Drugs and adolescence
The November Monitor highlights the potential risks of marijuana to the developing adolescent brain. Indeed, introducing any drugs into the developing brains of our youth should be done with extreme caution. While the field responds to the legalization of marijuana and the potential increased exposure of our youth, our field continues to look the other direction in response to exposure to psychotropic medications. There is an abundance of research pointing to adverse effects (both structural and neurochemical) as a result of psychotropic exposure. Whether it is cocaine-like structural changes as a result of stimulant exposure, damaged axons as a result of antidepressant exposure, or neurotoxic impact of antipsychotics, the field embraces these interventions as viable options toward health. More youth are being medicated — with more medications (and combined medications) — and at younger ages than in any other country on the planet. While concerns about illegal drug exposures to the developing brains of our youth are warranted, so too are concerns about prescribed medications.
Robert Foltz, PsyD
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Child caregivers
The "Invisible caregivers" article in the September Monitor included cogent comments on the positive and negative experiences of youth who provide caregiving. The article comments on a number of variables (such as social connectedness, personality traits and school programs) that may have an effect on positive and negative experiences. But, the article did not include anything about how culture may also be a factor in whether or not a caregiving youth has a positive or negative experience. Are children and adolescents who come from a collectivist culture more likely to have a positive experience compared with children and adolescents from an individualistic culture? For example, children who are taught to value the group (for example, the family) may view caregiving as an honor or as an understandable expectation rather than as a burden.
This perspective could possibly yield more positive experiences in comparison with caregiving youth from an individualistic culture. For those children who identify strongly with their collectivist culture, these effects might be especially pronounced. Another question is whether having multiple siblings influences the experience in some way. I would assume that sharing the workload of being a child caregiver might reduce some of the negative impacts (such as poor grades, feelings of isolation, etc.) that can accompany this role. I believe that researchers who study child caregivers should strive to include culture (broadly defined), because it plays such a vital role in each person's development and in each person's experience of adversity.
Kayla B. Phillips
Counseling psychology doctoral student, Auburn University
Please send letters to Sara Martin, Monitor Editor. Letters should be no more than 250 words and may be edited for space and clarity.
