Why Do Teens Use Drugs?

Illicit drug use by teenagers is one of the most serious problems the country faces as we roll on into this new millennium. While marijuana is the most common drug of choice among teenagers, it is not the problem that heroin, meth and cocaine can be. In order to get a handle on the problem, we must examine the reasons behind it.

Identification

• Obviously there is no one explanation that covers all teen drug use. But there are several common traits that most young drug users will share. Simple curiosity is one of these. Teens and children are naturally curious, and tend to be more adventurous than adults. The more they hear about the supposedly wonderful effects of drug use, the more they want to see what it feels like. Another big reason teens try drugs is social peer pressure. Some scoff at this old song, but what must be remembered is that "peer pressure" does not necessarily entail a friend or a group of friends actively pressuring a peer to take drugs. It could be no more than passive pressure, i.e., the desire to fit in and do what everyone around them is doing.

History

• A look into a teenager's life up to the point where he began taking drugs can be an important part of determining the reasons behind the use. Studies have shown that many teens who are addicted to drugs have a history of child abuse and/or neglect. This pain creates a need within the child to fill a void with something. Drugs can--temporarily--kill that pain and put it at a safe distance. Child abuse is also one of the biggest reasons behind teen alcohol abuse. The drug patterns of the parents can play a big role. If the parents are open about their drug use (and "open" can simply mean not being secretive enough about it), it can certainly lead to the child thinking that drug use is okay.

Considerations

• In addition to the reasons outlined above, drug use can be a part of a natural progression. This is the phenomenon known as the gateway principal. It states that children who drink at an early age and/or smoke cigarettes will be more likely to use marijuana in their later teen years. Marijuana, likewise, is often cited as a gateway to harder drugs down the road. The reasons for this are many. For one, breaking the alcohol and smoking barrier introduces teens to the concept of altering their minds artificially. Marijuana breaks the legal barrier down, making the purchase and use of harder drugs less frightening.

Theories/Speculation

• All of the blame may not fall on the teen for jumping into a pool of illicit drug use. Some of the blame may very well fall onto the very people who have been waging the war on drugs for years. Doctors and child advocates have long overstated some of the dangers of drugs such as marijuana. This exaggeration, of course, has done very little to dissuade young people from trying the drug. When they do, they realize they've been lied to by the "experts," and therefore can't believe what they've heard about harder drugs such as heroin and meth--even though the dangers of these drugs cannot be overstated. For this reason, it is important to always be as honest as possible with teenagers about the dangers--and lack thereof--of drug use.

Prevention/Solution

• One of the easiest ways to keep your teen away from drugs is to keep an open and honest line of communication. This doesn't mean trading in your parental hat for that of a friend, but it means not punishing your child for tossing ideas and thoughts off of you, even if you don't agree with them. Teens are hardwired to rebel against oppressive authority (as are humans in general). The more solid reasoning you can give them, the better your chances of keeping them away from drugs. As a part of this, make every effort to make your home a welcoming place for your teen's friends. Get to know them, and get to know their parents. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, establish that your home is a drug-free zone. Don't do them, and you won't ever have to question whether or not your own drug use led to your child's drug use.