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Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- FAQs
- Facts About Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Why Some Teens Abuse Alcohol and Drugs
- Prevention Strategies
- Is Your Teen Using Alcohol or Drugs?
- When to See a Health Professional
- Finding the Right Treatment for Your Teen
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
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Personal, family, and community factors increase a teen's risk for using substances and possibly developing a problem.
Personal risk factors
These include:
- Genetics. People with alcohol and drug abuse problems often have a family history of substance abuse.
- Temperament and personality. Rebelliousness, resisting authority, feelings of failure, and not having close relationships may lead a teen to use substances. Teens also seek sensations and tend to take risks.3
- Certain health problems. Teens who have untreated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, depression or long-term depressed feelings (dysthymia), post-traumatic stress disorder, or an anxiety disorder are more likely to use alcohol or drugs. Alcohol and drugs may make these conditions worse.
- Drug expectations. Teens often have the wrong ideas about the harmful effects of substances. And they often think that "everybody does it" and so should they.
- Early age at first use. Using alcohol or other drugs at a young age greatly increases a teen's risk for having an abuse problem.
Family risk factors
Teens are more likely to use alcohol or drugs if:
- A parent uses or abuses alcohol or other substances.
- A parent or teen has depression, anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- They think their parents believe that teens experimenting with alcohol and drugs is expected and normal.
- Their family has frequent conflict, physical or sexual abuse, or stress.
- Parents aren’t involved enough with their teens and don’t supervise them. Harsh or inconsistent punishment or being too lax also can increase the risk of alcohol and drug abuse.
Community risk factors
These include:
- Access to substances in the home and community.
- Peer influence. A teen may want to fit in with a group of peers, and they use substances.
- Promotion of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs by the media. The entertainment and other media show alcohol and cigarette use as "cool" and as a way to gain popularity, success, and sex appeal.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: March 16, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction | |
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