Why Are Teens More At Risk For Addiction Than Adults?

The teen years can be filled with exploring and learning more about yourself. Unfortunately, these teenage years can also put one at a greater risk of developing an addiction than adults. From continued brain development to an increased risk of impulsive behavior, there are a number of reasons why teens are more at risk for addiction than adults. Keep reading below to learn more!

At Louisville Recovery, we are committed to helping patients lead healthier, happier lives. We provide a range of addiction and mental health treatment options so that you can transform your life for the better. Gone are the days of suffering in silence with your addiction- help is available! Contact us today to learn more.  

3 Reasons Why Teens Are More at Risk for Addiction Than Adults

Interested in learning more about “why are teens more at risk for addiction than adults”- keep reading below!

Development

First, the teenage years are full of physical, mental, and emotional development in one’s life. This is especially true in that a teen’s brain is still developing. This inevitably impacts a teen’s ability (or lack thereof) to effectively make wise decisions, avoid risks, and more.

Because a teen’s brain is still developing this can negatively impact their decisions when it comes to right and wrong or healthy and unhealthy decisions. For instance, a teen may experiment with drugs and alcohol, not fully understanding all the consequences associated with abusing drugs. This can then increase their risk of drug dependency and addiction because of their lack of knowledge and ability to make good decisions when it comes to avoiding drugs. 

Peer Pressure

The teenage years are also often consumed with “fitting in” with your peers. Unfortunately, a teen may feel pressured to abuse drugs and alcohol if their friend group is also abusing drugs or alcohol. This comes from a feeling that they would rather fit in with what their peers or doing, rather than make a healthy decision to avoid drugs entirely.

This is why who a teen is surrounded by throughout their adolescent years is so important. A lack of healthy friends and family in their life can result in a teen falling victim to wanting to fit in and behave how they see others in their lives behaving (i.e., experimenting with drugs and alcohol).

Impulsive Actions

Finally, as discussed briefly earlier in this article, teens oftentimes tend to in general make more impulsive and riskier decisions than adults. While this is not to say that adults don’t make risky decisions, typically, adults are able to exercise more self-control and caution when it comes to making unhealthy or impulsive decisions like abusing drugs. 

This is because while a teen may neglect all the bad risks associated with drug use, oftentimes an adult will understand or at least consider the risks that abusing drugs can lead to dependency and then addiction. 

Help Is Available

Now you know more about the question “why are teens more at risk of addiction than adults”. As you can see, from increased impulsivity to continued brain development, and more, teens face a greater risk of addiction than adults. While this doesn’t mean that adults cannot develop an addiction later on in life, this does show how vulnerable teens can be when it comes to drug addiction. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it is critical you seek professional help to safely overcome your addiction. Our compassionate team at Louisville Recovery Center is committed to helping you safely and effectively break free from addiction once and for all. No more suffering in silence. We provide a comprehensive range of addiction recovery treatment options so you can receive the tailored support you need to lead a better life, including specialized addiction treatment for teens. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your unique recovery needs. 

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