It's easy to find statistics about teenage drug use. It's also fairly easy to find tragic stories of teens that lost their lives, or ended up in prison, because of their addictions. The dangers of drug use are well-known, yet teens continue to get drunk, get high, and get addicted. Why?

"Life is often difficult for teenagers. When they're unhappy and uncomfortable with themselves and have neither a healthy outlet for their frustrations nor a trusted confidant, they may turn to chemicals for solace."

The media often makes drug use look much more prevalent than it actually is, making teens feel like it must not be "a big deal" if so many people are doing it. Teens who feel socially awkward, depressed, or ignored by their parents are also more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. Read more at DrugFree.org.

Labels: addiction, causes_of_teen_substance_abuse, media_influences