5 Years on Drugs: Being 19 and Acting 15

Teenagers and young adults often feel like they’re more grown up than they really are. Many of their decisions are based on their desire to break away from their families. Sometimes they act out or engage in risky behavior as a way to prove they are their own people and can make their own decisions. 

Growing Pains Are Real

The maturation process is rocky for many young people and their families. Things get even more complicated when alcohol and drug use are involved, and not only because it causes tension at home and lead to legal consequences and physical harm. 

The Limitations of the Developing Brain

The reality is that young people are not, literally, as grown up as they think they are. Biological changes continue to occur in the body, brain and hormonal system well into the mid-to-late-20s. The frontal areas of the brain are not fully developed until the late 20s, and these underdeveloped areas of the brain are the ones that control decision-making. 

Other areas that are still developing include impulse control mechanisms and the ability to put long-term goals before decisions that will lead to instant gratification. These limitations can make it extremely difficult for teenagers to make good decisions, particularly during a time when they are naturally drawn to seek new sensations and begin to care more about how they’re perceived by their peers. 

Substances Impair Brain Development

During this extremely important developmental phase, young people without substance-related problems begin to master the natural shift from concrete to abstract thinking that occurs at this time, as well as the gradual development of impulse control and coping skills. 

Addictive substances alter how the brain transmits information, hijacking areas that transmit pleasure and replacing normal desires and motivations with an overwhelming need for the substance. The brain’s ability to remember, make decisions and have normal emotional responses may also be impacted. And, unfortunately, simply removing the substance is not enough to repair the damage. So not only are young people with substance-abuse problems impeding their natural development, they’re also doing damage to their brain chemistry.

The Importance of Developmentally Appropriate Treatment

Substance use and addiction can waylay a young person’s brain chemistry, delaying normal emotional, psychological and mental growth. For example, a 19-year-old who began using at age 14 remains emotionally and intellectually stalled at that age. Increasing awareness among parents and teachers about this developmental delay can make it much easier for them to help their children and students with substance-related problems because they will not have unfair expectations of them. Similarly, treatment must target each child’s true developmental level in order to be effective.