Free Essays on Drug Use And Kids

The developmental phase of adolescence is often a period of considerable stress and insecurity. The attraction of â€Å"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 helplessness, perpetuate the need for further drug-induced refuge and escape. As the process intensifies and the individual fails to respond to efforts aimed at internal control, self-esteem progressively deteriorates. The concurrent and cumulative effects of impaired developmental maturation, deteriorating psychosocial functioning, and declining self-esteem will place the adolescent at a greater risk for dangerous and potentially lethal behavior, includi... Free Essays on Drug Use And Kids Free Essays on Drug Use And Kids The developmental phase of adolescence is often a period of considerable stress and insecurity. The attraction of â€Å"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 helplessness, perpetuate the need for further drug-induced refuge and escape. As the process intensifies and the individual fails to respond to efforts aimed at internal control, self-esteem progressively deteriorates. The concurrent and cumulative effects of impaired developmental maturation, deteriorating psychosocial functioning, and declining self-esteem will place the adolescent at a greater risk for dangerous and potentially lethal behavior, includi...