There’s no denying that addiction to drugs and alcohol is a growing problem in today’s society. Especially among teens, substance abuse is becoming more common, and it more frequently leads to devastating consequences. Recent research has discovered that there’s a strong link between social media activity and addiction, causing concern for parents whose children spend a great deal of time online.
Teens Mimic Their Idols
Even teenagers who consider themselves to be free thinkers will be influenced by the activities they see portrayed online. In particular, they will try to live the lifestyles that they see their favorite celebrities living. This includes partying too hard. When teens start down a path of binge drinking and drug use, they will eventually develop an addiction. As your teen spends more time on social media, it’s important to help them understand that the things they see online are only one part of the story.
How Does Social Media Relate to Substance Use?
A Columbia University study recently discovered that social media use was linked to alcohol, drug, and tobacco use among teens. They found that teens who spent more time online were also more likely to abuse these substances. 70% of the 2,000 teens included in the study reported that they used social media sites every day. Those same teens were five times more likely to smoke cigarettes. The rate at which these teens used alcohol was three times higher than teens who rarely visited social media sites. Marijuana use was twice as likely for teens who were steady social media users.
Mental Health, Social Media, and Addiction
When an individual suffers from depression, anxiety, or other mental health condition, they are considerably more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. This starts the cycle of addiction that can lead to a lifelong struggle unless the mental illness and addiction are treated concurrently. This cycle is complicated by social media use. Low online interactions, bullying, and other negative social media experiences can cause or intensify emotional health problems. In this way, social media use can intensify the need to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.
People who try to deal with addiction on their own typically fail to stop using on a long-term basis. If your teen is struggling with a substance use problem, convince them to seek professional help. When they go through a process of detox and recovery, they will learn the behaviors that will help them live clean and healthy lives.