The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults

Adolescents and young adults are particularly susceptible to substance abuse. They have yet to solidify their sense of self to the degree necessary to effectively resist temptations from negative peer pressure. It is vital for mental health counselors to understand the factors affecting substance ab...

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Main Authors: Promethi Das Deep, Nitu Ghosh, Catherine Gaither, Md. Shiblur Rahaman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Psychoactives
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/3/4/28
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author Promethi Das Deep
Nitu Ghosh
Catherine Gaither
Md. Shiblur Rahaman
author_facet Promethi Das Deep
Nitu Ghosh
Catherine Gaither
Md. Shiblur Rahaman
author_sort Promethi Das Deep
collection DOAJ
description Adolescents and young adults are particularly susceptible to substance abuse. They have yet to solidify their sense of self to the degree necessary to effectively resist temptations from negative peer pressure. It is vital for mental health counselors to understand the factors affecting substance abuse in adolescents/young adults and to comprehend the effectiveness of common intervention strategies fully. This paper produces a narrative literature review of 27 international journal publications from 2004 through June 2024 related to causal factors and interventions effective for treating substance abuse in adolescents and young adults. The results indicate that adolescents who idolize antisocial peers and lack a strong sense of self, family attachment, parental monitoring, and role models are more likely to suffer from substance abuse. Successful interventions include those that help strengthen the adolescent’s sense of self, a mental-health-friendly school environment staffed with professional mental health counselors, and interactive programs that engage students in positive behaviors. Positive family and peer role models can also assist in helping adolescents/young adults build a strong self-image and resist substance use. Positive peer influence is another critical factor, but more work must be undertaken to fully assess its effectiveness as an intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-2d28ac82099e48a79b80cc9bb3ffe26b2025-08-20T02:01:21ZengMDPI AGPsychoactives2813-18512024-10-013446147510.3390/psychoactives3040028The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young AdultsPromethi Das Deep0Nitu Ghosh1Catherine Gaither2Md. Shiblur Rahaman3School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2119, USADepartments of English, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2146, USADepartment of Humanities and Social Science, Upper Iowa University, Fayetteville, IA 52142, USADepartment of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2177, USAAdolescents and young adults are particularly susceptible to substance abuse. They have yet to solidify their sense of self to the degree necessary to effectively resist temptations from negative peer pressure. It is vital for mental health counselors to understand the factors affecting substance abuse in adolescents/young adults and to comprehend the effectiveness of common intervention strategies fully. This paper produces a narrative literature review of 27 international journal publications from 2004 through June 2024 related to causal factors and interventions effective for treating substance abuse in adolescents and young adults. The results indicate that adolescents who idolize antisocial peers and lack a strong sense of self, family attachment, parental monitoring, and role models are more likely to suffer from substance abuse. Successful interventions include those that help strengthen the adolescent’s sense of self, a mental-health-friendly school environment staffed with professional mental health counselors, and interactive programs that engage students in positive behaviors. Positive family and peer role models can also assist in helping adolescents/young adults build a strong self-image and resist substance use. Positive peer influence is another critical factor, but more work must be undertaken to fully assess its effectiveness as an intervention.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/3/4/28substance useadolescentsyoung adultsmental health interventionsrelevant literature
spellingShingle Promethi Das Deep
Nitu Ghosh
Catherine Gaither
Md. Shiblur Rahaman
The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults
Psychoactives
substance use
adolescents
young adults
mental health interventions
relevant literature
title The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults
title_full The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults
title_fullStr The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults
title_full_unstemmed The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults
title_short The Factors Affecting Substance Use and the Most Effective Mental Health Interventions in Adolescents and Young Adults
title_sort factors affecting substance use and the most effective mental health interventions in adolescents and young adults
topic substance use
adolescents
young adults
mental health interventions
relevant literature
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/3/4/28
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