Development and Substance Use
Running head: DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE
1
Adolescent Psychosocial Development and the Impact of Substance Use
Michael S. Bermes
University of Central Florida

Development and Substance Use 2
Adolescent Psychosocial Development and the Impact of Substance Use
Introduction and Purpose
To assess the impact of substance use upon the development of an adolescent human being is not an easy task that has simple answers. However, to analyze these somewhat complex outcomes our text references Erik Erickson as the proposed theory of choice (Van Wormer &
Davis, 2008). Several other personality and developmental theorists propose alternative development and trait pathways such as Freud, Adler, Horney, Fromm, Murray, Allport, Cattell, but only Erickson seems to address the life-span approach in incremental stages (Schultz &
Schultz, 2005).
Any substances we place in our bodies are either converted usefully or not assimilated and the residual effects throw our body out of harmony at the least and destroy human cells and possible death at the other extreme (Kramer, 2007). Therefore, it is a continuum of impact upon the tasks, body, mind, and possibly the development of the human system and the supportive eco-systems in our lives. However, does the environment and systems dictate the use of the substances or do the substances dictate the environment and systems that surround us especially in the crisis years of adolescence?
The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the environment and genetics have as much impact, if not more, upon substance use as substance use has upon the human system. We will focus upon Erickson’s stage of “identity verses role confusion” (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008) and the tasks of developing our self-image, identity, roles, identifying peer groups, and differences between the genders. It must be noted that even though we are concentrating upon this stage of Erickson’s theory the other seven stages must be considered because of the thought

Development and Substance Use 3 that failure to negotiate any of these stages or crisis may create maladaptive behaviors that negatively affect the development of future stages of strength development. Therefore, suggesting that previous stage maladaptive behaviors may influence substance use prior to the adolescent phase of life we are now analyzing (Schultz & Schultz, 2005). Another point considered is that Erickson believed that the development processes are also colored by the
“epigenetic principle of maturation” which essentially states that inherited and genetic traits are the foundation for all of the stages of development (Schultz & Schultz, 2005). This obviously points to the idea that we simply do not have control over all of the systems we operate within during our life span.
Identity and Role Confusion
One of the things we must consider is that the development of a human being is so complex that one theory or model cannot embrace all the contextual factors that impact one’s development (Berger, 2003). To assess one’s development we should attempt to filter it at least through three broad layers consisting of history, socioeconomic status, and culture in order to ascertain the full impact of external and internal variables upon that continuum of growth within a person’s life (Berger, 2003). Adding substance use to any human being will distort and change the patterns of growth, the ability to negotiate developmental tasks, and exacerbate the already vulnerable and volatile period of adolescence in varying degrees depending upon the continuum of usage of respective substances (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). Consequently, this writer asks what came first, the chicken or the egg? In other words, does the predisposition to substance abuse alter development and occur before the addiction or does the addiction or substance misuse occur therefore changing the developmental flow because of a simple substance use or deviant peer relationship? The literature suggests that there it a clear combination of both that gives

Development and Substance Use 4 genesis to maladaptive behaviors within any stage of development, but it is amplified by the turbulence of adolescence.
Impacting Research
Obviously, adolescence is a significant time for change specifically in the physiological development of the central nervous system (CNS) including the brain. These changes in the
CNS create a greater vulnerability for risk-taking and impulse control in the individual. This combined with the changing and less restrictive relationship with the parental system and the possibility of selecting peers who may be deviant or less inhibited creates an exponentially higher jeopardy to engage in risky behaviors and substance usage. The research shows once the adolescent engages in substance usage the subsequent effects create higher risks for alternative substances, degradating their ability to select functional peer groups, skewing their self-image, and neurobehavioral dysfunction eventually resulting in substance abuse disorder (SUD) and possible continued dysfunction for the remaining years of their lives (Schepis, Adinoff, & Rao,
2008).
One interesting longitudinal study involving over 1,400 male and female adolescents indicated that early onset of puberty or maturation greatly increased the risk of substance use and future SUD. It is further pronounced in those who matured early with conduct disorder, deviant peer relationships, and again the lack of parental controls especially in female subjects. These results suggest that there again is a greater impact from individual development itself and the biopsychosocial environment prior to usage of substances in adolescents (Costello, Sung,
Worthman, & Angold, 2007).
Another piece of research literature showed a link with early physical maturation and a deviant peer environment as the driving force for the evolution of substance use disorders

Development and Substance Use 5
(Kirillova, Vanyukov, Kirisci, & Reynolds, 2008). Different research indicated an extremely high prevalence of SUD in those adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) (Wilson, 2007), and yet another tied early age first sexual intercourse and deviant peer affiliations with the onset of SUD (Cornelius, Clark, Reynolds, Kirisci, & Tarter, 2007).
Conclusion
There is seemingly sufficient research to support the claim that genetics, environmental stressors, and metabolic or physiological responses or changes can alone create a liability for
SUD and subsequent negative effects upon accomplishing the tasks within any stage of development. It is also supported that with the liability present, the addition of a substance an adolescent is almost surely guaranteed a SUD in later life. However, continuing with Erickson’s theory of stages of development it appears clear that these predictors of SUD liability and subsequent failure to negotiate a stage and its tasks could be because of previous stage failures creating maladaptive behaviors that influence the present stage. These weaknesses do not mean that a person cannot lead a productive life. Erickson states that we can recover in later stages by finding adaptive ways to offset previous maladaptive behaviors thus creating positive life outcomes (Schultz & Schultz, 2005).

Development and Substance Use
References
Berger, K. (2003). The Developing Person through Childhood (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Worth
Publishers.
Cornelius, J., Clark, D., Reynolds, M., Kirisci, L., & Tarter, R. (2007). Early age of first sexual intercourse and affiliation with deviant peers predict development of SUD: A prospective longitudinal study. Addictive Behaviors, 32 , 850-854.
Costello, J., Sung, M., Worthman, C., & Angold, A. (2007). Pubertal maturation and the development of alcohol use and abuse. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 88 (S), S50-59.
Retrieved February 9, 2008, from Science Direct.com Web site: http:// www.sciencedirect.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/science/journal/03768716
Kirillova, G., Vanyukov, M., Kirisci, L., & Reynolds, M. (2008). Physical maturation, peer environment, and the ontogenesis of substance use disorders. Psychiatry Research,
158 (1), 43-53. Retrieved February 9, 2008, from Science Direct.com Web site: http:// www.sciencedirect.com.ucfproxy.fcla.edu/science/journal/01651781
Kramer, S. (2007). Relinquishing Substance Use - Abuse . Retrieved February 8, 2008, from
Susan Kramer, PhD Web site: http://www.susankramer.com/
RelinquishingSubstanceUse.html
Schepis, T., Adinoff, B., & Rao, U. (2008). Neurobiological Processes in Adolescent Addictive
Disorders. American Journal on Addictions, 17 (1), 6-23. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from Inform a World.com Web site: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10550490701756146
Schultz, D., & Schultz, S. (2005). Theories of Personality (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson,
Wadsworth.
6

Development and Substance Use 7
Van Wormer, K., & Davis, D. (2008). Addiction Treatment: A Strengths Perspective (2nd ed.).
Belmont, CA: Thomson, Brooks/Cole.
Wilson, J. (2007). ADHD and Substance Use Disorders: Developmental Aspects and the Impact of Stimulant Treatment. American Journal on Addictions, 16 , 5-13.