Behaviorally Effects of Substance Addiction
There are varied behavioral effects of substance addiction on adolescents and young adults, for instance, absenteeism school going adolescent and increased school dropout (Brockie et al., 2015) . Also, low level of interest in education and increased truancy rates characterize some of the behaviors. Moreover, school adolescent may engage in irresponsible sexual practices leading to contraction of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Additionally, sexual violence such as rape may be shared among substance addicted youths. Consequently, substance among adolescent youth causes long-term mental health and trauma to the victims.
The effects of substance abuse on the thought process of young adults can be varied. For example, substance addicted youths’ thought process; influence them to shirk from responsibilities and duties (Mojtabai, Olfson, & Han, 2016) . This feature entails engaging in criminal thoughts such as engaging in gang activity, drug trafficking, prostitution, and growing homicidal activities. Moreover, substance abuse results in violent thoughts and thoughts of how to generate income to enable the victims to satisfy their addiction. Accordingly, thought process of drug addicts tosses around violent activities and how to get money to buy drugs and] substances
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Physical Effects
Substances such as alcohol and inhalants pose numerous risks to the physical health of adolescent and young adults. For instance, bodily injury as a result of drunkenness, loss of limb and other body parts (Kwan et al.2014) . Other effects include delayed puberty, broken reproductive system, liver damage and stagnant growth. For instance, substance addiction causes chronic inflammation of the liver. This disorder causes liver cirrhosis and accumulation of toxic substances in the bloodstream. Moreover, substances abuse leads to kidney failure, dehydration, muscle breakdown and high body temperature. Additionally, many substances result in cardiovascular problems such as increased heartbeat rate, heart attack, and high blood pressure. Respiratory systems also suffer damage as a result of inhalants such as tobacco, marijuana and crack cocaine. In summary, these drugs slow a person’s breathing rate and other physical complications such as dryness of skin and stunted growth.
Social Effects
Substance addiction has significant adverse impacts on the social and economic life of young adults and their families. For example, adolescent and young are usually withdrawn and get stigmatized since they are targets of police intervention and school discipline (Brockie et al., 2015) . As a result, they lose interest and withdraw from school and other community activities. Secondly, substance abuse results to a family crisis and interferes with family lives. In particular, youths who engage in substance abuse depletes family financial resources as the burden of treatment and support of addicts is economically expensive. Lastly, friends and peers of addicts typically distance themselves due to feelings of shame, embarrassment, and awkwardness. Therefore, the social and economic effects of substance abuse include loss of friends, depletion of financial resources, withdrawal, and stigmatization.
Further, substance abuse strains social ties. For instance, relationships and family get broken due to problems caused by substance addiction (Mojtabai, Olfson, & Han, 2016) . This scenario establishes a long-lasting negative impact on the adolescent's future relationships and attitudes towards family members. For instance, some may feel more comfortable being alone and secluded; others may develop personality disorders that make them antisocial and have few or no friends in the society. Finally, substance addicted young adults who are employed are likely to lose their jobs due to personality disorganization, antisocial nature, truancy or even their habit to come to work while drunk or late.
Psychologically Effects of Substance Addiction
Substance addiction is mostly correlated with psychological disorders. For instance, depression, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, apathy, withdrawal, and anxiety (Kwan et al.2014) . These problems range from mild to severe with profoundly dangerous effects on the life of the addicted. For example, change in the brain that causes depressive symptoms, anxiety disorders, and paranoia. Also, substance users tend to hide or lie about their condition due to fear of being caught. Conclusively, psychological effects of substance abuse are depression, suicidal thoughts, apathy, withdrawal, and anxiety.
Substance abuse affects adolescent brain development. It brings this complication by altering the neurotransmitters and damaging their coordination with the brain (Brockie et al., 2015) . It also diminishes the brain’s ability to experience pressure and thus causes memory problems. Consequently, it makes a student to miss opportunities during potential learning periods. Additionally, the habits related to the use of the substance are slowly absorbed in the wiring of the brain. When these activities are repeated, they become habit resulting in lifetime behaviors. Therefore, the development of the brain may be impaired by substance abuse among adolescents.
Psychological effects of substance addiction have different symptoms in different individuals. Specifically, methamphetamine destroys brain's dopamine system resulting in difficulty in motor control and hence impairing learning (Mojtabai, Olfson, & Han, 2016) . Other effects include emotional and cognitive issues. Cocaine, for example, may cause violent behavior, panic, anxiety, depression, and detachment from people . Marijuana, on the other hand, affects perception, vision, hearing, coordination, and emotions as well as term memory. Therefore, the psychological symptoms of substance abuse are learning impairment, violent behaviors, panic, and anxiety.
Types of Treatment Options
Individuals struggling with substance addiction can be treated using several treatment options. Firstly, there is inpatient treatment that allows the patient to stay in a full-time treatment facility for a given duration (Kwan et al.2014) . This type of treatment is essential since it provides care for the particular addiction recovery and psychological needs. It also acts as a great way to escape the triggers and temptations and focus specifically on recovery. Therefore, the first option for treating a drug addict is inpatient treatment in a health facility.
The second option is outpatient rehab. In this approach, a patient stays at home but checks in for treatment on a regular basis. It requires maintenance of abstinence and avoidance of triggers (Brockie et al., 2015) . This approach is more suitable for individuals with mild addictions. Thirdly, there is drug and alcohol detoxification. This treatment involves withdrawal safely from substances until it detoxifies from the system. Moreover, therapeutic methods such as such cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement may be applied in some situations. Therefore, treatment options for substance addiction are inpatient treatment, rehabs, and behavioral change.
Finally, there is the use of 12-steps programs. It is considered the best for recovery from substance addiction. The program finds the 12-steps model of recovery (Mojtabai, Olfson, & Han, 2016) . It was invented by the founders of a known rehabilitation center for alcoholics. This treatment is essential because it allows people to realize the steps they should take to their own needs. In a nutshell, the 12 step model entails recovery from substance abuse to give priority to human needs.
References
Brockie, T. N., Dana-Sacco, G., Wallen, G. R., Wilcox, H. C., & Campbell, J. C. (2015). The Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences to PTSD, Depression, Poly ‐ Drug Use and Suicide Attempt in Reservation ‐ Based Native American Adolescents and Young Adults. American journal of community psychology , 55 (3-4), 411-421.
Kwan, M., Bobko, S., Faulkner, G., Donnelly, P., & Cairney, J. (2014). Sports participation and alcohol and illicit drug use in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Addictive Behaviors , 39 (3), 497-506.
Mojtabai, R., Olfson, M., & Han, B. (2016). National trends in the prevalence and treatment of depression in adolescents and young adults. Pediatrics , e20161878.
