Social anxiety disorder and panic disorder are very stressful anxiety conditions that can be physically and emotionally exhausting. For a child or teen dealing with one of these illnesses, it can seem all but impossible to cope with the everyday problems of growing up in addition to the constant strain created by their anxiety.
Unfortunately, many teens and preteens find themselves drawn to what, to them, feels like a temporary solution: drugs. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, which can make a highly anxious teen feel more relaxed and confident around his or her peers. Marijuana, another popular drug of choice for young people today, also creates an artificial sense of peace in the user. Combined with its ability to elevate mood, this gives it an obvious appeal to adolescents who are struggling with excessive anxiety.
The reliance on drugs to relax and feel comfortable around other kids can eventually develop into a physical dependence on drugs. A study designed to find “associations between anxiety disorders and substance use disorders” was recently conducted with a group of children from age fourteen to eighteen. The participating children were chosen because they had substance abuse problems, and a considerable amount of these children also had some form of an anxiety disorder. These youth who had anxiety conditions (usually social phobia or panic disorder) were found to have been diagnosed before their drug problems began.
The participants in the study were found to be more likely than their adolescent peers to start using drugs at a younger age. The most common dependence for the participants seemed to be marijuana.
If you want to know more about how anxiety disorders in children relate to drug use, you can read the original article at the link below. You will also find more information about how the study was conducted and what it may mean for treatment of children with anxiety issues.
