Adoption & Addiction in Young Adults and Teenagers: Is There a Connection?

Adopted children and teenagers face a significantly higher risk of developing substance use disorders due to a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, early life trauma, attachment issues, and challenges in identity formation. Recognizing these factors and understanding the warning signs are crucial for adoptive parents to provide proactive support. Specialized treatment programs that combine evidence-based interventions for adoption and addiction can help adopted youth overcome these challenges and build healthy, fulfilling lives.

If you are an adoptive parent concerned about the wellbeing of your teenager, you are not alone. Many adoptive parents grapple with questions about adoption and addiction, specifically the potential link between adoption and substance abuse in young people. It’s a complex issue, but understanding the factors involved can empower you to provide the support your child needs.

While adoption offers a loving home and a brighter future, adopted youth may face unique risk factors for substance abuse. Read on to learn more about potential causes and warning signs that your teen may be at risk.

The Reality: Adoption and Addiction in Teenagers

The reality is that adopted children and teenagers face approximately twice the risk of developing substance use disorders compared to their non-adopted peers. This isn’t about blame; it’s about understanding the unique challenges they face. It’s important to recognize that this elevated risk doesn’t reflect a failing on the part of adoptive families or adopted youth themselves, but rather stems from genetic predisposition, early life experiences, attachment patterns, and identity formation challenges that uniquely affect this population. Understanding these connections allows families to recognize warning signs early, access appropriate resources, and create supportive environments that foster resilience and recovery.

While adopted children constitute approximately two percent of the general population, they represent between five and twelve percent of those seen in mental health settings. This suggests a disproportionate struggle with psychological adjustment that often manifests as substance misuse during adolescence and young adulthood. It’s a stark statistic, but it highlights the need for awareness and proactive support.

The teenage years are a vulnerable time for all young people. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, continues developing well into the early twenties. For adopted teenagers, this normal developmental vulnerability intersects with adoption-specific challenges around:

• Identity
• Belonging
• Attachment
• Trauma processing

The teenage years force confrontation with questions about origins, genetic inheritance, and self-definition that adopted youth must navigate without the seamless biographical narrative that non-adopted peers take for granted.

Research has shown that adolescents who have been adopted at any age are more likely to experience mental health concerns, such as

• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Conduct disorder
• Separation anxiety
• Major depressive disorder (MDD)

This is compared to non-adopted youth. These co-occurring mental health conditions create additional risk factors for substance experimentation and abuse, as teenagers may turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication for symptoms they struggle to manage or even articulate. The complexity of these intersecting challenges requires understanding that moves beyond simple cause-and-effect explanations to embrace the multifaceted nature of adoptee mental health and substance use vulnerability.

Why Are Adopted Teens at Higher Risk?

Several factors contribute to this increased risk, creating a complex web of challenges for adopted teenagers. Some of the key elements are below.

Genetics and Addiction

Biologically, addiction can be hereditary. Genetics and addiction research have consistently demonstrated that approximately 40 to 60 percent of addiction risk stems from inherited genetic factors. For adopted teens, this genetic predisposition remains, regardless of their adoptive environment. A Swedish study found that having a biological parent with drug abuse doubled the risk for drug abuse in the adopted child, even when that parent had no role in raising the child. This highlights the significant role genetics plays.

Adoption Trauma

Adoption trauma is a reality for many adopted children. Even infants experience the primal separation from their birth mother. For children adopted later in life, experiences of neglect, abuse, or multiple placements can compound this trauma. How does early life trauma affect addiction in adopted teenagers? Research confirms that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including separation from birth parents, significantly increase the risk for addiction in adolescence and adulthood.

Attachment Issues

Why do adopted children struggle with attachment and substance abuse? Early attachment disruptions can impact emotional regulation, stress management, and the ability to form healthy relationships. Children who lack secure attachments may turn to substances to cope with overwhelming emotions or fill a void.

Identity Formation

Adolescence is a time of self-discovery. For adopted teens, this process can be complicated by a lack of information about their biological origins. This can lead to identity uncertainty and feelings of being incomplete or different. Connecting adoption identity issues with drug misuse in young adults is crucial, as teens may turn to substances to cope with this confusion and distress.

Prenatal Substance Exposure

The impact of prenatal substance exposure on later addiction risk is another critical factor. Many children available for adoption were born to mothers struggling with substance use disorders. Exposure to drugs or alcohol during fetal development can have lasting effects on brain structure and function, increasing the risk of addiction later in life.

For Adoptees: Understanding Yourself Without Knowing Your Roots

For adopted youth trying to fit this piece into the puzzle and understand who they are and how to get better without knowing any context of their roots, the journey can feel isolating. It’s important to remember that you are not alone. Many adoptees grapple with similar questions and feelings.

Learning about the genetic component of addiction can provide validation that your struggles are not simply matters of personal weakness. Recognizing that both inherited biology and life experiences shape addiction risk can provide a more complete and less stigmatizing framework for understanding your struggles.

For Parents: Recognizing the Signs of a Struggling Teen 

What are the signs of drug addiction in an adopted teenager? It’s vital to be aware of the warning signs so you can intervene early. These signs can include

• Changes in school performance
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Changes in friend groups
• Secretive behavior
• Mood swings
• Physical symptoms like bloodshot eyes or changes in appetite

For adopted teenagers specifically, certain behavioral patterns may signal substance abuse issues while also reflecting underlying adoption-related trauma or attachment difficulties. This can include

• Intense emotional reactions to seemingly minor stressors
• Difficulty regulating emotions ranging from explosive anger to profound sadness
• Self-harming behaviors, including cutting or other forms of self-injury
• Eating disorders or disordered eating patterns
• Sexual promiscuity or other high-risk behaviors
• Expressions of wanting to die or not caring what happens can all 

These signs can indicate both substance abuse, serious underlying mental health concerns, or both, which require immediate professional attention. Adopted teens struggling with identity formation may make concerning statements about

• Not knowing who they are
• Feeling fundamentally different or damaged
• Wanting to find or contact birth parents
• Rejecting their adoptive family and adoption itself

The age at which adopted teens start experimenting with drugs varies considerably based on individual risk and protective factors, but research indicates that substance use initiation typically begins in early to middle adolescence, with the average age of first marijuana use around 14 and alcohol use sometimes starting even younger.

Taking Action: Prevention and Support

Parenting tips to prevent substance abuse in adopted adolescents are crucial. Here are some actionable steps you can take:

• Strengthen attachment: Create a secure and loving environment where your teen feels safe and understood.
• Open communication: Talk openly about adoption and substance abuse. Share any known history of addiction in the birth family and emphasize the importance of making healthy choices.
• Monitor and supervise: Know where your teen is, who they are with, and what they are doing. Set clear expectations and boundaries.
• Facilitate healthy peer relationships: Encourage involvement in positive activities and monitor peer influences.
• Address mental health issues: Seek professional help for any underlying anxiety, depression, or trauma.
• Teach coping skills: Help your teen develop healthy strategies for managing stress and emotions.

Seeking Help: Treatment Options for Adopted Youth

Addiction treatment programs for adopted young adults ideally combine evidence-based substance abuse interventions with adoption-competent care that addresses the unique psychological, relational, and identity issues that characterize this population.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are specialized treatment programs designed to address the unique needs of adopted youth struggling with substance abuse. These programs often incorporate

• Family-based therapy
• Adoption-specific therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Trauma-informed care

Finding Hope and Healing

Adoption addiction is a complex issue, but it’s not insurmountable. By understanding the risk factors, recognizing the signs, and taking proactive steps, you can help your adopted teen navigate adolescence and build a healthy, fulfilling life. Remember, you are not alone. Reach out to adoption support groups, therapists specializing in adoption, and other resources for guidance and support.

If you’re concerned about your adopted teen’s wellbeing, Mountainside can help. We treat substance abuse and co-occurring disorders with individualized and comprehensive treatment plans. Speak with an admissions specialist today to find out about your options.