What Is The Relationship Between Age And Drug Addiction?
A variety of factors affects addiction and one of them is age. It plays a key role
in determining the susceptibility of an individual to addiction and the kind of
drugs an individual will be using.
Relationship between age and drug addiction
Drug addiction mainly starts at a young age and usually, cases of drug addiction
are seen in adolescents. Drug addiction that stems from prescription drugs is
common in adults.
- Drug addiction and adults People with substance use disorder over the age of 25 can be said to belonging
to either early-onset drug users or late-onset drug users. Individuals in the
early onset group initiate smoking and marijuana before 20 years of age.
Individuals of the late-onset group generally do not use these drugs before
using the age of 20 and are likelier to abuse prescription medication.
- Drug addiction and adolescents
This is the phase of life when a person is likely to fall for addiction. Cigarettes,
marijuana, and alcohol are commonly used substances in this age group.
Adolescents that experience interpersonal violence, including physical and
sexual violence are generally at higher risk of substance abuse. Such disorders
in adolescents are usually seen with psychiatric disorders, which include
anxiety disorders and bipolar disorders. The use of drugs by family members is
also a big reason for adolescents to fall for it.
Peer pressure is also something that plays a significant role in substance abuse
and a stressed relationship with parents increases the influence of peer
groups.
- Drug addiction and young adults Addiction is common in young adults and they easily fall for it. The tendency of
using substances in young adults is associated with trying to cope up with
challenges and responsibilities that come with adulthood. These challenges
include leaving home for work or education and the establishment of new
social relationships. This category of adults is also prone to be exposed to
alcohol and other substances through their environment.
They feel the need to match the trends and show they are also one of their age
group.
- Drug addiction and elderly This age group was previously considered with low substance abuse rates,
recent studies have come up with a statement that there is an increase in the
rate of substance abuse in elders. Alcohol abuse is one of the common abuse
in elders. Nowadays, the use of prescription drugs is also growing in adults.
Long use of these drugs may lead to dependency. Some commonly used
prescribed drugs among this age group are painkillers.
Elderly individuals with drug abuse issues can also be identified as early-onset
abusers. These kinds of abusers are those who started using drugs or alcohol
before the age of 65. Later-onset substance abusers may develop a way to
cope with the death of the spouse, retirement, social isolation, or other issues.
The symptoms of addiction in this age group are misdiagnosed as dementia.
Some of them don’t choose addiction on their own but due to dependency on
medicines, they become habitual of it.
Wrapping up
All in all, we can see that there is a presence of addiction in all age groups. The
difference lies in the type of addiction and reasons to choose addiction.
Besides this, the situation also plays a crucial role in getting into addiction.
People usually fall for addiction whenever they find themselves alone, in a
challenging situation, or struggling with something.
