Do Teens Use Drugs and Alcohol). Substances have a stronger effect on adolescents
because they are still developing and growing. A teenage brain is more susceptible to addiction
than that of an adult (Treating Teens for Addiction).
In 2014, about 2.7 percent of teenagers were dependant on alcohol and approximately 3.7
percent were dependant on a drug or substance (Treating Teens for Addiction). When a
teenager comes to the realization that they have a problem with substances and or alcohol, most
do not know where to turn to seek the treatment they need. In 2012, only 10 percent of teens
dealing with drug or alcohol abuse sought treatment (Treating Teens for Addiction). Far too
many adolescents are keeping quiet about their addiction and sweeping it under the rug. One
reason why teenagers may not know where to turn is because they have nowhere to turn. A
teeangers family and their home life contributes greatly to whether or not they will choose to use
substances. Violence, physical and or emotional abuse, mental illness or drug use in the
household increase the likelihood that an adolescent will use drugs or drink alcohol (Principles
of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment). If a teenager has an abusive homelife, they
are less likely to seek help. The lack of support they feel contributes to it as well. On the other
hand, some adolescents may be in denial. To accept help, one must first accept the fact that they
do have a problem and they cannot do it alone. The support of family and friends could make the

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difference between getting clean or continuing to use substances. The dangers of keeping quiet
about addiction is truly a danger.
If one does not seek treatment, they could continue down a path of addiction well into
their adult lives. Some may receive treatment as an adult. Unfortunately for some, help was too
late. Drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed among teens and young adults in the United States,
with rates tripling or quadrupling in one out of every three states (Thompson).
Overdosing is quickly becoming an epidemic. Teenagers losing their lives to substances
before they are even given a chance. Across the United States, the drug overdose death rate has
more than doubled during the past decade among people ages 12 to 25 It has increased from 3.1
deaths per 100,000 in 1999-2001 to 7.3 deaths in 2011-2013 (Drug Overdose Rates Soaring
Among U.S. Youth). In North Carolina alone, the overdose death rate in youth ages 12-25 has
doubled in a little over a decade (Lindeman).
With numbers as high as the ones we are seeing today, addiction has to be addressed head
on. It is so crucial that addiction is treated before it takes the life of the addict. Maybe death will
not be their ultimate outcome. But what about quality of life? Addiction is a disease: not the poor
man's disease nor the rich mans. We are all human, and we all deserve a life. Teenagers have
decades ahead of them. A full life. At a time in their lives where they have very few
responsibilities, it can be very overwhelming for an adolescent to take charge of their problem
and know how to deal with it. They need help.
The treatment process is difficult. There are many steps that go into the overall process. It
takes quite a lot of patience and willpower. Sometimes when willpower is not enough, medical,
emotional, psychological, and behavioral attention is something that must take place in order for
one to get clean. Most treatments extend throughout a 12-16 week time period, but some

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adolescents may require more time (Evidence-Based Approaches to Treating Adolescent

Substance Use Disorders).
A behavioral approach to treating addiction is important. This helps the adolescent
actively engage in the process, as well as the family members. Therapists give the adolescent
incentives to remain abstinent and adjust the attitude and behavior associated with drug abuse.
Stress or traumatic life events may cause a relapse, so working on strengthening life skills is a
key step. Therapists also work with the families to help improve their communication skills and
their approach with the adolescent (Behavioral Approaches).
Teenagers can also become a part of group therapy. They will talk with other adolescents
who struggle with addiction. This gives all of the teens involved a sense of support from their
peers as well as taking comfort in relating with them. Group therapy also has a downside. The
teens involved in the group program may discuss things that would direct them towards relapsing
(Group Therapy for Adolescents).
Another method of treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy. The ideal is that learning
plays a critical role in the healing process. This type of therapy teaches participants how to
anticipate issues and cope with problems. They learn to recognize negative thinking patterns and
triggers that could cause them to relapse (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
Reinforcement has been found to help with treatment. Some sort of an incentive for
positive behaviors and progression, like prizes or cash vouchers. In return, the adolescent must
participate in the treatment and remain clean (Contingency Management).
The most common form of treatment among drug users regardless of age is the 12 step
facilitation therapy. This provides therapy that increases the likelihood that an addict will attend a
12 step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Programs

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like these stress the idea that their actions and addiction has become out of control and they need
help (Twelve Step Facilitation Therapy).
There are many forms of therapy to help with the treatment process. Another form of
treatment is medication. These medications include Methadone and Naltrexone for treatment of
opioid addiction and Campral for alcohol addiction, among many other medications. These
medications have not been approved by the FDA to treat adolescents. This is because of the lack
of evidence as to the possible damage that could be done to adolescents. The only evidence that
does exist concerning the impact of these medications on teenagers is preliminary evidence.
There are currently no medications approved by the FDA to treat addiction to cannabis, cocaine,
or methamphetamine in any age group (Addiction Medications).
With no treatment medication available for adolescents, teenagers have to depend entirely
on therapy and treatment programs. Compared to adult treatment centers, there are very few
centers designed specifically for adolescents. Regardless of age, there needs to be a treatment
plan designed for every individual. There needs to be more research about the impact the
medication will have on the adolescent brain and body.
When you hear addiction, what do you think of? Most people would say drug addicts are
bad people with no morals. The truth is, they are sons and daughters. Fathers and mothers.
Brothers and sisters. Drugs know no limits. They do not discriminate. People who struggle with
drug addiction are suffering from a disease. One of the mind and the body. Drug addiction should
not be overlooked, it should be tackled head on. Too many lives have been taken because of
substance abuse. Good people who fell down the wrong path, not knowing where to turn around.
Everyone can relate to substance abuse. It could be your family member, your friend. The future
of the world is in the hands of todays youth. Sadly, adolescents are becoming addicted to drugs

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and alcohol, some of which do not win that battle with themselves. Adolescents desperately need
more treatment options.

Works Cited
"High School and Youth Trends." DrugFacts: High School and Youth Trends | National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
"Infographics." NIDA for Teens. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016
"Introduction." Introduction | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016

/"Marijuana Abuse Increased Among Teens in 2014."Drug Rehab. N.p., 07 June 2016.
Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
"What to Do If Your Teen or Young Adult Has a Problem with Drugs." National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 Nov. 2016
"Prevention." Prevention | Youth.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016
"Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Trearment." N.p., n.d. Web.
Thompson, Dennis. "Drug Overdose Rates Soaring Among U.S. Youth." Consumer HealthDay.
N.p., 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2016