Adolescence: Issues, Factors, and Interventions

This essay discusses the major issues facing adolescents today, the socio-cultural, psychological and biological factors that add to adolescent problems, and interventions that help promote positive development. It also highlights the role of parents, community-based programs, and culture in shaping adolescent development.

Running header: ADOLESCENCE 1
Adolescence
Student’s name
Institutional

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Introduction
In human development, adolescence is one of the most rapid phases occurring at ages thirteen
to nineteen. It is as a transitional stage from childhood to adulthood. The changes during
development may bring confusion in an individual on issues of independence and self-identity,
many of the adolescents may experience difficult decision regarding sexuality, social life, school
and lastly drugs and alcohol (Bareimon & Carl, 2014). The objectives discussed in this essay
include recognizing the important issues facing adolescents today, the socio-cultural,
psychological and biological factors that add to adolescent problems, and lastly interventions that
help promote positive development.
The major issue facing adolescents today
The major problem faced by teenagers between age thirteen and nineteen years old is drugs
and alcohol abuse. During this phase, teens are subjected to some internal and external struggles
which include puberty, hormonal changes, parental force, social and school pressures. These
struggles expose the individuals to stress and depression forcing them to turn to drugs and
alcohol as form escapism.
Annual survey indicates that marijuana is the most popular used drug among teenagers and
young adults in the United States. It is used by 14.8 million people in the US. The drug use
health data pointed out 46% of adolescents of age 12 years and above in the US have tried illicit
drugs at least once in a lifetime, 40.6% have used marijuana, and the other 29.7% have used
illicit drugs. Drugs and alcohol abuse is an important issue to be discussed in society when
considering adolescent, for the reason that it is a threat to society. Drug abuse not only does it

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affect the teenagers who abuse it but also the community, friends, and families. The use of drugs
may lead to addiction and lastly death.
Factors that contribute to the adolescent problems
a) Biological
Substance abuse and addiction have mostly been brought by genetic factors. That is to say,
inherited biological difference plays an important role in making an individual either more or
less susceptible to drugs than others. An individual whose parents used drugs especially if the
mother used drugs during her pregnancy is likely to develop that habit. Genes that control the
number of dopamine receptors have been linked alcoholism in humans.
b) Psychological
Individuals who have no sense of direction that is they feel like their life is meaningless and
lacks direction often experience stress and depression. This factors may cause the individual to
turn to drugs and alcohol. Drugs temporarily give the stressed teenager a sense of self-control by
relieving anxiety, pain or anger issues (Teesson, Baillie, & Lynskey, 2012).
c) Social-cultural
Most the teenagers take drugs for social reasons. Peer pressure is the major reason teenagers
indulge in drug abuse. Alcohol tends to develop from cultural roots and may be different
amongst ethnic groups.

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Solutions that promote positive development
a) Environmental influence
Environment affects human behavior in some ways, including discouraging or
encouraging socialization. Interaction with people who make smart decision help teenagers
learn how to handle different situations and how to go about in decision making.
Socialization will reduce the probability of the individual indulging in substance abuse or
engage themselves in criminal activities (Smetana, 2012).
The surrounding conditions can affect the degree of discomfort or stress the individual’s
experience, a thirty minute of exposure to nature everyday help relieve stress. Depression is a
major reason why teens engage in substance abuse; stress relieve reduces the chances of
teenagers to indulge in drugs.
Social and economic environment strongly influence positive development in teenagers.
Families that follow rigid gender roles are likely to have obedient children who follow those
rules. Economic and academic motivation is also necessary. Teenagers who grow in rich
homes and have parental support for their studies, do well in their schools and often a
decreased number of behavioral disorders (Grotenvant, 2012).
b) Cultural influence
Culture may influence how quickly a teenager may become independent. Teenagers from
some cultures are more independent than others who are reliant on their families. Example,
teenagers from western cultures, are given more freedom by allowing them to hold part-time
jobs and drive unlike the eastern countries, culture influence example

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The parents of adolescents have a major role in teaching children ethics. Parents from
different culture stress different value sets and educate their children different moral
standards (Dena, Susan, & Brown, 2012) as adolescents moral standards solidify differently
as they grow in different cultures.
c) Community-based programs
Community-based programs include cleaning up a local park, planting trees, donating old
clothes to the homeless and last but not least organizing drug-free campaigns. Teenagers who
engage in this programs are less likely to engage in substance abuse, drop out of high school or
engage themselves in criminal activities (Brennan, Barnett, & Lesmeiser, 2013).
Conclusion
Drug and alcohol abuse is the major issue facing adolescent today. Factors that have
influenced adolescent development include biological example genes that have been linked to
alcoholism, psychological example teenage stress has been linked to substance abuse and lastly
social-cultural influence, most teenagers participate in illegal activities due to peer pressure. An
intervention that has been used to promote positive development include, environmental
influence example interaction of people who make a smart decision, culture influence example
may influence how quickly a teenager may become independent and lastly community-based
programs.

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References
Bareimon, C., & Carl, D. (2014). The development of person perception in childhood and
adolescence: From comparisons to psychological constructs to psychological
comparisons. Child Development, 52, 129-144.
Brennan, M., Barnett, R., & Lesmeiser, M. (2013). Youth involvement in community
development: implication and possibilities for extension. Journal of extension, 45(4),
203-213.
Dena, A., Susan, J., & Brown, B. (2012). The family environment and adolescent well-being:
exposure to positive and negative family influences. Journal of youth and
adolescence, 21(1), 53-59.
Grotenvant, H. (2012). Adolescent development in family contexts. Handbook of child
psychology, 3, 1097-1149.
Smetana, J. (2012). Adolescents' and parents' conceptions of parental authority. Child
Development, 59(2), 321-335.
Teesson, M., Baillie, A., & Lynskey, M. (2012). Substance use, dependence, and treatment
seeking in the United States and Australia: A cross-national comparison. Drug and
alcohol dependence, 81, 195-210.