Risk Factors in Adolescence Drug Abuse

Jin Young Choi

Professor Catherine

August 12, 2010

Introduction

Adolescence drug abuse has always been an important issue in most countries. The trend of teen drug abuse had been increased since the mid 1970s to 80s. Fortunately, the trend has been decreasing nowadays. According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, percentage of teens using illicit drugs has decreased from 19.4% in 2001 to 15.8% in 2005. That said, drug abuse among teens is still a major issue and needs serious attention. Elizabeth Rahdertn has figured out the overall risk factors that are affecting teen drug abuse, in her report “Adolescent Drug Abuse.” She divided general factors into culture and society, interpersonal, psycho-behavioral, and biogenetic reasons. With this report, we are going to specify main reasons related to drug abuse in teenage at the basis of Elizabeth's finding. Main risk factors causing adolescence drug abuse are interpersonal relationship and family environment, cultural and societal difference, school's environment and support, and personal character and generic factors.

Interpersonal and family environment

Interpersonal and family environment is greatly related to the drug abuse in teenage. The family has lower income, the children in the family would more involve with drug abuse. In a report published in American Journal of Public Health, Robert W. Blum in his report has found that family income and structure were moderately interrelated with the chances of its children being involved with drug abuse. In that study, the Pearson's correlation factor (r) was -.44, which means the lower family income is moderately related to more exposure of its children's drug abuse.” This is not a surprising result because the family income is one of the most important aspects for the education of children. If the parent has more income, they tend to spend more on their childcare and education.

Interpersonal relationship environment is also a very important risk factor. Peer effect is mainly causing their behavioral tendency including aggressive use of substances as well as violence. Daniel Eisenberg has pointed out the effects of peer interventions aimed at providing treatment to the adolescents suffering from substance use. His research was based a “multi-faced situation with different peer environments.” For example, if someone is in the first stage of substance use and has friends with abuse, the person is more involved with the material use. This research shows that it is required to consider peer involvement of ...