Adolescent drug use has increased by more than 40 percent during the last decade. Often this is teenage experimentation and short lived, although a minority of cases develop into problematic substance use or addictions requiring additional support.
Most teenagers who use substances do it out of curiosity, boredom or as a way of coping with stress and difficult emotions.
Alcohol is also commonly used in young people, with around seventy percent of 15 year olds having tried alcohol. The Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) recommend an alcohol free childhood as the best and safest option due to the serious effects this can have on their health and development.
Alcohol can lower inhibitions, and it is more likely young people may engage in risky behaviours including fights or unprotected sex. Acute alcohol poisoning can occur after drinking fairly modest amounts of alcohol by adult standards and this can cause low blood sugar, seizures and a high risk of accidental injury. Binge drinking in teenagers can harm the developing brain, affecting concentration, learning, school performance and increasing anxiety.
Cannabis is the most commonly used substance amongst young people and around a third of 17 year olds will have tried it. Cannabis compounds reach your brain quickly when smoked and cause different neurochemicals to be released. Different kinds and forms of cannabis vary a lot in strength, and it is impossible to predict the effect before taking it.
Positive effects include feeling relaxed and talkative and senses becoming more intense but negative effects include feeling anxious, sick, paranoid, depressed and losing motivation. It can cause some young people to experience psychotic phenomena, such as hearing voices. Some people have difficulties stopping cannabis use even when it has a negative effect on them.
Synthetic cannabinoids used to be known as ‘legal highs’ but these are often stronger than cannabis and are more dangerous. They can cause mental and physical illness, such as delirium (confusion and disorientation), agitation, hallucinations, violence and self harm.
Around 45 percent of young people have reported to have smoked by age 17 (Fitzsimmons and Villasden, 2021). The use of e-cigarettes (Vaping) is increasing amongst young people. Most contain a range of harmful chemicals and nicotine, which is highly addictive. One eliquid pod can contain as much nicotine as a packet of cigarettes.
Ecigarettes can cause breathing difficulties and coughing as well as long term harm to the lungs. Nicotine exposure can harm brain development in young people, and impact learning, attention and memory. Vaping increases the risk that young people will go on to use cigarettes. Nicotine becomes addictive the more it is used, as reducing blood levels cause physical symptoms (irritability, headaches, feeling anxious and trouble sleeping) with strong cravings to vape.
Around 1 in ten 17 year olds have tried harder drugs, such as cocaine, ketamine, LSD and Ecstasy.
Cocaine: A central nervous system stimulant. Cocaine speeds up messages between the brain and rest of the body, leading to feeling energetic, alert, confident and talkative but with many negative effects including feeling anxious, paranoid, irritable, higher blood pressure and faster heart rate, insomnia and unpredictable and violent behaviour.
Ketamine: A dissociative anaesthetic with some hallucinogenic effects. It causes a feeling of detachment from the body or physical environment. Ketamine acts similar to psychedelics as it can cause hallucinations or other changes in thoughts, emotions or consciousness. It may also cause a feeling of relaxation, confusion, increased heart rate and blood pressure, drowsiness, anxiety, blurred vision and vomiting.
People who regularly use ketamine gain tolerance and require higher doses for the same effects. Mixing ketamine with other drugs (for example alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, GHB) can cause unpredictable and significant effects, increasing the risk of serious harm and death.
Nitrous oxide: A dissociative anaesthetic, with a similar effect to Ketamine. Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas commonly used for sedation and pain relief but can cause a feeling of intoxication, detachment, floating and distorted perceptions, including visual hallucinations. Nitrous oxide can cause elation, numbness, uncontrollable laughter, dyscoordination, hallucinations and sensory distortions. It can also cause a severe headache, dizziness, paranoia, reduced blood pressure and fainting.
Inhaling nitrous oxide can be fatal if you do not get enough oxygen. Prolonged use can cause memory loss, tinnitus, numbness in hands and feet, depression, psychosis and psychological dependence.
LSD: A synthetic (man made) hallucinogenic with unpredictable effects depending on dosage taken, the environment and the user’s personality and mood. LSD produces visual hallucinations and delusions, but some users report feeling despair, fear of losing control or dying, depression and long lasting psychosis.
Ecstasy/MDMA: An empathogen, which increases feelings of empathy, kindness and being socially connected to others. Some pills sold as Ecstasy may contain little or none at all. Other fillers are often used instead, so it is difficult to predict effects or side effects of the tablets.
Ecstasy users may experience euphoria, increased energy and confidence, jaw clenching, heightened sensory awareness, aches and pains, increased heart rate, dehydration (and drinking extreme amounts of water which can cause death) and heat stroke.
At higher doses Ecstasy causes hallucinations, anger, paranoia, aggression, anxiety, vomiting, high temperature and convulsions. Ecstasy can also cause unpredictable and dangerous effects when mixed with other drugs.
If you are worried about substance misuse it can be helpful initially to talk to someone you trust, such as a friend, parent, teacher or professional, such as your GP. Specialist services for young people with substance use exist in most places across the UK.
They provide support, advice and evidence based interventions for young people struggling with substance misuse, with support for parents and carers. You can usually self refer or be referred by your GP.