Non-profit organization RAND Corp. has come out with a finding published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behavior. Drug addicts who tend to use substance like marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes in solitude, tend to develop behavioral and health problems at a younger age, and to have a harder time quitting, as opposed to those who do so, in a social setting or in groups.
The results stem from a study spreading over nine years and involving 6000 teens that were involved in a drug prevention campaign.They were quizzed at different phases of their school life such as middle school and high school as well as when they reached the age of 23.
'Solitary use is a warning sign that youth will be less productive and have more problems as young adults' says Joan Tucker, lead author of the study.
Behavioral problems include continuing of substance abuse into young adulthood and difficulty with life skills, as well as physical health problems.
The challenge is to identify these at-risk children and find out what type of assistance might benefit them.' concludes Tucker.
Source-Medindia
SRI
