The recent new wave of Gen Z and the newest generation, Gen Alpha, have brought many advantages to the growing age of the modern period.
More so, it has allowed the generation to see the flaws and consequences of our past generations and use that knowledge to seek out better ways of coping and having a more nuanced view of certain aspects of life.
We see this in the way Gen Z handles alcohol, as it has been reported that there has been a reduction in the consumption of alcohol in the younger generations.
Now why exactly is that?
Better Awareness
We know for certain that these times have been a staple for better awareness and better consideration for the diverse and unique backgrounds of people.
Due to this, the awareness of people’s health and general well-being has also been considered more. This is usually due to being able to see the effects of neglecting health and well-being in previous generations, serving as a lesson for the future.
How alcohol addictions can have terrible aftermaths, a rise in anti-drinking cultures all around the world, and a notable consideration for unneeded expenses like buying alcohol are many factors that less and less Gen Z has been.
As much as that is an extremely positive outcome for our future livelihood, there is another side to the entire ordeal.
Which is that they have found a newer way of twisting the way addiction can happen through their own means.
Usage of Drugs
Due to the heightened awareness of mental health and therapy nowadays, there has been more praise and encouragement for mental healthcare and seeking to understand oneself and help in the positive development that benefits them and even others.
This has been a staple for us as mental healthcare becomes more accessible for people everywhere in the world, thus making it a widely done practice that benefits many.
But there is a downside, which is when some use the medication provided to them for other means.
What could be happening in the long run is that, due to the accessibility of medications nowadays, Gen Z instead uses these medications for coping with issues and helping them overcome school stress, social stressors, and many more.
This inevitably leads to drug overdose, which has been documented as a rise in cases of drug usage that can contribute to many deaths due to overdosing.
So even though the younger generation is much more aware of the effects of harmful substances like alcohol and is more open-minded about various topics and scenarios, it does not mean that previous negative coping mechanisms have been permanently diminished, but they have only been repurposed according to the time period.
So, why is this happening?
The need to be better
It’s no mystery that the modern age puts a heavy emphasis on social standing and the need to feel accepted by everyone, whether it be peers, outside forces, etc.
This has been more apparent with the rise of social media usage, especially being seen in younger people, as the need for numbers, recognition, and validation becomes the most important thing in daily life.
The culture of partying and raves has also been a big part of Gen Z culture, which also highly encourages the use of drugs such as marijuana, vaping, and various other “party drugs."
With the added fact that Gen Z has become the generation that has had the most mental health crises of any other generation, with depression, anxiety, and stress affecting almost everyone among the youth, a cycle starts to form that slowly eats away at a person’s well-being.
Where the accessibility of mental health care and medications that improve workflow, provide calmer responses, and have heightened results is concerned, it’s no wonder why most people would get addicted to them.
Unlike alcohol, which we have been seeing negative consequences of in the older generations, the newer generations become addicted based on the idea of becoming a better version of themselves and for the sake of validation from peers and a sense of control over their own mental health.
So, if that’s the case,
What does this mean for us?
If what we have noted here is indeed true, that even though the newer generations have become more positively developed and are more knowledgeable than previous generations, there have still been practices that are being reinvented into different other coping mechanisms that become another large-scale negative impact on the lives of many- then...
Is that it then? Just an endless cycle? Are these negative coping mechanisms just ingrained in our human psyches and will continue like that for years to come?
It’s also apparent these behaviours come from the need to have that quick fix to life pressures that constantly plague our journeys, where we instead indulge in quick fixes that help in either making us not think about our problems or, in the case of medications, allowing us to overthink less and have ease of mind.
The only problem is the excessive use of something meant to be beneficial, which can be disastrous, as the human body can only take so much, and so can even a person’s mental health.
So what can we do?
As much as there has been a rise in these kinds of scenarios with cases on the rise, we can take efforts to try and minimize or educate others about such cases and spread awareness about the safe use of medications and their limits.
Enabling better coping mechanisms can also be beneficial, such as yoga, exercise, journaling, indulging in hobbies and interests, seeking therapy, and even just spending time with yourself and understanding yourself as a person can be more than enough for the average person.
It comes to a point where we must note that as long as we become more mindful in overcoming tough situations, the less we are to go back to more harmful patterns of behavior.
So the best thing we can do is to be open-minded, help others, and be knowledgeable about different areas of life.
Until then, we can only help ourselves and each other for a better future.
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