Historical and Social Factors
Substance abuse is not just an individual issue—it’s deeply affected by historical and social contexts. For instance, Indigenous communities in North America face higher rates of substance use due to historical trauma such as colonization and residential schools (Spillane et al., 2022).
Social stigma also prevents many unemployed young adults from seeking help, making them more vulnerable to substance abuse. In areas with high unemployment, mental health and addiction services are often limited or underfunded, continuing the cycle of disadvantage.
Understanding and addressing these deeper systemic factors is key to creating lasting change in substance use prevention efforts.