Why do teenagers take drugs?

All parents worry about their teenagers taking drugs and feel that it reflects on them as parents if it happens. Teenagers themselves are far more aware of the prevalence of drugs in their neighborhood than their parents would be comfortable with knowing. If you ask any high school child about drugs, they can tell you where to get them, who is dealing them and what's available. That does not mean that all teenagers are taking drugs, far from it, but at least 45% of teenagers admit to being curious about drugs and wanting to try them. Although most parents think that children take drugs as a result of peer pressure and being in with the wrong crowd, most teenagers take drugs, initially, out of curiosity.

It is part of being a teenager, the need to experiment, to do things they know their parents will not approve of, to rebel, to make their own decisions, however bad those decisions may turn out to be. It is not just the obvious drugs either, marijuana and cocaine, many teenagers first introduction to dugs is sanctioned by their parents, tranquilizers, sleeping pills and even appetite suppressants as part of a diet! These drugs are just as addictive as Class A drugs, and far more easily available. Should your teenager be prescribed these drugs, you need to make sure that they take them for as little time as possible and that they are weaned off them carefully, withdrawal can be painful and may make a teenager want to carry on taking these drugs.

Teenagers take drugs for a number of other reasons and you need to be aware of some of the triggers. Some drugs can increase alertness, for a while, so are used when tests are coming up, to keep the teenager awake while revising, or more aware during the test. Teenagers who smoke are more likely to find it easy to smoke dope, the cultures are closely linked. Teenagers who go to all night parties or raves will certainly at some point be offered ecstasy or an upper of some description.

A teenager who has few friends may drift into the drug taking group as a way of being popular, and are likely to be a target for drug dealers. If your teenager seems to be addicted to adrenaline inducing activities and with a low boredom threshold, drug taking may be just another rush they want to try.

The law is tricky as far as drugs are concerned; you cannot be prosecuted for taking drugs, only for dealing drugs, so it is not a sanction that can be used as a threat. Education about the effect of drugs is widespread, most high schools have a program, yet teenagers still take drugs. As a parent you need to have a frank discussion with your teenager about drug taking, without it becoming a rant forbidding them to take drugs! Teenagers will almost always try something they have been forbidden to do; it is part of the defiance of youth. You should not sanction drug taking, but discuss the reasons someone might take drugs and the damage they do. If you are able to talk to your teenager, they are more likely to ask for your help if they do try drugs and you will have a chance to help them to stop.