The 8 Most Dangerous Drugs Used By Young Adults

It isn’t just alcohol that is overly indulged in, however. Young adults also have a penchant for experimenting with illicit drugs. Unfortunately, as a result of the high-risk substance use, many will discover they are not so invincible after all.

The young adult age group happens to have the highest rates of cannabis, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Out of about 34 million young adults (18-25) in the U.S., about 30% reported engaging in binge drinking in the last month, and 20% used an illicit drug in the last year. In 2018, approximately 5 million young adults needed substance abuse treatment, although only 547,000 actually received treatment.

More work is needed to better inform teens and young people about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Too many are succumbing to the lure of getting high and taking huge risks with their health. Learn here about the most dangerous drugs young adults are experimenting with.

A Young Adult Brain is Still Developing

The region of the brain affected by drug use is the prefrontal cortex. This area contains the limbic system where executive functions like decision-making, impulse control, and emotion regulation take place. Substances can alter the brain cells and cause impairment in these functions.

Substance use in the teen and young adult years can disrupt the process of brain development during this phase of life. The brain is not fully developed until the mid-20s, so substances can cause interference in this development process.

In addition, alcohol abuse at an early age sets the stage for developing an alcohol use disorder later in life. Several studies have shown that early age alcohol exposure is a risk factor for alcohol dependence in adulthood.

What Are the 8 Most Dangerous Substances Used By Young Adults?

When researching which drugs used by young adults are most dangerous, some of these may not at first seem to be dangerous. However, the health and mental health effects are just as serious as the more illicit drugs used by young adults. These 8 substances top the list as most dangerous:

Alcohol

Alcohol use is highest among young adults. Alcohol is a central focus of party games for this age group, which can often result in binge drinking activities. With binge drinking comes the risk of alcohol poisoning, car accidents, DUI, sexual assault and other violent acts. One in ten young adults has an alcohol use disorder. Consistent alcohol abuse also increases the risk of developing alcohol dependence.

Marijuana

Cannabis use is ubiquitous in this age group. With many states relaxing their laws regarding marijuana use, this has given a green light to increased use of the substance. Today’s cannabis has much more concentrated THC, which has even led to psychosis. Potent edibles contribute to the dangers of cannabis use, but it is the vaping epidemic that poses the most risk. The liquid THC compounds used in vaping have been tied to lung damage and even death.

Hallucinogens

Party drugs or designer drugs are still popular among young adults. These include such substances as MDMA (aka “Ecstasy” or “Molly”), MDPV (“bath salts”), LSD, amyl nitrates, and psilocybin.

About 11% of college-age young adults reports having used hallucinogens. These drugs are associated with an increase in mental health problems, risky sexual behaviour, impulsivity, and problems with other drugs.

Cocaine and other stimulants

Stimulants like cocaine and Adderall are increasingly used by college students. Adderall in particular, a prescription medication intended for people with ADHD, is widely misused as a study aid among this age group. Dangers from stimulants are respiratory issues, seizure, psychosis, and addiction.

Prescription opioids

Prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and Oxycontin, are still being widely used recreationally among young people. These powerful synthetic opiates are highly addictive. Tolerance increases rapidly, leading to higher dosing and eventually dependence. Students may turn to heroin as a cheap alternative.

Benzodiazepines

Sedatives like Xanax, Ativan, and Valium are meant for people who suffer from an anxiety disorder, yet are used recreationally, often combined with alcohol use. This class of drugs is highly addictive and very difficult to detox from once dependency forms. When combined with alcohol, the sedating effect on the central nervous system can lead to respiratory distress.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a synthetic stimulant that is composed of toxic chemicals. This highly addictive drug can cause permanent brain damage, skin infections, severe dental decay, and paranoia, psychosis, and stroke.

Heroin

Heroin is a morphine derivative that is made from certain types of poppy plants. It is another highly addictive substance and is associated with tens of thousands of deaths each year. Anyone using heroin in recent years risks ingesting the deadly fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin.

Treatment Options for Young Adults

When a young adult has developed a substance use disorder, the earlier it is addressed and treated, the more optimistic the outcome. Treatment includes multiple therapeutic activities that help the young person break the reflexive addiction behaviour patterns. Treatment interventions will include:

Detox.

Detox launches the recovery journey by cleansing the body of the toxins related to the substance. This usually takes 5-7 days.

Psychotherapy.

Therapy helps the person to address their thought and behaviour patterns and to reshape them in a positive manner.

Group therapy.

Group sessions include peers in recovery who can share their own personal stories and feelings.

Family therapy.

Family group includes family members who will learn how to set boundaries and also how to support their loved one in recovery.

Twelve Step program.

The 12-step program of A.A. provides a roadmap for making substantive changes in daily behaviours.

Education.

Learning about how substances impact the brain can help deter future substance use. Relapse prevention counselling is also included.

Young adults, who are susceptible to peer pressure and exploring their adult freedoms, may be prone to drug and alcohol abuse. Teaching them about the dangers of these substances can hopefully provide useful information that will guide their decision-making.

Ken Seeley is an internationally acclaimed interventionist, having years of experience in this field. Certified as a Board Registered Interventionist-Level 2, Seeley has worked full-time in the business of recovery and intervention since 1989. He is a regular contributor to CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and ABC on the topics of addiction and intervention. He was one of three featured interventionists on the Emmy Award-winning television series, Intervention, on A&E. He is also the author of “Face It and Fix It,” about overcoming the denial that leads to common addictions while bringing guidance to those struggling with addiction. Ken Seeley is the founder and C.E.O. of Ken Seeley Communities , a full spectrum addiction recovery program located in Palm Springs, California.