Twerski's Addictive Thinking: The Substances, Types Of Adolescents

Substance. Poor choices. Juvenility. They may not happen exactly in that order, but they are just “three peas in a pod” when it comes to their commonality. As described in Abraham Twerski’s “Addictive Thinking”, the dreaded “stinkin’ thinkin” can affect anyone, especially young developing adults and adolescents. History has shown the connection between youthfulness, substance abuse, and sheer stupidity, bringing about much debate about these themes in the process. Such discussion may revolve around the origins of addiction, types of substances (licit and illicit), and the effects of consuming these harmful chemicals. So how and when does using begin? Well that’s actually a lot harder to pinpoint than you may think. Look no further

For instance, when you perform an activity that coincides with the brain’s biological “primary reinforcers” (have sex or eat food), these pleasure centers of the brain are flooded with a neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Simply put, when ingesting these substances, the brain is experiencing a “high” that has never been felt before, causing the user to want to repeat the experience (O’Leary, 2014). On the opposite end of the spectrum, our environment does indeed have a major influence on the things we do. Naturally as human beings, we are social creatures and thrive off of interaction. As told by Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”, we need to feel secure in our social environment and have a sense of belonging. What do most people at a young age desire in this world? Fitting in. When talking about society and substance usage, common themes such as: peer pressure, social media, and “the party scene” are very prevalent. Stacy Zeiger (2006), stated in an article on peer pressure, “When children start school, their parents begin to lose the influence they once had. By the teenage years, peers are the most influential group as teenagers navigate finding an identity and figuring out the roles that they play. Unfortunately, teenagers who choose the wrong