Substance abuse is a growing public health issue despite numerous campaigning programs to raise awareness regarding its hazards. Unfortunately, womankind has also become a victim of this problem, which puts the future generation in peril. Reports have shown that girls nurture into women between the ages of 10 to 25, and this period matures them psychologically and physically. This period of transaction is accompanied by susceptibility and a solid desire to fit in. Drugs and alcohol seem like excellent companions to them in times of such confusion, leading to substance abuse then or soon. 

However, it is essential to understand that drugs might temporarily bring joy and relaxation; it is not a solution to any on-hand problem. It is not only addictive but, in fact, poisonous. They affect the mind and blur the memory by intercepting the brain’s functions and signals to the body. Drugs make the victim slower and less creative, causing their bodies to decay sooner than ever. What one might comprehend for tranquility is the sedative power of substance, making the human responses slower. 

Regrettably, the problem is getting out of hand, with more and more women becoming targets of substance abuse. For instance, Florida had a first-hand experience with numerous Opioid-effected youngsters, many of whom were female. Rehab centers like Palm Beach Institute are working endlessly to change society and help these individuals. As responsible members of the community, we must understand the cause behind this rising issue. Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why women do drugs:

Mental Illness

Reports have shown that 75% of girls in high school feel helpless and are victims of mental illness due to hopelessness. It makes depression and anxiety a prevalent issue in adolescent females, making them more prone to suicidal thoughts than young boys. Drugs are typically parallel to mental illness, and suicidal or depressed girls often think of them as a last resort. The risk of substance abuse increases when they self-medicate and become reliant on medications to help them escape their illness. Unfortunately, many don’t have access to trustworthy professional support to help them understand their disorder or condition. Hence, several young girls opt for drugs to rationalize their feelings and make sense of their depressive episodes. Drugs give them an illusion of uplifting feeling, which they’re craving. 

Response to Stress

Medical research studies suggest that females internalize their stress instead of men, who respond more aggressively and vocally. Many factors could be causing stress to females, namely, financial, career, family, or school pressure. According to a survey, almost half the women of the population sample indicated that they were not very effective in stress management. To relieve themselves from the ongoing stress, women of all ages are vulnerable to drug use. Sometimes their financial condition is conducive to the feeling of being a burden or being trapped, and the desperation leads to recreational drugs. These tiny pills and fluids help them ease out of dealing with all the responsibilities all at once. 

Societal Pressure

Despite numerous laws and regulations being made in the name of women, there are still some unavoidable social disparities that can become too challenging for young girls. Career pressure, for one, can be pretty stressful because women are limited to only a few options. And often don’t have family funds to afford their preferred education. Job opportunities are also limited to them and often give them entitlement to lesser pay than their male peers. It makes them question their self-worth and increases their desire to boost performance. All this makes them more susceptible to drug use as a way to cope with the burden. Even at school, young girls have to go through gender discriminatory policies, which confuses them and often agitates their mental health. To seek comfort, and as an act of rebellion, they often opt for harmful substances leading to addiction. 

Traumatic Experiences

Traumatic experiences are life-altering and can lead to a severe drug addiction problem, especially in adolescent boys and girls. They are unaware of how to deal with the abuse, physical or sexual, and instead find their escape in alcohol and drugs. Research studies have suggested that girls who have been victims of abuse are more likely to use drugs, smoke, or commit suicide than girls who haven’t had abused in childhood. These traumatic events are imprinted in the memory, making people unable to move past them and continue with everyday life. Abuse in childhood can have a severe psychological impact as it can often resurface at unwanted moments. To forget those memories, women use drugs so that they can hold on to a semblance of normalcy without having to be reminded of their trauma. Past traumas and ongoing ones can also trigger substance abuse because people can quickly get addicted to drugs as a means to let go of their sufferings. 

Low Self-Esteem

Low self-confidence and lack of self-esteem is a common problem in the younger female population. It is because of several reasons. It may be because of the picture-perfect portrayal of the female body on television and social media, causing many women to doubt their beauty. This image created by the media is a leading cause of drug abuse in many youngsters because they start to think of it as trendy and cool. Self-confidence issues also lead to women feeling trapped and thinking that drugs may give them the missing boost. Schoolgirls often try to fit in and intake pills to seem calm or to control their weight. 

Isolation

The feeling of loneliness can cause people to feel disconnected from humans and reality, craving an escape from it all. Mainly due to the pandemic, people are trapped inside homes – for their education or work – they are not allowed to go outside. Women feel more disconnected than ever because of growing worries for their family’s health, increasing house chores, depressive news around them, and not leaving the house. Isolation often turns into depression, and it intensifies the feeling of helplessness. To numb this feeling of emptiness, women opt for drugs that can help them feel alive again. They give them a fake sense of satisfaction of purpose, which brightens their mood. But only for some time, which leads to addiction and can cause substance overdose. 

Conclusion 

Conclusively, there is still much misinformation and false news surrounding us regarding drugs and their uses. Media often glamorizes it, causing teenage girls to opt for it just out of curiosity, and the next thing you know, it turns into an addiction. Continuous campaigning to raise awareness is essential, along with educational programs held at schools and workplaces. There also needs to be more research studies to solve the problem for women and young children because it’s becoming a serious issue worldwide.

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