Life Changes and Substance Use
Young adulthood is marked by many significant life transitions including finishing school, starting careers, moving away from home, or ending relationships. These transitions can cause stress and instability, especially when combined with unemployment.
According to Patrick et al. (2020), the more life transitions a young adult experiences, the more likely they are to turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. Social pressures, especially those amplified by social media, may intensify feelings of inadequacy when young adults compare themselves to peers.
Financial barriers may prevent unemployed youth from accessing mental health support or healthy stress relief methods like gym memberships or counseling. As a result, drugs and alcohol may appear to be their only available coping strategies.