Discovering the Roots of a Young Adult’s Drug or Alcohol Use

The transition from youth to adulthood can be an exciting yet confusing period of change and exploration. When a previously healthy young adult turns to drugs or alcohol during this time, however, family and friends may find themselves wondering just what went wrong.

In order to understand a loved one’s addiction, we need to look at the issues at its root. Take a look at a few common reasons why a person might begin using drugs and alcohol as a young adult.

A Desire to Fit In with Others

Even as impressionable teens turn into responsible young adults, the human desire to belong still has a strong impact on behavior. If a young adult feels pressured by peers or believes that drinking or using drugs will make them cool or desirable to others, the risk of developing a dangerous addiction can seem insignificant compared to the potential social benefits.

College students, for example, may feel pressured to start drinking and partying in order to have “the college experience.”

Escaping from Pain and Stress

Some young adults start using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate for daily physical, emotional, or mental pain. A person who suffers chronic pain from an injury, for example, might begin abusing painkillers or other drugs in an effort to reduce any pain that their usual healthcare has failed to treat. Similarly, someone who suffered emotional or psychological trauma may turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to numb the pain or temporarily forget the experience.

Wanting to Enhance Their Performance

Young adulthood is a time full of pressure to succeed in what parents and teachers have long called “the real world.” Whether they’re hoping to improve their athletic ability, academic achievements, or work performance, many young adults are tempted into using drugs to supposedly enhance their abilities. They may start taking stimulants like Adderall to fuel their work or studies or attempt to enhance their physical ability with anabolic steroids.

Interest in Experimentation

It’s healthy for young adults to be curious and explore new horizons. For some, however, this includes experimentation with drugs like marijuana, Xanax, MDMA, and Ketamine. Many who try drugs in the interest of “experimentation” falsely believe that there’s no risk to trying something just once. In fact, they may well become addicted after just one use. Even worse, some “experiments” may even lead to permanent harm (brain damage, overdose, etc.).

No Matter How It Started, Our Young Adult Treatment Programs Can Help Stop It

At Yellowstone Recovery, we understand that a young person’s substance use is often deeply rooted in personal issues and negative beliefs about themselves. In our rehab programs for young adults, we treat clients with respect and compassion while helping them to break their addictions and work through the underlying concerns that led them to drugs and alcohol in the first place.

To learn more about our drug rehab for young adults, call us today at (888) 418-4188.