Parents.

Why Do Teenagers Use Drugs and Alcohol?

There are plenty of factors that can contribute to a teen's decision to use alcohol and drugs.

Going with the Flow

Teens see drug and alcohol use just about everywhere they look- movies, popular music, and magazines. They don't always understand that these multi-billion dollar industries are about selling products. From what they can tell, everyone is doing it.

It's not uncommon for teens to start using a substance when they enter the high-school party scene and/or when a substance is easily available. As well, the more that a teen is exposed to alcohol and other drug use, the more acceptable it becomes in his or her mind.

Hard Times

It is wrong to trivialize the difficulty of the junior high and high school years. Many teens have to deal with complex adult issues like divorce, mental illness and bereavement, all while navigating the normal ups and downs of teenaged life.

Sometimes teens with problems choose to use alcohol and other drugs as a solace from their troubles. It's a dangerous shortcut to solving problems, but to a desperate kid, being intoxicated may sometimes sound better than having to face a painful situation.

Glamour

Many teens crave excitement. Alcohol and other drugs can become false friends whose promise of an exciting time is attractive to a bored teen. Many teens see using drugs and alcohol as "adult" activities, and believe that using them shows sophistication and maturity.

A shy teen who would normally have trouble even speaking to his or her peers, might find that, after a few drinks, he or she becomes the life of the party.

Acting Up

There's no better way to express anger at your parents, teachers, or the world, than by doing something they tell you nosa to do. Adolescents are constantly questioning the limits of societal expectations, and experimenting with alcohol and other drugs are just one way they may test the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

Right Here, Right Now

The initial effects of using alcohol and other drugs can feel good. Young people are extremely susceptible to the immediate positive feeling that using substances can give them. Even though the happiness they experience is short-term, many find that initial buzz irresistible.Your Influence

Sometimes parents inadvertently encourage their kids to use alcohol or other substances simply through their own behaviour. Parents that get drunk excessively, use illegal drugs, tell funny stories involving excessive alcohol consumption or make light of the risks of drugs and alcohol often promote their teen's drug and alcohol use without realizing it. This goes for smoking cigarettes as well.

Another way that parent's sometime contribute to teen drinking and other drug use is through inadequate supervision, and lack of parental involvement. Teens who can't talk to their parents are more likely to feel isolated, and seek chemical solutions to their problems.

Bad Information

For all of their exposure to the media, many teens are just plain uninformed about alcohol and other drugs. Often peers become their primary source of information, leading to inaccurate facts and misguided assumptions about the risks and effects of various substances. There are a lot of myths out there, and while many teens feel like they have all the answers, most are more naïve than they think.