This month we will be discussing the risk factor of transitions and mobility. Transitions and mobility can put youth at a greater risk of substance use for many reasons. However, transitions are just part of life. Here are some of the reasons that transitions and mobility may put youth at a higher risk of substance use:
- Disruption of Social Support – Moving to a new environment or experiencing major life changes (e.g., transitioning from middle to high school) can disrupt friendships and support systems, leading to feelings of isolation, stress, or loneliness. Youth may turn to substances as a way to cope or fit in.
- Increased Stress and Anxiety – Transitions often bring uncertainty and pressure, whether it’s adjusting to new social groups, academic expectations, or family changes. Some teens may use substances as a way to manage stress and anxiety.
- Peer Influence and New Social Norms – Changing schools, neighborhoods, or social circles exposes youth to new peer groups where substance use may be more common or socially accepted. If new friends engage in drug or alcohol use, a young person may feel pressured to do the same.
- Decreased Parental Supervision – Mobility and major life changes can lead to shifts in parental monitoring, either due to parental stress, changes in work schedules, or a lack of familiarity with a new environment. Lower supervision increases the chances of risky behaviors, including substance use.
- Identity Exploration and Risk-Taking – Adolescence is already a time of self-discovery and experimentation. When combined with major life transitions, youth may take more risks, including trying substances, as they seek acceptance and a sense of belonging.
- Exposure to New Risk Factors – Moving to a different environment might introduce youth to increased availability of substances or communities where substance use is more normalized.
- Mental Health Challenges – Transitions can trigger or worsen mental health issues like depression or anxiety, both of which are linked to higher rates of substance use as youth attempt to self-medicate.
Unfortunately, adolescence is full of transitions as youth begin to gain independence and prepare for adulthood. Here are some major transitions you may want to think about:
- Transitioning from Middle School to Junior High– This transition can cause stress for many youth as the responsibilities and school structure often change.
- Transitioning from Junior High to High School– This is perhaps one of the biggest changes that affect most all youth. There are more responsibilities, more choices to be made, and exposure to older youth who are entering the early phases of adulthood.
- College– Whether the student goes off to college or stays home and attends a local college, it is still a major change. The change in schedule allows the youth with more free time, and there is also a change in academic expectation and responsibilities. This transition can also present financial challenges that can add extra stress for youth during this transition.
- Joining a new Sports Team/ Extra Curricular- As youth get older sports and extracurricular activities may become more competitive and can require extra time and effort. This can sometimes add more pressure to the youth as they experience these changes.
- Obtaining a Driver’s License– For many youth obtaining a driver’s license is exciting, but it can also present youth with much more freedom and independence.
The other portion of this specific risk factor is mobility. While transitions are something all youth go through, not every youth has the risk factor of mobility. In this sense mobility could be a student that is moving frequently maybe to different cities or states, but it could also be a student that moves frequently from one home to another within the same city. While both are risk factors, they pose different reasons for raising the risk of substance use. If your child is in a situation where they are moving frequently, I encourage you to make sure to keep the lines of communication open with your child about how they are being affected by the move and what stress they are currently experiencing. Mobility during youth cannot always be avoided, but stability can be a major protective factor in decreasing the risk of youth substance use.
As always, it is important to remember that just because a risk factor is present in the life of a child does not mean they will use substances. As caregivers it is important that we work to limit the risk factors while also increasing the number of protective factors in a child’s life as much as possible. Transitions in a child’s life cannot be avoided, so it is important to be cognizant of the transition periods and monitor your child’s behavior and mental health providing extra support and resources as needed.