Social Consequences of Drug Use and Drug Abuse
How Drugs Affect Relationships
Drugs alter the brain, so it stands to reason that they would also change the way that humans interact with one another. And drug abuse can radically impact the way your child interacts with family, friends, and others. Find out how drug abuse affects your child’s mental health.
Families
Substance abuse affects the emotional, financial, and psychological well-being of the entire family. Teens who use drugs withdraw from their family members and family activities, as well as set bad examples for any younger siblings. Because their judgment and decision-making ability becomes greatly impaired, they may become more hostile toward family members and even steal from them to get money for drugs.
Academics
Teens who abuse drugs have declining grades, a higher rate of absenteeism from school and other activities, as well as an increased potential for dropping out of school Research has shown that a low level of commitment to education and higher truancy rates appear to be related to substance abuse among adolescents. Cognitive and behavioral problems may also interfere with the academic performance of youth who use alcohol and drugs.
Peers
Teens who abuse drugs are often alienated from and stigmatized by their peers, and they may disengage from school and community activities. For teens who don’t use drugs – the best advice is to stay away from kids who do. Experts agree that association with drug abusing peers is often the most immediate risk for exposing adolescents to drug abuse and delinquent behavior.
Delinquency
Substance abuse and delinquent behavior often go hand in hand. For many youth who abuse drugs, arrest, adjudication, and intervention by the juvenile justice system are eventual consequences that they face. While it cannot be claimed that substance abuse causes delinquent behavior -- or that delinquency causes alcohol and other drug use -- there is an undeniable link between the two behaviors. Substance abuse and delinquency are strongly correlated and often result in involvement with negative peer groups, as well problems in school and at home.