Teen mental health

1. TEEN MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENES SERIES (1)
By Lily Nyamusi
Counselling Psychologist/
Child & Adolescent Therapist/
Addiction Counselor
& Character Coach
January 2023

2. SUBSTANCE ADDICTION

3. Addiction begins at adolescence, why?
• This is the age when our brains are most vulnerable to the
effects of substances, while we are also our most curious and
risk-taking selves
• The perceived danger of trying substances is lowest among
teens, and their desire to try new things is at its peak
• Adolescence is the psychosocial life stage that Erik Erikson
defined as Identity vs. Role Confusion, a time when we struggle
to determine who we are and what we value
• Substances experimentation is often part of this quest

4. Addiction cont….
• Addiction occurs when repeated use of substances
change how a person’s brain functions over time
• The transition from voluntary to compulsive substance
use reflects changes in the brain function
• The impulse to use substances even when there are
negative consequences is the defining characteristic of
addiction

5. What is addiction
• Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving
complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the
environment, and an individual’s life experiences
• People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that
become compulsive and often continue despite harmful
consequences
• It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional
changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-
control

6. Reasons for adolescent use of drugs
• To fit in: Many teens use drugs “because others are doing it”—
or they think others are doing it—and they fear not being
accepted in a social circle that includes drug-using peers
• To feel good: substances of abuse interact with the
neurochemistry of the brain to produce feelings of pleasure
• To feel better: Some adolescents suffer from depression, social
anxiety, stress-related disorders, and physical pain. Using
substances may be an attempt to lessen these feelings of
distress.

7. Reasons for use cont…
• To do better: the pressure to perform academically can be
intense
• Some adolescents may turn to certain drugs like illegal or
prescription stimulants because they think those substances
will enhance or improve their performance
• To experiment: Adolescents are often motivated to seek new
experiences, particularly those they perceive as thrilling or
daring

8. Categories of drugs
Drugs can be categorised by the way in which they affect our
bodies:
• Depressants – slow down the function of the central nervous
system
• Hallucinogens – affect your senses and change the way you see,
hear, taste, smell or feel things
Stimulants – speed up the function of the central nervous system
Some drugs affect the body in many ways and can fall into more
than one category. For example, cannabisappears in all three
categories

9. Categories of drugs
Opioids
• Opioids are a type of painkiller that can be made from
poppy plants (heroin) or produced synthetically (fentanyl)
• Also called opiates or narcotics, they are addictive as they
can give you a feeling of wellbeing or euphoria
• Examples include: codeine, heroin, methadone,
ocycodone

10. Addiction and academics
Drug abuse among teens can cause:
• Dropping out of school
• Strained relationship with others
• Lack of interest in studying
• Low concentration span and declining grades

11. End of day five