Drug_Use_And_Kids

Drug Use And Kids The developmental phase of adolescence is often a period of considerable stress and insecurity. The attraction of “mind- altering” substances are frequently tempting as an escape from the painful and discordant processes of adolescence. Yet this attraction is deceptive ; the habitual flight into drug induced euphoria inevitably culminates in the failure to acquire the developmental tasks necessary for future psychological health. Furthermore, the chronic and compulsive use of powerful mood altering substances has a significant dulling effect upon cortical tone, thus impairing the attainment of optimal cognitive function and impeding the path of developmental growth(Baumrind and Moselle 1985). Developmental fixation and regression are among the serious risks of chronic substance abuse in contemporary adolescence. The adverse developmental consequences of substance abuse in adolescence include persistent identity diffusion, lack of clarity about goals, creation of a false of autonomy, impaired capacity or deferred gratification and a fixation of the negative identity characteristics of early adolescence. As the extent and duration of substance abuse and dependence increases, the afflicted adolescent will experience greater alienation and estrangement from the mainstream of cultural life. Intensified degrees of loneliness and isolation, along with pronounced feelings of hopelessness and drug, adolescent, abuse, adolescents, factors, substance, social, risk, family, developmental, models, individual, history, context, substances, skills, functioning, early, during, cultural, coping, adolescence, significant, serious, normal, lack, include, historical, growth, greater, drugs, contemporary, behavior, among, alcohol