Most teenagers have tried alcohol or drugs by high school graduation, with almost 3 in 4 people trying substances before the age of 17. And while most parents would like to brush this off as experimentation or even as recreational and “in good fun,” the truth is that there are many other (and more disturbing) causes of substance abuse. For example, the use of drugs often stems from a need to cope with another troubling aspect of life.
What’s more are the risks that can stem from early substance abuse. As explained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), most teens graduate from first use of alcohol and marijuana to other substances within just three years, placing them at a high risk of substance addiction, overdose, mental health issues, and other negative, life-threatening effects long-term. For this reason, parents who suspect their teen is using drugs should act soon. Conversations should be had, and the root or cause of a teen’s substance abuse should be addressed.
So, what causes substance abuse in teens and young people? Let’s take a look.
The Top Causes of Substance Abuse in Teens
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are four primary reasons why people abuse drugs and alcohol. These include:
- To feel good,
- To feel better,
- To do better, and
- Out of curiosity or because others are doing it
The explanation for these is simple. Drugs can produce intense feelings of euphoria, pain relief, and confidence in users. Depending on the substance used, the pleasurable effects are something that a person might chase again and again, to simply feel good or feel better in otherwise uncomfortable situations/thought patterns. Some drugs, particularly prescription medications, are abused to enhance performance at school or work. But these don’t account for every single cause of substance abuse.
According to teens themselves, as reported by a CDC survey, their top drivers of substance abuse are:
- To feel mellow, calm, or relaxed (73% of surveyed teens)
- To have fun or experiment (50% of teens)
- To sleep better or to fall asleep (44% of teens)
- To stop worrying about a problem or to forget bad memories (44% of teens)
- To make something less boring (41% of teens)
- To help cope with symptoms of depression and anxiety (40% of teens)
However, even this list is scratching the surface. Certain drugs are used for different reasons. While some prescription medications might be abused to fall asleep or relax, others may be used to stay awake.
Key Risk Factors for Substance Abuse in Teens
The reasons for or causes of substance abuse in young people typically relate back to wanting to feel good, to feel better, or to fit in with friends. However, some causes of substance abuse problems go even deeper than that. These are considered risk factors—inherent characteristics, conditions, or behaviors that contribute to problematic substance abuse.
For example, the following risk factors can make a teen much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol:
- Family history of substance abuse and addiction
- Parental substance abuse (especially within home environment)
- Poor parental monitoring or lack of parental concern around substance use
- Unstable home environment, including poverty
- Family’s rejection of a teen’s sexual orientation/gender identity
- Association with substance-using or partying peers
- Lack of connectedness to peers and at school
- Low academic achievement
- Discrimination or bullying
- History of neglect, abuse, or trauma
- Mental health issues like depression and anxiety
These factors, as outlined by the CDC, put a teen at higher risk of using substances from the start, and at greater use of developing a dependence or addiction to drugs.
What Else Causes Teens to Want to Use Substances?
Teenagers and young adults are inherently social beings. At the end of the day, they want to fit in with their peers, look cool to others, and make good impressions. They want to be accepted and sometimes that means doing things that others are doing, like drinking or using drugs.
It’s no wonder, then, why the vast majority of adolescents (over 80%) most commonly use substances with their friends. Many teens also report using drugs alone, on occasion, but this is more likely to happen among those misusing prescription drugs (as opposed to marijuana and alcohol). Those abusing prescription drugs alone (or really, any drug alone) are more likely to be facing a concerning dependence on the substance than those who use with friends. This is a tell-tale sign of a substance use problem in teens. Learn more about the signs of teen drug use here.
Preventing Substance Abuse in Teens
An unstable home environment, or lack of parental involvement, are some of the top contributors to substance abuse in teenagers and young people as a whole. However, the flip side is also true: Parents who are actively involved in their child’s life, who monitor their behaviors and openly discuss the risks of drugs and alcohol, are more likely to protect their children from the risks of substance abuse.
In other words, parents can make a world of difference. The CDC suggests that the top protective factors for teen substance abuse – the factors that can prevent issues altogether – are parent engagement, family support, and parental monitoring, as well as school connectedness.
Teens need to feel supported at home, at school, and in their everyday lives. When they are supported, listened to, and able to trust adult figures, they are more likely to find success and thrive.
Now you may be asking – What if I’m too late? What if my teenager has already started using drugs or alcohol?
Getting to the “why” behind their substance abuse is an important first step, and we applaud you for being here. When the cause of substance abuse has to do with coping with negative emotions, feeling inadequate in social settings, escaping bad thoughts, or simply an inability to control their use, it can signal a larger problem: a substance use disorder. This is when it’s time to get help.
If your teenager is showing signs of a substance use disorder, and using drugs to escape struggles with sadness, anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, or other deep-seated issues, do not hesitate to give us a call. Turnbridge is a specialized mental health and drug treatment facility, focusing on the unique experiences of adolescents and young adults. We are just one call away at 877-581-1793. Click here to learn more.