Risk Taking Behavior in Emerging Adulthood Emerging adulthood can be a difficult time for many. It might feel as if one is stuck in between 2 different stages in life. They aren’t children anymore, but they aren’t quite adults. During this time people are forced to make a lot of choices, it’s a time of planning for their fast approaching future and a time of self-exploration. This decision making however can lead to some risky behaviors such as substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, or other violent behavior such as fighting. Risky Behaviors Peak and Substance Abuse Whether it be due to thrill seeking or just a step on the path to adulthood emerging adults have an astounding increase in their risk-taking behaviors. In emerging adulthood, the overall likelihood of people making risky or dangerous decisions spikes. Out of the many different types of risky behaviors one of the most dangerous is the increase in substance abuse that occurs in adults at this phase. This includes not only alcohol but also tobacco use and harder drugs. The amount of negative consequences that can come from …show more content…
As is the case with some of these risk behaviors, substance abuse can also give way to the next topic which is sexual risk behavior. Although they are not connected all the time they can often go hand in hand. Sexual risk behavior is not as widely addressed as substance abuse in our culture since it is often looked at as taboo. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s any less a threat to emerging adults. Emerging adults taking part in this risk behavior can face getting pregnant when they aren’t prepared which has tons of consequences on parent and child. They can also face contracting STD’s and STI’s. Research shows that people are having more sexual partners through their life span now more than ever before in history which only furthers the chance of encountering the above
The article "Alcohol Abuse is a Serious Problem for Teenagers," was written by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The article states, "Nearly four million young people suffer from alcohol dependence," and the average age at which children begin to drink is as early as 13. The article goes on to say that the number of children who experiment with alcohol has been rising steadily over the years. The article points out the unfortunate effects of drinking which range from an array of physical illnesses like liver problems and cancer. From the article we learn that because teenagers tend to indulge in binge drinking, they are at higher risk to suffer the consequences of alcohol consumption. According to the article these consequences include developmental problems like lack of growth, a reduced ability to learn, and to psychological problems like depression and suicidal tendencies. Alcohol abuse in turn leads to social problems which include dropping out of school, robbery, and "risky sexual behavior." We learn that alcohol serves as a "gateway-drug," leading to more addictive drugs like cocaine. The article substantiates this claim by citing a study conducted by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The article also touches on the problem of alcohol used by parents though the primary focus of this piece is about teenage drinking. The purpose of the article is to jolt readers into an awareness of the magnitude of the problem of teenage drinkiing. Most people know that teenagers like to experiment, try the new and forbidden, but the Center assumes that no one is fully aware of how serious this problem can be if it is not addressed.
“According to the U.S Surgeon General, about 5,000 kids under 21 die every year as a result of underage drinking—from crashes, homicides, and suicides” (Bellenir 65). Reducing underage drinking can reduce drinking-related harm, and even though there are programs in place to help prevent these suicides, alcoholism continues to ruin the lives of underage drinkers. Alcoholics in general are walking billboards to major companies that advertise their products—especially underage drinkers that in the process make these companies wealthier. Alcohol abuse gives a false sense of security, self confidence, and maturity to underage drinkers that later commit crimes, violence, and are victims of homicides. Underage drinkers not being able to get back on their feet after falling in so deep into alcoholism, eventually hit rock bottom and wake up to a world they no longer belong to. Underage drinkers realizing that the turning point is far from close commit suicide.
Young people are using mood-changing substances at an increasingly younger age. Persistent substance abuse among youth is often accompanied by a plethora of problems, including school related hardships, health-related problems, poor family relationships, mental health issues, and run-ins with the justice system. There are also significant consequences involving the community, and society in general. Studies show drug use at a young age increases the desire to abuse as you get older. Society looks at drugs as being a taboo, which is the norm for our country. However other countries see drug use as a way of connection with oneself and others in another realm. Now whether drug use is harmless or harmful is a matter of your personal preference.
There is no doubt that there is a prevalence of substance abuse throughout several age groups. To a certain extent, a society is faced with the reality of controlling substance abuse. Or allow it run rampant throughout the community. Often times, we hear and read about the level of substance abuse among teen, young adults and mid-aged adults. Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs, and over-the-counter medicines can be both abused and misused. It is a widespread belief that age plays a role in the level of influence that drugs and alcohol diminishes. As a person becomes older, drugs and alcohol is not as influential in their loves. This widespread belief has truth. However, it is important to understand that substance abuse is still prevalent in the elderly community.
Teenagers run great risk when they decide to drink unsupervised and undergo binge drinking. The effects can be dangerous and even fatal, but not only for the drinker but for their peers as well. Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under 21 die as a result of underage drinking, including 1900 deaths from vehicle crashes, 1600 from homicides, 300 from suicide, and hundreds more from other miscellaneous injuries such as burns, falls, etc. (“Underage Drinking”, 11) These death rates are quite alarming and should be paid more attention to, yet teenagers still want to run the r...
... - drinking “can damage a student's ability to study well and get decent grades, as well as affect [their] sports performance.” (KidsHealth, 2013). It can also affect a teenager’s body weight, making them lose even more self-esteem concerning their body weight. Drugs, along with alcohol, cause damage to one’s body, and are “often reasons why teens get in dangerous situations like unprotected sex and drunk driving” (KidsHealth, 2012). When teens become adults, undealt with substance abuse can also affect their lives. Possibly ruining relationships and friendships, causing them to lose a job, or have less money. Substance abuse is a serious topic in today’s society. “Alcohol addiction is 10 times higher in those who experienced abuse” (CBC Radio, 2014) and because of their self-esteem, they are more vulnerable to abuse drugs and alcohol to make them feel better.
The Substance Abuse Leading Health Indicators are teenagers using alcohol or any illegal drugs and adults engaging in binge drinking during the past 30 days. Health Impact of Substance Abuse Substance abuse contributes to a number of negative health outcomes and public health problems, including cardiovascular conditions, pregnancy complications, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), domestic violence, child abuse, motor vehicle crashes, homicides, and suicides. The website healthypeople.gov provides examples of how the abuse of substances can damage health and lives. The use of drugs have been associated to abnormal cardiovascular functioning, like abnormal heart rate and heart attacks. STDs can also be caused by injection drug use.
Alcohol is the premier drug choice among many youths. A national survey found that slightly more than half of young adults in the United States between the ages of 12 and 20 have consumed alcohol at least once. A psychoactive drug that depresses the central nervous system, alcohol, like tobacco, affects both the mind and the body. It lowers the brain’s ability to control behavioral functions and impairs one’s ability to perform basic motor skills. In today’s society, it is not a surprise for young teens to consume alcohol before they have reached the legal drinking age of twenty-one. Due to this, it has become a leading health problem in the United States. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 4,358 people
As if adolescence isn't already a difficult time in many peoples life, the movement into adulthood is also a difficult and confusing time. The onset of stress amongst people can sometimes drive them into experimenting with ways that help reduce the stress; drug use, high alcohol consumption and risk taking being a prime example. In Janet Belsky’s “Experiencing the Lifespan,” after doing some research, she ended up finding out that many young people in High School are indeed risk takers. The thrill of getting away with doing something bad and illegal and not getting caught with your friends, makes some teens feel invincible. Many believe that if they didn’t get caught the “last couple times” doing whatever they did, then why would they get caught doing it “this time?” It’s a repetitive process that unfortunately keeps on going until they actually get busted, and even after they do get busted, sometimes it still doesn't stop them.
Patterns and trends of substance use among adolescents fluctuates from generation to generation. There are many factors related to the increased risk for substance experimentation. For example, generational substance use, poor parental monitoring, and low academic performance contribute to elevated risk for substance use (Allison, et al., 1999). Substances that have remained on the forefront for adolescent use and abuse include alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana (Hussey, Drinkard, Flannery).
Both articles talk about how peers can affect the amount of risk an adult and adolescent take. The authors of these two articles suggest that adolescents take risk because of peer pressure and the sense of reward that follows. These rewards that can follow for adolescents can be attention from the opposite sex and a confidence boost in social settings. These authors also conclude that people tend to take more risks when with peers whether they are adults, young adults, or adolescents then they would if there would if they were alone.
However, out of adolescence ages 12-20 in the United States 11% have already consumed alcohol before the age of twenty- one. More than 90% of the adolescence that consumed alcohol before age 21 consumed alcohol while binge drinking (Fact Sheets). Binge drinking is defined as "an usually brief period or bout of excessive alcohol consumption."(Binge Drinking). Teenage drinking is on the rise because adolescence are experiencing lifestyle and emotional changes. While 11% if our youth underage drinking may not seem like a very large number it is more than most people might think. Underage drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among our teens and young adults. While you cannot always prevent what teens are going to do you can always look for signs that they are struggling in some aspect of their lives, whether it be emotional or just everyday life. As stated by (Underage Drinking) As children move from adolescence to young adulthood, they encounter dramatic physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Our brains are not fully developed until well into our twenties. Adolescence and young adults are not fully developed at this age and may cause them to think irrationally. Adolescence are trying to fix or cope with their life issues by using alcohol. The brain not being fully developed gives some incite as to why adolescence are so adamite to risk taking. This is further exemplified by
Adulthood has often been associated with independence. It serves as a turning point in life where one has to take responsibility for oneself and no longer being dependent on his or her family. Early adulthood, usually begins from late teens or early twenties and will last until the thirties (Santrock, 2013). Early adulthood revolves around changes and exploration while middle and late adulthood are more of stability. The transition from adolescence and adulthood differs among every individual. The onset of the transition is determined by many factors such as culture, family background, and the personality of the individual. Emerging adulthood (as cited in Santrock, 2014) is the term to describe the transition period from adolescence to adulthood.
Adolescence is a stage in life that is marred by physical and hormonal changes that influence a person’s field of decision-making. During this time, adolescents are enticed to experiment on drugs and other dangerous habits. Research has shown that substance abuse among the youth leads to troubled interpersonal relationships, increased vehicle accidents, physical dependence, unprotected sex, increased hostility, and increased suicidal ideation (Hansell & White, 1991; Newcomb, Scheier & Bentler, 1993; North, 2012).
National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIV: Teens and Parents. Columbia University. August