Risk Factors For Teen Substance Abuse

The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention identified the following risk factors for substance abuse and addiction:

1. Community environment. Living in a community where drug use is the norm or even expected will likely affect a teen's thinking and increase the probability of his or her  experimenting.
2. Family environment. Family attitudes and practices affect the teen's thinking and proclivity to use drugs. Studies have shown that when parents believe that their teen will use substances the likelihood of that becoming a reality is increased.
3. Society factors. Our societal attitude about avoiding pain of any kind, be it emotional or physical, sets the stage for taking a substance to avoid difficult feelings.
4. Peer relations. Who a teen "hangs" with will inevitably influence his or her thoughts about drug use. Once a teen peer group is established, it is very difficult to find the courage to leave the group, risking being alone, or to reach out to another group for companionship, risking rejection. Social relations are often the most important aspect of a teen's life, making it next to impossible to give up friends in order to change behaviors. If this is your son or daughter's situation, he or she is going to need a lot of support to make a meaningful change and create a positive peer group. Many teens who spend time in residential treatment settings relate that they believe they could have never made the change to sobriety without a change of environment.
   

Other researchers have indicated the following additional risk factors for teen substance abuse:

1. Individual genetics, as evidenced by a family history of substance abuse and/or compulsive behaviors, such as excessive gambling, eating, workaholism, "churchaholism," "AA aloism," and the like.
2. Temperament, particularly impulsivity, may affect a teen's likelihood of substance abuse. Social inhibition may be another factor of temperament that contributes to substance use and abuse.
3. Lack of normal social skills, which increases the teen's feeling of pain when in social situations, increases the likelihood of medicating the pain with substances.
4. Inability to link behavior to consequences may play a role in teen drug use. Parents play a major role in this risk factor for teen substance abuse, by preventing their children from experiencing the natural consequences of their behavior; i.e. stepping in too quickly and too frequently to protect the child from consequences that might produce sadness, frustration, or other painful feelings. Interference with life's natural learning opportunities gives the child or teen the message and belief that he or she should avoid or not be required to feel life's unpleasant feelings.

It should also be noted that some children and teens who come from families that include substance abusers, who may live under the most difficult circumstances, may even be neglected or abused themselves, may nevertheless decide to avoid drugs and alcohol. Sometimes they see the environment they live in as a reason not to engage in risky behaviors. Clearly, there are many factors involved in a teen's decision to use or not to use mind-altering substances.

• Teen Drug Abuse - Teen Alcohol Abuse - Taking Action
• Resources & References