Wednesday, August 30, 2017

First eight years of life critical in preventing substance abuse

Studies suggest that the vast majority of people who become addicted to alcohol, tobacco, and drug usually had their first taste of the bad stuff when they were young – in fact very, very young. In recent decades, substance abuse has even become more prevalent among pre-teen children, showing the sad reality that no child is safe from an epidemic of addiction. 

Image source: Pixabay.com 

Now it appears that different factors affect a child’s self-control and overall mental health from pregnancy through the eighth year of life, according to an online guide on early childhood interventions launched by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in March 2016. While substance abuse usually begins during teenage years, it has existing biological, psychological, social, as well as environmental roots that start even prior to birth. 

“We now know that early intervention can set the stage for more positive self-regulation as children prepare for their school years,” said NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow in a media release announcing the launch of “Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood,” which tackles major influences on early development issues such as lacking school readiness skills and uncontrolled aggression. 

It is deemed crucial to understand what draws kids to drugs, and be armed with basic information about the substances that currently prevail in their neighborhood. It is also important to be cognizant of the signs that a drug problem might be taking root in the home. 

Image source: Pixabay.com 

Dr. Curtis Cripe was the founder of the Crossroads Institute, which formulated neuroengineering programs to diagnose and treat a wide array of neurological dysfunctions, including addiction and learning disorders. Learn more on this page.

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