Addiction has no regard for anyone- status, religion, or ethnic group.
It can affect a high-school honor student, a quiet athlete, or a teen who seems to have everything under control. The truth is that today’s teenagers face pressures and temptations that look very different from those of past generations, yet the emotional impact remains the same.
At Mind Healthcare, we see addiction as more than a label. It’s a sign that someone is in pain and needs understanding, not judgment.
Teen Substance Use: What the Numbers Show
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), drug use among adolescents has remained below pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, about 3–7% of high-school students reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana in the past year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that roughly 15% of teens have tried certain illicit substances (such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or hallucinogens).
While these numbers are lower than in previous decades, new and more dangerous substances, including counterfeit pills and high-potency vapes, are raising concern among healthcare professionals.
The Rise of Behavioral Addictions
Addiction today goes beyond drugs and alcohol.
A growing number of teens are developing behavioral addictions, including screen, gaming, and social-media addiction.
A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that 85% of teens in the U.S. play video games, and 41% play daily.
Experts estimate that 5–9% of adolescents show signs of gaming disorder, a condition linked to anxiety, poor sleep, social withdrawal, and declining academic performance.
For many young people, gaming or scrolling becomes an emotional escape, a way to manage loneliness, stress, or sadness. But over time, it can take control of their daily lives.
Why Teens Are Vulnerable
Adolescence (12-18) is a critical stage of brain development. The brain’s reward system, which drives motivation and pleasure, is still maturing, while the part responsible for impulse control (the prefrontal cortex) is not yet fully developed.
This imbalance makes teens more likely to take risks or seek instant gratification, especially when facing emotional distress, anxiety, trauma, or peer pressure. They are more susceptible to harmful behaviors and drug use.
• Shift in types of risk: While classic substances (alcohol, cigarettes, some illicit drugs) may show declines or stabilization in youth use, behavioral addictions (screens/gaming/gambling) and novel substance forms (e.g., vaping, nicotine pouches) are rising in concern.
• Hidden risk: Even with lower numbers in some categories, the harm potential (e.g., overdose, suppressed mental health, academic drop, social isolation) remains high. The fact that only a minority of teens with serious substance use disorders receive treatment.
Warning Signs Parents and Educators Should Watch For
• Sudden mood or behavior changes
• Withdrawing from friends or family
• Drop in grades or interest in school activities
• Spending excessive time online or gaming
• Secretive behavior or defensiveness about screen use
• Fatigue, loss of appetite, or unexplained health changes
Recognizing these signs early can make a tremendous difference in helping a teen get the support they need.
How Mind Healthcare Can Help
At Mind Healthcare, we provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care for teenagers struggling with both substance and behavioral addictions.
Our services include:
• Comprehensive mental-health assessments
• Addiction-focused therapy and counseling
• Medication management, when appropriate
• Support for parents and families
• Education on healthy coping and digital balance
Our approach combines professional expertise with empathy because recovery isn’t just about treatment, it’s about transformation.
If you are a parent worried about your teens, or a young person feeling overwhelmed by addiction, please know that you are not alone.
Addiction doesn’t define you, and recovery is absolutely possible.
At Mind Healthcare, we believe in second chances, renewed minds, and healing hearts. Because while addiction can touch anyone, hope has no boundaries either.
Mind Healthcare -Healing Begins Here
Visit www.mindpsychhealth.com to learn more or schedule a confidential consultation with Dr. Patricia Nwaefuna, DNP-PMH
.
If you are a parent worried about your teens, or a young person feeling overwhelmed by addiction, please know that you are not alone.
Addiction doesn’t define you, and recovery is absolutely possible.
At Mind Healthcare, we believe in second chances, renewed minds, and healing hearts. Because while addiction can touch anyone, hope has no boundaries either.
Mind Healthcare -Healing Begins Here
Visit www.mindpsychhealth.com to learn more or schedule a confidential consultation with Dr. Patricia Nwaefuna, DNP-PMHNP.
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