Describe the general relationship between illegal psychoactive drug use and age. What age group has the highest rate of drug use? Describe one way age is related to an increase in drug use and one way age is related to a decrease in drug use.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Drug use peaks during the early adulthood ages of 18 to 25. A variety of socially structured factors shape this pattern. In some instances, drug consumption may occur during the intense period of identity development expected during adolescence and early adulthood. In attempting to more clearly define their identities, young people may see risks as a challenge and sensation-seeking as a part of personal growth. Thus, risk-taking can contribute to self-introspection and identity formation. Young people may feel self-exploration is a way of obtaining a broad range of life experiences before taking on enduring-and limiting-adult responsibilities. Some indicate they are doing drugs because youth is "the time to get it out of my system."
Answers to the second part of this question will vary, but may include: Young people also often attempt to forge independent decisions, including about drug and alcohol use, because self-sufficiency and self-reliance are bound up with their conceptions of adulthood. Decisions about drug and alcohol use may be part of these assertions of independent decision-making. Drug use may be one way to engage in risky behaviors in an effort to distance themselves from their parents and parental values. Finally, early adulthood is distinguished by relative independence from social roles and normative expectations, a freedom that allows young people to be tremendously self-oriented and to engage in behaviors such as drug use.
Drug use, including drinking alcohol, typically declines beginning in the mid-20s as young adults assume the social roles and responsibilities of full adulthood. Note, it is changes in the social features of their lives-not physiological or cognitive changes-that enable this shift. The significant decline in drug use across young adulthood is often referred to as maturing out and occurs naturally, without treatment or other forms of intervention. Not only the weekend pot smoker but even those engaged in heavier drug use or hard drug use can experience maturing out. This is not to say that aging is a substitute for drug treatment, but users of many substances tend to follow this pattern.