The reasons adolescents use drugs and alcohol for a wide variety of reasons. They may feel pressure from their peers to fit in and do what everyone else is doing. They may be going through some type of emotional hardship like a divorce, loss of a family member, or a bad breakup. Some teens may start using drugs or alcohol because they have a family history of abuse and they may be genetically inclined towards specific drugs or alcohol. Regardless of a specific reason, understanding why teenagers start using drugs is essential in helping to prevent teen drug abuse in your own household. Only by understanding these triggers for drug abuse among adolescents and young adults can you equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to help your teen make sensible choices and stay away from drug use altogether.
Common Reasons Adolescents Use Drugs
1. Peer Pressure
One of the major reasons why adolescents use drug is to fit in with their fellow peers. Because many teens are prone to low self-esteem at some point in their adolescence, they are often more likely to engage in destructive behaviors as long as it makes them feel “cool” and everyone else is doing them. Numerous studies have shown that teens that have low self-esteem are significantly more likely to seek acceptance from the wrong type of crowd by abusing drugs or alcohol.
2. Stress
Many parents often don’t realize the amount of stress their teenage may truly be under. Whether it’s stress from school, stress from family and relationships, stress to fit in and be accepted, all of which can be major triggers towards teenage drug use. A recent study done on the correlation of stress and drug use amongst teens belabors this point by estimating that almost 74% of teens report the number one reason for using drugs or alcohol is to do help deal with stress and pressure from school.
Peer Pressure- one of the reasons adolescents use drugs or alcohol
3. Coping
Many adolescents often turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with serious adult problems such as depression, divorce, death in the family, bullying, low self-esteem, the list goes on and on. Because adolescents often do not have the emotional maturity to deal with these adult emotional issues, they can often find an outlet in drugs or alcohol.
4. Defiance
Because teenagers can are prone to defiance and rebelling, one of the most common ways teens exercise these tendencies is by experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Because teenagers have heard their whole life how bad drugs and alcohol are, and over and over again not to do them, it almost has a forbidden fruit appeal, and is one of the most common ways young adults rebel against their parents and society.
5. Curiosity
Oftentimes, teenagers may begin experiment with drugs and alcohol out of shear curiosity. Because drugs and alcohol are so glamorized in our modern media and pop culture, many teens are tempted to try drugs and alcohol to feel more mature and find out what all the fuss is about for themselves. Other teens may simply be bored and may use drugs as a way to pass the time.
Helping Your Teen
In today’s world, it is essential for parents to know how to identify if their teen is abusing alcohol and drugs. Knowing the reasons that drug use occurs among teenagers is one of the ways that parents can prevent their teen or young adult from abusing drugs or alcohol and develop an addiction. If you are worried that your teen is abusing drugs, please feel free to browse our directory or give us a call today for help.
