Drug and Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Running head REGULATION OF DEVIANCE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE statute of Deviance do drugs and Alcohol Use among Adolescents and Young Adults Nikkee L Payne University of Nebraska at Lincoln Abstract This paper explores the overall affects that confederates, family members, and ghostlike affiliations have among teens and younker full-growns when it comes to the physical exercise of pervert centers such as drugs and alcohol. Here we will examine the particular proposition affects that peers tend to have on individual adolescents and how subgroups derriere influence the coming(prenominal) of the individual.We will look at the errors in the limitations placed throughout the dissimilar studies done and speculate on what could have been done to better generalize the results. Drug and alcohol intent among adolescents and young adults is common and tends to lead to later abuse of said totals. Here we will find better understanding of the overall outcomes of aberrant adolescents a nd their choices that they make about drugs and alcohol in congruency to environmental factors.Regulation of Deviance Drug and Alcohol Use among Adolescents and Young Adults There have been numerous studies done on the use of drugs and alcohol within the antithetical cultures and subcultures go forn throughout society. Many of these studies tend to instruction to a greater extent than than so on the young adults and adolescents use of different substances more often than the use across all different age groups. There has been frequently speculation among many psychologists and sociologists around the different influences of these adolescents and young adults.Different studies have centre on the influences of peers and p atomic number 18nts as easy as religion on the use of drugs and alcohol. It is seen that peers tend to have a more direct influence on the use of different substances than that of p bents. Research by Bahr, Hoffmann and Yang (2005) shows that the attitudes of the parents tend to affect the overall outcome of adolescent drug use. It is easy to see the correlation between drug use, aberrancy, and approaching accomplishments of the adolescents who choose to partake in these unnatural acts.No matter what the choice of substance is there is a direct correlation between the use and committing different deviant acts. Literature Review There are many studies that emphasize the direct connection between adolescent drug use and the influences that family members and peers have on this. fit in to Walden et al (2004) there is a clear correlation linking parents, peers and substance use among youth. This interpret attempts to look at the genetic influences versus the environmental influences in question of which is more significant to adolescent sway.In the study they attempt to illustrate two possible genetic influences that could possibly help explain the connection between peers, parents and what is seen as substance use phenotypes. First, t he associations could be the product of dynamic genotypeenvironment correlations, wherein individuals gravitate to different environments (or perceive similar environments differently) on the basis of their unique, genetically influenced dispositions. To the extent that attempt for primordial adolescent substance use is influenced by heritable factors (e. g. temperament), selection into deviant peer groups by adolescents with a propensity to use substances would represent an active genotypeenvironment correlation. Second, the associations could owe to evocative genotypeenvironment correlations, which occur when individuals elicit reactions from their environments on the basis of their own genetically influenced demeanor. For example, an adolescents advance(prenominal) use of substances (again, as influenced by heritable factors) could opposely impact the kinship between the adolescent and his or her parent(s) by resulting in increased parent peasant conflict.Given the possibi lity that these putatively environmentally mediated associations could, in fact, result from genotypeenvironment correlational processes (Walden, McGue, Iacono, Burt, & Elkins, 2004, p. 441) . When looking at the results of the study Walden et al (2004) came to the conclusion that these genetic, heritable factors were farther less significant than that of the environmental factors to influence youth early youth substance use. The findings here provided a much needed view on the different relationships between peer influence and substance use and parent haracteristics and substance use. The different parenting styles definitely had a great affect on the choices that the youth do when it came to the different uses of substances. It is speculated that the choice of peers can also influence the parent-child interactions and account for relationship problems amongst youth and their parents. There are many positive correlations that came out of this study in time there were limitation s on the study that did not account for specific aspects of young adult use of specific substances.There is an absence of the influence of that of teachers in the environment as well as a lack of an overall representative sample in that it consisted of mostly Caucasians. Also, there was a lack of recognizing the sibling influences possible. For the lack of insurance coverage on the influence of the siblings of the deviant youth Stormshak et al makes up for in her article covering Sibling and Peer Deviance. Here the study looks at the different constructs set in place as predictors of substance use of adolescents these constructs consist of sibling deviance, warmth, and conflict.It is also speculated that the sibling relationships will outweigh that of peer relationships when it comes to influencing deviant behavior (Stormshak, Comeau, & Shepard, 2004, p. 637) . The results compare significantly with that of the hypotheses of the study. Sibling deviance was the more significant for ecaster for adolescent substance use in comparison to that of peer influence. They bring up a good perspective on the fact that the antisocial youth, especially those with behavior problems, often are rejected from the main social groups around them still they usually end up making their own subgroups.Usually these subgroups are focused on the intimacy that they have in common the deviant acts they partake in. This study tends to jump back and forth on the stance of peer groups versus sibling influence on the outcome of the adolescents. However Stormshak does state that sibling relationships comparatively to peer relationships are far more stable and therefore could possibly serve as a more high risk context for adolescents (Stormshak, Comeau, & Shepard, 2004, p. 645) . One thing that we need to keep in mind is the limitation of age in this study.Age here can be applied in numerous cases that is the age of the adolescent at risk as well as the age difference between the youth and their siblings. One thing that the majority of these articles can all allot on is the fact that early initiation of substance use is associated with more addictive behaviors later on in the youths lifespan. Often early substance use is associated with more delinquent behavior, academic problems, impairments in the individuals ability to function as a contributing member of our society, and health problems.Kumpulainen (2000) gives several examples of different studies done with the conclusion that psychiatric problems reported earlier in the adolescents life is correlated with that of drug use later on in life also, mental dis reads generally precede the development of addictive disorders (Kumpulainen, 2000, p. 1848) . Here she focuses more on the mental state of the individuals and its correlation with the drug use.One can see that the mental health is significantly lower when it comes to the use of drugs and alcohol earlier in the adolescents life. Again, Kumpulainen (2000) ref ers to other sources to confirm that addictive behaviors and mental disorders tend to go overhaul in hand. Additionally, in a separate study by Andrews and Duncan (1997) they address the mental capacity and academic motif of youth and its inverse relationship with substance use rather than the mental state of the individual.Andrews and Duncans study had three major constructs to it focusing on the family relationships, the deviance of the adolescent, and the academic motivation. One of the limitations as well as benefits to the study was the fact that all of the information gathered came from the reports of the mother and the tar frustrate adolescents (Andrews & Duncan, 1997, p. 527) . Also, the confine of the individuals mostly being Caucasian and living in single-parent households whitethorn slightly skew the overall generalization of the study.The study comes to the conclusion that there is no significant relationship between alcohol use and that of academic motivation also, f or the other substances of marijuana and cigarettes it is inconclusive to the fact that the results cannot determine which act precedes the other. In that substance use precedes academic motivation or the inverse of this as well. However, they can conclude that the increased use in marijuana and cigarettes does lead to more of a lack of motivation when it comes to academics. (Andrews & Duncan, 1997, p. 541) .There are two separate enormousitudinal studies that focus more so on the transitions made from these earlier adolescent years into the later adolescent years and adulthood. Here we look at the friendships and peers to understand the boot in which the adult will end up going. Dishion and Owen (2002) have findings consistent with numerous other studies in that many of these individuals tend to be put into specific peer groups that more regularly use substances (Dishion & Owen, 2002, p. 488) . One needs to remember that the connection made between these peers with the use of t hese substances is substantial and tend to be long lasting.Therefore we can gestate that these connections will be significant throughout the individuals life and not just the adolescent years. Similarly, the study done by Mason, Hitch and Spoth (2009) shows the transition from early to late adolescents in that with the interaction of the proper peer group at age sixteen along with what they see as the negative affect can be a predictor of the amount of substance use in later adolescence. This negative affect that they speak of is alluding to the use of substance to escape or cope with the current reality that each individual may be facing at that time.This is one of the few studies that fart toward this hypothesis other studies have not supported the self-medication hypothesis among teens (Mason, Hitch, & Spoth, 2009, p. 1153) . Here you see more of a lack from this study when it comes to the overall assessment of negative affective states. This is where you gain more insight th rough other articles concerning the actual mental states of individuals and the direct correlation that it has with the use of different substances.The study done by Dishion and Owen (2002) has fewer limitations on it their unexpected findings helped to further understand the hypothesis of deviant friendships and the relationship to dangerous drug use. They have seen to have fewer discrepancies when it came to the results and findings. The Young adult years are a critical transition point for many individuals, Dishion and Owen (2002) state this is when selection of partners, formation of families, and the foundation for the next generation are conventional (Dishion & Owen, 2002, p. 89) . One cannot for pass away the influence of religion and its effects on the use of what is seen as deviant substances by our different sub-cultures and societies. Walker et al states that, research has shown religionism to the a protective factor with regard to substance use and other problem behavi ors (Walker, Ainette, Wills, & Mendoza, 2007, p. 84) . There are clear indications of differentiation of substance use symbiotic upon the entirety of the relationship that one has with religion.When it comes to religion they tend to encourage certain behaviors that are more socially accepted and fewer deviants. Therefore, one can assume that adolescents involved in their religious organizations will be less likely to commit acts of deviance such as use of specific substances. This study is and another indication of the inverse relationship between religiosity and substance use. Discussion It is clear that there are many factors that come into play when it comes to deviance in adolescents and young adults.Many of the findings in the articles come to the same conclusions that is that numerous environmental factors along with that of peer groups, religious groups and family members all come into play. The speculation that the sibling relationship is more significant than that of pee r relationships by Stormshak et al. is simply just that, speculation. Looking at the results as a whole we can see that peer relationships are just as significant of that of sibling relationships as well as parent relationships. Peer groups are what help adolescents more or less determine who they would like to be and the activities that they would like to partake in.Bahr, Hoffmann and Yang (2005) also concluded that peer drug use had stronger affects than any of the other variables However, the results also showed that the family variables had significant impacts on adolescent drug use as well (Bahr, Hoffmann, & Yang, 2005, p. 545) . A major limitation of the majority of the studies would be the ability to generalize them across a number of populations. Many studies are done on Caucasians and also have other specific measures that are not easily able to be generalized across many cultures and subcultures.In order to fully understand the compete influence on peer, family and relig ious groups one would need to look at numerous characteristics not just specific sub-groups. closing and Future Study As a whole the amount of research done on peer, family and religious influence is significant enough that we can get a good idea on the overall affects. Substance use among more troubled adolescence is far more common than that of adolescence involved in religious organizations and those who are motivated academically as well.Those youth who have been labeled as antisocial and having more mental health problems are forced into this more deviant peer group and are more likely to become substance users and abusers later in life. There are clear correlations between deviant peers and drug usage among adolescents. In future studies we should make sure to have a more wide population to study. Not focus as much on the Caucasians and troubled youth. When it comes to troubled youth you need a comparison of what is seen as society as the more angelic adolescents who tend to not get mixed up in substances that are deviant.Here, however, it is clear that there are many factors that come into play when determining the adolescents use of drugs and alcohol. References Andrews, J. A. , & Duncan, S. C. (1997). Examining the reciprocative Relation Bewteen Academic Motivation and Substance Use Effects of Family Relationships, Self-Esteem, and General Deviance. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 20(6), 523-549. Retrieved from http//0-web. ebscohost. com. library. unl. edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? sid=21d20bb2-d5ad-4a31-8aef-c9c56a727cbf%40sessionmgr10&vid=1&hid=16 Bahr, S. J. Hoffmann, J. P. , & Yang, X. (2005). Parental and Peer Influences on the run a risk of Adolescent Drug Use. 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