Substance Abuse and the Transition to Adulthood

Transitioning from childhood to adulthood can be a particularly difficult time for a lot of young people. A new study published in Emerging Adulthood investigates the way that adolescent substance users view this change in relation to their addiction problems. Several key findings were uncovered:

• Independence is regarded as an important marker of adulthood among young people
• Most teens recognised that their substance misuse prevented them from becoming an adult
• Many saw substance use prevention and treatment initiatives as promoting maturation by encouraging self-reflexion and personal development

These conclusions are significant because the information gathered can be used 1) by prevention and treatment programme providers to make sure that their efforts address the childhood to adulthood transition and 2) to educate parents about the ways in which they can help their children during this important time.

Click here to read the full article in Emerging Adulthood.