Did you know that more than 15 million Americans suffer from depression at any given moment? And did you know that women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression?

          Although the majority of adolescent girls are healthy and show signs of strong mental health, 1 in 4 girls exhibit depressive symptoms. That means that an average of ¼ of the girls in your school show signs of depression. While only 1 in 4 girls show signs of depressive symptoms, in a study done, 1 in 3 girls had had thoughts about suicide in the past 2 weeks and another 3% responded positively to the statement "I want to kill myself."

What is Depression?

          Depression can be different for every person, but these are some symptoms a person suffering from depression may exhibit:

• Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood

• Sleeping too little or too much

• Change in weight or appetite

• Loss of pleasure or interest in activities

• Feeling restless or irritable

• Persistent physical symptoms of illness that don't respond
  to treatment

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions

• Fatigue or loss of energy

• Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless

• "Accidental" drug overdose

• Persistent thoughts of suicide or death

Drug Abuse:

          From 1975-1996, the rate of marijuana use among eighth grade girls tripled. Girls are 15 times more likely than their mothers to have begun using illicit drugs by the age of 15. It used to be that boys were more likely to use drugs than girls, but now girls and boys are equally likely to use drugs. And girls are now more likely to smoke cigarettes than boys.

          Many people "experiment" with drugs at a fairly young age, as you can see from the statistics. But my question to you is, when does doing drugs stop becoming "just experimenting?" There are many reasons why you should not do drugs, but what I am going to focus on is the way drug abuse can cause depression and how depression can lead to drug abuse.

          Some drugs are highly addictive, for instance, heroin and cocaine. But there are many other drugs that are just as dangerous to your physical and mental health. When people become dependent on drugs it is known as addiction. And many times this addiction can lead to depression. Here are some examples:

          Tobacco:

          Stress and depression are related to smoking for girls. Two-thirds of girls who say they smoke several cigarettes or more per week say they do so to relieve stress. Girls with depressive symptoms are more than twice as likely to smoke as girls with low or no depressive symptoms. Teens that smoke appear to be more likely to develop depressive symptoms than their non-smoking peers. In a study done to see if there was a link between smoking and depression in teens, the researchers found that "non-depressed teens who smoked in the prior month faced approximately a four times greater risk of developing depression than non-smoking peers." The only reason researchers could find for this outcome was that nicotine may effect the central nervous system, causing the increased risk of depression.

          Ecstasy (MDMA):

          Ecstasy is another drug that is known for causing depression or depressive symptoms. The reason for this is fairly complicated. MDMA works in releasing large amounts of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that causes mood elevation and happiness. This is one of the chemicals that make it possible for you to feel happy. But when released in large amounts it causes the "ecstasy mood elevation" as well as feelings of empathy, self-acceptance and emotional closeness with so many people. Which is what so many people find rewarding about the drug. But in releasing large amounts of serotonin, MDMA also depletes the brain supply and it takes some time for the brain to replenish what it has lost. Which is why after someone does ecstasy they feel very depressed; they do not have enough serotonin to make them happy. If used repeatedly, the depletion of serotonin in the brain can cause severe long lasting depression.

          These are just two example of how drugs and depression are linked. So, think about this next time someone offers you a cigarette. And think about this next time you are feeling depressed. Instead of turning to drugs try something else. . .

Things to do when your Depressed:

          Exercise - The release of endorphins through exercise had a calming, almost euphoric effect on the body. So, this has almost the same positive effects of doing drugs without all the bad effects.

          Music - Playing music at high volumes seems to have a cleansing effect. But don't hurt your ears! Find lyrics that encourage healthy resolutions to your problems.

          Writing - Writing helps you release and reflect on your emotions. Whether you're just keeping a journal or telling a story, writing helps.

          Reading - Reading helps you get your mind off your problems for a while and can help you clarify your thoughts.

          Art - Art is a way to express yourself and your feelings. It can make you deal with your problems in a positive way. Your work becomes a pat of you that you can recognize and understand.

          Therapy - There is a difference between feeling down and actually being depressed. Sometimes you need help that come from someone other than you. It never hurts to have someone to talk to who can help you clarify your options and the outcomes of your decisions.

References:

"Issues Facing Girls in America" Holly Telfer and
the Brighter Futures Initiative Team

What is Ecstasy (MDMA)?
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/mdma.html

Teen and Therapy - Managing Depression
www.teens-and-therapy.com/html/managing_depression.html