Many teens experiment with both depressants such as alcohol and stimulants such as Adderall. Each of these two distinct classes of drugs brings its own effects and its own risks. For some, they can be addictive. 

For example, researchers have found that there is a strong association between major depression and substance abuse. And other mental health problems such as social anxiety, PTSD, behavioral conduct disorders and eating disorders are all made worse with substance abuse. And more so because teen brains are still developing. As a result, the outcome of teenage “self-medication” can be even more problematic.

Substance use escalates from experimentation to a serious disorder much faster in teens than adults. What’s more, that progression is much more likely to occur in teens with mental health disorders. Understanding this process and its impacts can be the first step to seeking treatment which can be successful. Read on to learn more.

What Are Stimulants?

Stimulants produce a euphoric rush that makes them prone to abuse. Stimulants speed up messages traveling between the brain and body. You can feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic. They include:

• Legal substances like caffeine and nicotine
• Prescription medications like dexamphetamines, Adderall, Ritalin
• Illicit substances like speed, ice, MDMA or cocaine

Stimulants act on neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine to not only increase concentration, but to improve mood. Norepinephrine affects blood vessels, blood pressure, heat rate, blood sugar levels and breathing. Dopamine reinforces rewarding behaviors.

How Do Stimulants Affect Teen Mental Health?

Often teens turn to stimulants with the pressure to perform well on exams, using prescription stimulants like ADHD medicines Adderall and Ritalin to boost alertness, energy, concentration and self-confidence while they pull all-nighters. 

But studies have found that these stimulants do not increase learning or thinking ability when taken by those who are not diagnosed with ADHD [1]. However, continued use can lead to abuse and tolerance which may lead to addiction. This can have a multiplying effect on teens’ mental health, possibly compounded by other underlying mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.

Other teens turn to stimulants to get high, attracted by the euphoria and other feelings that come with it, including suppression of appetite. The increase in dopamine levels which follows can be a pathway to addiction as they feel compelled to seek out the high on an ongoing basis. And teens sometimes crush the pills to snort or inject the drugs. This can have very severe side effects as noted below and deepen their psychological dependence.

What Are Depressants?

Depressant substances such as alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepine or ketamine affect the central nervous system. They act on neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and GABA to slow down messages between the nerve cells and the brain and body. They reduce arousal and stimulation. Depressants can affect concentration and coordination and slow down your ability to respond to unexpected situations. 

In Small Amounts

They can make you feel: 

• Relaxed
• Less inhibited
• Enhanced mood
• Euphoria
• Reduced anxiety and stress
• Slowed reaction time
• Impaired judgment
• Slowed breathing
• Increase risk of accident or injury

In Higher Amounts:

They can make you feel:

• Drowsy
• Impaired judgment and coordination
• Vomiting
• Irregular or shallow breathing
• Blackouts and memory loss
• Unconscious
• Coma
• Death

How Do Depressants Affect Teen Mental Health? 

Depressants such as alcohol or marijuana are often used by depressed teens to cheer themselves up and quiet the negative thoughts they often have. Following peer pressure, they start maybe with a cannabis joint before school to calm themselves down. Soon they are consuming more which can become doubly problematic as the underlying depression only worsens, giving rise to suicidal behavior for some who use cannabis or alcohol or even worse, benzodiazepines or opiates.

Alcohol has a different impact on teens than adults, who tend to become subdued. Teens become more energetic and even aggressive and impulsive under the influence of alcohol. This leads to riskier behavior which may have serious consequences especially while driving. As well, the nature of the teenage brain makes it easier to become addicted to alcohol compared to adults [3].

Substance use can seriously interfere with a teen’s life even if they aren't dependent on the drug. While they may not have the same cravings or withdrawal symptoms as adults, their marks may be plummeting and they may be losing their original friendship group, substituted with new drug-using ones.

As well, using alcohol and other depressant drugs may provide temporary relief from stressors, anxiety or depression, but then teens feel even worse when not consuming substances. This is what makes it a risk factor for suicide. As well, substance use lessens teen’s engagement in therapy and may lower the effectiveness of certain medications.

Stimulants vs Depressants 

Both stimulants and depressants have wide ranging effects, summarized below [2]:

Florida Addiction Treatment for Teens 

At Lotus Behavioral Health our focus is on renewing and restoring wholeness for teens and their families. Our addiction treatment programs are designed to support teens and their families with the tools they need to recover from substance abuse & co-occurring mental health disorders. We provide supervised care at our Florida residential treatment center or flexible outpatient services to meet teens and their families at all stages of recovery.

Sources

[1] Merino S. and J. Yen. Stimulants Abuse in Teens. 2017. Health. Choc.org

[2] Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) Australia. Stimulants and Depressants.

[3] Miller C. 2024. Mental Health Disorders and Teen Substance Use. Child Mind Institute.

Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders: Updated 2021 [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 33.) Chapter 3—Medical Aspects of Stimulant Use Disorders