In 2018, there were 8.9 million young adults that reported having a mental
illness, and a little over 42% went untreated. In the same year, there were 5.1
million young adults with a substance use disorder, and about 87% of them
went untreated.
Recognizing Signs of Young Adult Substance Use and Mental illness
Entering adulthood can be an emotional time, but sometimes the ups and
downs can mean something more.
Here are some common signs to pay attention to:
Trouble sleeping or oversleeping
Loss of interest in hobbies + friends
Feelings of anxiousness
Changes in overall energy levels
Changes in appetite + weight
Feelings of hopelessness
Difficulty in daily functioning
Extreme mood changes
Thoughts of suicide
Party Culture – Project Know
“Party Culture” seems like it is common and normal amongst young adults
to most people, but today it is more dangerous and riskier than ever. Today,
prescription medications are combined with alcohol and other drugs. This is
especially damaging to young adults specifically because they still have
minds and bodies that are developing.
Young adults are fast approaching adulthood and have an intense amount of
emotions, peer pressures and quests for short-term reward as they are rising
from their adolescence. The environmental settings and temptation to use
intoxicating substances are combined with the parts of adolescent brains
involved in reward seeking that are bound to create dangerous situations.
Marijuana – SAMHSA
Marijuana use has been on the rise amongst all age groups in recent years,
though young adults show to have the highest rate of use. It is a highly
popular belief that marijuana is not an addictive substance, but research
actually shows that:
1 in 6 people who begin drug use before 18 can become addicted
1 in 10 adults who use the drug can become addicted
o The amount of THC in marijuana today is three times the
concentration it was 25 years ago. The stronger the THC, the
stronger the effects on the brain and therefore higher rates of
dependency and addiction.
Risks of marijuana use include:
Permanent IQ loss if use begins at a young age
Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and psychotic episodes
Harmed athletic performance
Dangerous driving effects (slow reactions, swerving)
Negative effect on baby’s health (fetal growth restriction, stillbirth…)
Negative daily life outcomes (career achievement, life satisfaction)
Some Risks of Young Adult Substance Use
Sexual Assault
o About 1 in 4 female college students reported experiences
unwanted sexual contact while they were incapacitated due to
alcohol or drugs
o 1 in 16 male college students
o Being an active part of party culture in schools will place you at
a greater risk for being sexually assaulted if you are
compromised by substances
o When men drink, it significantly increases the likelihood they
will perpetrate a sexual assault (not always)!
Overdoses:
o You are at risk of an overdose whenever you consume illicit
drugs like heroin, meth, MDMA or “study drugs”
o There is an added danger when the dealer is unknown, because
this substance could be cut with other harmful substances. You
do not actually know what you are taking!
o When you are a part of this party culture, you put yourself at a
far greater risk of exposure to these harmful substances
Pharma-parties
o Prescription drug use has risen so much in young adults that it
ranks only second to marijuana
o Teenagers and young people have a new trend of sharing
prescription medications to get high
o Pharming: refers to adolescents gaining access to and
distributing pharmaceutical medications for personal use or to
sell for profit
o Drugs of easy access for young adults:
Cough medicine
Prescription drugs
Inhalants
Marijuana
It is important to remember that asking for help is a normal part of life, and
you should never feel like you have to take on the world alone!
Reality Check offers Substance Use counseling and many workshops and
trainings that help family and other close members to recognize mental
illness and substance abuse/misuse in young adults.
Resources:
https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana
https://www.projectknow.com
Accessed on 10/7/19