Adolescent Depression as a Contributing Factor to the Development of Substance use Disorder

Abstract

dolescents represent a unique group of patients whose physical, cognitive, emotional, moral and spiritual development, as well as the environment of this development influences their values and thus subsequent behaviors. Compared to other life stages, adolescence is a period characterized by an amplified capability for behaviors that have potentially dangerous outcomes (Gullone and Moore, 2000). The term depression encompasses feelings of sadness, pain, gloom, or anger. Clinical depression specifically refers to situations wherein a person’s depressive feelings interrupt their daily life. Depression has been shown to be linked to genetics and may also result from stressors such as parental divorce, parental substance abuse, depression of a family member, or feelings of inadequacy (Birmaher et al., 1996). These stressors can lead to feelings of sadness, which some adolescents have reported to be a motivator for them in deciding to begin substance use (Taylor, 2011). This form of “self-medication” is common among adolescents who may not be identified as clinically depressed, yet still suffer from some form of depression. Co-morbidity of depression and substance use disorders are common among adolescents, and research has found that these outcomes are linked with each other (Libby et al., 2005). There is some indication that depressed adolescents may be at