It is common for adolescents and young adults to share a misconception regarding substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction – that these substance-related issues and associated health consequences only affect older adults. Oftentimes, even college-aged students dismiss their own potential for addiction, believing that episodes of binge drinking and heavy drinking are “normal” for their age group and that these behaviours will fade out over time. Truth be told, young adults are among the most vulnerable population for developing SUD and addiction for a variety of reasons. Young adults, as well as parents of young adults, must recognise these undeniable risks to keep each other safe and protected from the consequences of substance abuse.
If a loved one finds themself battling addiction or substance abuse, the Perry Clayman Project (PCP) by Rehab Today can provide the support and guidance needed for recovery. Currently, we have several alcohol, drug, and behavioural addiction treatment locations across the UK. Within each facility, we offer a variety of treatment programmes and stages to meet our clients exactly where they are in their journey to recovery. We are especially passionate about helping young adults understand their unique risks of SUD and encouraging them to establish lasting recovery in their lives.
Understanding SUD
Before identifying why young adults experience increased risks of substance use and SUD, it is important to understand what exactly SUD is. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can be moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUD.
Contrary to what some may believe, anyone is at risk of developing SUD. More specifically, anyone who uses alcohol and drugs, to any extent, is especially at risk. This is because, over time, the repeated use of alcohol and drugs significantly alters brain structure and functioning.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that these brain changes can affect and impair the following functions:
- Motivation
- Learning
- Judgement
- Decision-making
- Stress regulation
- Memory
Unfortunately, young adults continue to engage in substance use despite being aware of how repeated use can deeply affect their brains. One reason for this is underdeveloped brain regions and circuits in young adults.
Reasons Why Young Adults Use Drugs
NIDA highlights four main reasons why people use drugs:
1. To feel good
2. To feel better
3. To do better
4. To ease curiosity and social pressures
Let’s address these reasons from the perception of a young adult:
#1. For Pleasure
First and foremost, it is common for young adults to perceive themselves as invincible to chaos and harm. This age group is notorious for the use of the motto “YOLO: You only live once” and often acts out in spite of it. For example, young adults may engage in high-risk behaviours like alcohol and drug use in an attempt to feel newfound feelings of pleasure. While each type of drug differs in the types of effects it produces, nearly all drug use is associated with pleasure, from euphoria or contentment to altered consciousness and increased energy.
#2. For Relief
Next, young adults may use alcohol and other drugs to experience relief. Young adulthood is a time of great change, and with such change often comes great uncertainty and stress. As a result, individuals in this age group may feel compelled to use alcohol and other drugs to cope with their emotions. While substances may seem temporarily relieve an individual’s distress, however, alcohol and drug use mask and worsen underlying mental health problems. Thus, young adults who use substances for relief experience increased risks of chemical dependency and the development of SUD.
#4. For Performance Enhancement
Another reason why young adults may use substances is to perform better at work or school. Stimulant drugs, for example, speed up activity in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to improved energy, concentration, and focus. This helps to shed light on why prescription stimulants are often misused and abused by young adults as well.
#4. For Experimentation
Lastly, young adults may use alcohol and other drugs to ease curiosity and social pressures. They may be encouraged by their peers to experiment with substances to experience their potential effects. A young adult may also be tempted to engage in alcohol use at a party or other gathering if alcohol is present or provided at the function.
The Developmental Vulnerabilities of Young Adults
One of the most prominent factors that increase the risk of SUD in young adults is their developmental vulnerabilities, particularly pertaining to their brains. According to NIMH, the brain continues to develop and mature until an individual reaches their mid-to-late 20s. In other words, the period of adolescence and young adulthood is an incredibly important yet vulnerable time for proper brain development.
An Underdeveloped Prefrontal Cortex
NIMH explains that one of the last parts of the brain to mature is known as the prefrontal cortex. This area is responsible for planning, prioritising, and decision-making. An article in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment emphasises that an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex “explains why some adolescents exhibit behavio[u]ral immaturity:”
The prefrontal cortex offers an individual the capacity to exercise good judgment when presented with difficult life situations. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the frontal lobes lying just behind the forehead, is responsible for cognitive analysis, abstract thought, and the moderation of correct behavio[u]r in social situations.
Young adults are often faced with peer pressure and temptations to experiment with drugs and alcohol from many different angles. Due to an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, however, young adults are unable to think through the potential short- and long-term consequences that substance use can bring to their lives. Therefore, when faced with these pressures, young adults are more likely to follow the status quo.
Another effect of an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex is increased risk-taking behaviour. As the aforementioned article explains, “Risk-taking serves as a means of discovery about oneself, others, and the world at large. The proclivity for risk-taking behavio[u]r plays a significant role in adolescent development, rendering this a period of time for both accomplishing their full potential and vulnerability.” Despite the need for risk-taking during young adulthood, it is common for individuals to take such risks too far. For example, experimenting with alcohol and other drugs puts an individual’s health and well-being at great risk. Yet, as mentioned previously, these risks are often not considered due to cognitive immaturity.
An Underdeveloped Limbic System
Another brain area that is undoubtedly underdeveloped during young adulthood is the limbic system. Composed of the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, the limbic system is responsible for regulating expressions of emotions and motivation necessary for survival.
An underdeveloped limbic system can cause adolescents and young adults to experience intense emotional states that vary quickly. The same article mentioned previously states, “Neuroimaging studies have revealed that when interacting with others and making decisions, adolescents are more likely than adults to be swayed by their emotions. In addition, adolescents often read others’ emotions incorrectly.” These issues in emotional recognition can interfere with a young adult’s ability to properly process and cope with personal emotions. Further, this can influence problematic behaviour, such as using alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate.
An article in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences explains, “In emotionally salient situations, the more mature limbic system will win over the prefrontal control system. In other words, when a poor decision is made in an emotional context, the adolescent may know better, but the salience of the emotional context biases his or her behavio[u]r in opposite direction of the optimal action.” This further explains why young adults experience increased risks of self-medicating with substances in an attempt to treat, resolve, or manage distressing emotions.
The Unique Risk Factors of SUD for Young Adults
In addition to developmental vulnerabilities, there are a host of other risk factors that increase young adults’ risk of SUD and addiction. An article in the Journal of Addiction categorises these risk factors into the following:
Familial Risk Factors
These types of risk factors pertain to specific experiences and circumstances that are perpetrated by family members or otherwise occur within the home environment. Young adults can endure lasting effects of these risk factors even long after they no longer live with their families. Some examples of familial risk factors include:
- Childhood maltreatment, such as child abuse or neglect
- Trauma
- Parental or familial substance abuse
- Low level of parental education
- Parental divorce
- Dysfunctional parent-child relationship
- Low familial socioeconomic status
- Parental attitudes favourable to substance use
- Emotional abuse
- Family rejection of sexual orientation or gender
- Poor parental monitoring during childhood
Social Risk Factors
These types of risk factors pertain to an individual’s unique social circle. Peer groups and social relationships often play a large role in young adults’ motivation to use alcohol and other drugs. Becoming familiar with the following factors can encourage young adults to embrace supportive social circles free from substance use.
Some examples of social risk factors include:
- Deviant peer relationships
- Bullying or peer rejection
- Peer pressure
Individual Risk Factors
These types of risk factors pertain to internal factors that contribute to an individual’s risk of SUD. NIDA explains that family studies “suggest that as much as half of a person’s risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs depends on his or her genetic makeup.” For example, those with parents or other direct relatives with SUD are biologically vulnerable to developing SUD during their lifetime.
It is also important to understand that individuals with SUD are more likely to develop a co-occurring mental health disorder and vice versa. In this way, a young adult with a mental health disorder experiences increased risks of developing SUD. Similarly, having a parent or relative with a mental health disorder can also increase a young adult’s risk of developing either SUD or mental health disorder at some point in their life.
The Consequences of Substance Use for Young Adults
While understanding the risks of substance use and SUD for young adults is paramount, it is also necessary to shed light on the potential short- and long-term consequences that such behaviour can have on the life of a young adult. It is crucial to recognise that the harms of SUD and addiction are not just personal; these harms also tend to affect other people, from close loved ones to the greater community. Moreover, such consequences tend to vary depending on a variety of factors, such as:
- The type of drug(s) being used
- Frequency of substance use
- The intensity of substance use
Short-Term Consequences
The Surgeon General states, “Alcohol and drug misuse can have a wide range of effects; a single instance of alcohol or drug misuse can have profound negative consequences.” Though these consequences vary depending on the factors mentioned previously, some notable, immediate consequences of substance use include:
- Effects on heart rate and regulation of body temperature
- Constipation
- Slowed breathing
- Impaired brain functioning
- Changes in appetite
- Nausea
- Mood swings
- Psychotic episodes
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Extreme weight change
- Overdose
- Stroke
- Death
Additionally, there are also indirect consequences of substance use related to impaired judgment and increased risk-taking behaviours. Some examples of these short-term consequences include:
- Driving under the influence (DUI), bringing life-threatening danger to all on the road
- Unprotected sex
- Sharing needles among intravenous (IV) drug users, resulting in outbreaks of HIV and hepatitis
Long-Term Consequences
Moreover, there are also a variety of long-term health and societal consequences of substance use among young adults. Firstly, the recurring use of alcohol and other drugs increases an individual’s risk of developing SUD and addiction. NIDA defines addiction as “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” The brain changes that occur from addiction last long after an individual has reached sobriety.
Although different types of drug use trigger different long-term health consequences, some of the most prominent health consequences of addiction include:
- Lasting damage to major organs
- Increased risk of various types of cancer
- Heart disease
- Weakened immune system
- Chemical dependency
- Psychosis
- The development of mental health disorders
- Cognitive/memory problems
- Permanent changes in behaviour
Meanwhile, long-term societal impacts of substance use and addiction for young adults include:
- Reduced productivity
- Higher healthcare costs
- Unintended pregnancies
- Spreading of infectious diseases
- Drug-related crime
- Interpersonal violence
Protecting Young Adults From the Harms of Substance Use
There are many temptations and influences of alcohol and drugs that make young adults vulnerable to substance use. However, there are also many protective factors that can be implemented to help young adults avoid unnecessary pressures and worsening health consequences of alcohol and drug use.
An article by BMC Public Health highlights the following protective factors:
- High self-esteem
- Religiosity
- Grit
- Increased self-control
- Parental monitoring during childhood
- Academic competence
- Anti-drug use policies
- Strong neighbourhood attachment
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also highlights the value of parental and family engagement, as well as family support, to reduce the potential for substance use and SUD in young adults.
Treatment for Young Adults at PCP
We at the Perry Clayman Project by Rehab Today offer a number of substance use and addiction treatment programme options for young adults needing professional aid in establishing and maintaining sobriety. Whether a person is looking for stability in long-term recovery or some extra support during early sobriety, we provide numerous services to meet our clients where they are in their recovery journeys. Some of the services we offer include:
- Alcohol and drug detox
- Primary alcohol and drug rehabilitation
- Secondary programme
- Third-stage supported housing
- Daycare rehab
- Support for families
- Aftercare
We offer two, four, eight, and 12-week programmes to ensure flexible and accessible treatment for all of our clients. From residential treatment to outpatient programmes and more, we have what young adults need to not only achieve sobriety but also thrive in their new sober lives.
Young adults experience significant developmental vulnerabilities and other risks that make them more vulnerable to using substances and developing SUD. If you are a young adult, it is imperative to understand these risks and your potential to develop associated health consequences from recurrent substance use. If you find yourself unable to resist temptations, the Perry Clayman Project by Rehab Today is here to help. We offer several rehabilitation clinics across the UK to guide and support those seeking healing from alcohol, drug, and behavioural addictions. With a wide range of treatment programmes to choose from, we are certain we can help you establish lasting sobriety in your life. To learn more, call 08000 380 480 today.