Jacob Rodriguez • 2024 McNair Summer Research Symposium • July 8, 2024

Jacob Rodriguez

Class of 2025

Major: Music

Mentor: Carolyn Tubbs, PhD

St. Mary’s University

Analyzing the Relationships between Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Disorders in American Adolescents, aged 12 to 25, Using a Quantitative,

Correlational Design

There have been series of articles which analyze the relationships between substance abuse and

mental health disorders among. Many of these resources provide statistics which display the

impact that substance abuse can have on mental health, and vice versa. Moreover, among the

population of substance users, a wide fraction of them are adolescents. Adolescents who suffer

from substance abuse and other mental health disorders generally come from low-income

households or impoverished communities, poor quality education or have low educational

achievement, and are unemployed or have low-paying jobs. A high percentage of these

individuals are also white, with only a fraction of them being Hispanic, black, or other.

Additionally, both males and females appear to be significantly affected by the impact of

substance abuse in their lives.

This research examines the relationship between substance abuse disorders and mental health

disorders in a national sample of adolescents, ages 12-25. The research was conducted using a

quantitative, correlational design. The results indicated multiple significant positive and negative

correlations between substance abuse and mental health concerns. The results suggest the need

for greater advocacy against substance abuse in adolescent populations and increased treatment

to prevent its negative consequences. In this way, people can understand the devastating effects

of substance abuse and initiate recovery, which would create a future that is populated with

healthy emerging adults.

Keywords: Anhedonia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Abuse Disorders,

Bidirectionality