Introduction: Among adolescents, the most commonly used psychoactive substances are marijuana and alcohol. The abuse of psychoactive substances during the developmental period strongly affects adolescents' mental health, increases the risk of developing addiction, and the tendency toward risky behavior. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to investigate the impact of marijuana and alcohol use on adolescents' mental health and to highlight the importance of preventive actions in nursing care when working with adolescents. Methods: In the thesis, we used a descriptive method of work with a review of scientific and professional literature. We used a timeframe from 2016 to 2026. Literature was searched in English using the following keywords: adolescents, adolescents AND cannabis use AND alcohol use AND mental health, mental health AND adolescents, adolescents AND substance use, in the databases CINAHL, Medline (PubMed), ScienceDirect. Literature was also searched in professional reports of international and national organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), and the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). We included 40 articles in the analysis. Results: Early initiation of marijuana and alcohol use increases the risk of developing addiction, the occurrence of mental disorders such as psychosis, depression, and anxiety disorders. The possibility of risky behaviors also increases; in alcohol abuse, the rate of suicidal risk, suicides, and death due to intoxication increases, while in marijuana abuse, attention capacity decreases, executive functions are impaired, and the likelihood of anxiety and suicidal thoughts later in life increases. Discussion and Conclusion: The development of mental disorders, addiction, and suicidality can occur as a consequence of alcohol and marijuana abuse. Nursing care represents an important part of the multidisciplinary approach in treating patients with addiction, especially through educational work with adolescents. Addiction is still stigmatized, and there is insufficient awareness about it and the consequences of psychoactive substance abuse.
|