Many parents worry about whether their teenagers are taking illegal drugs, how they can tell, and what to do about it.

We live in a drug-taking society. While there is a lot of concern about illegal drugs, the most harm and the greatest risk to young people comes from using legal drugs such as alcohol, cigarettes and medicines. However, young people may want to experiment with new things and test limits, so it is not surprising that many of them try illegal drugs. Fortunately, out of those who try, not all will go on using drugs regularly and only a few will develop serious problems.

Some of the reasons are: 1. ordinary reasons, such as having fun or doing something different 2. availability—access to drugs in not necessarily difficult. It’s usually through other young people, friends or older peers

3. curiosity and experimentation—‘I wanted to see what it was like’ 4. acceptance by peer group—‘Most of my friends were doing it’

Using alcohol or drugs regularly is usually just a step away from addiction (where you depend on these substances to feel good or get through your day).

 relying on drugs or alcohol to have fun, forget problems, or relax  having blackouts  drinking or using drugs while alone  withdrawing or keeping secrets from friends or family  losing interest in activities that used to be important  performing differently in school (such as grades dropping and frequent absences)  building an increased tolerance to alcohol or drugs — gradually needing more and more of the substance to get the same feeling  lying, stealing, or selling stuff to get money for drugs or alcohol

It's usually hard for people to recognize they have a problem, which is why friends or family often step in. Quitting is hard to do, and many people find they can't do it without help. The best thing you can do is to talk to someone you trust — preferably an adult who can support you — so you don't have to deal with your problem alone. Lots of resources are available for people with substance abuse problems. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous offer information and recovery programs for teens.

How Are Alcohol and Drugs Affecting Your Life? Are you a teen concerned about your use – abuse – of alcohol and other drugs in your life? By answering the following 20 questions, you may be able to determine if you or someone you know is at risk of alcohol and/or drug dependence and in need of immediate assistance.

 Do you use alcohol or other drugs to build self-confidence?  Do you ever drink or get high immediately after you have a problem at home or at school?  Have you ever missed school due to alcohol or other drugs?  Does it bother you if someone says that you use too much alcohol or other drugs?  Have you started hanging out with a heavy drinking or drug using crowd?  Are alcohol and/or other drugs affecting your reputation? 7. Do you feel guilty or bummed out after using alcohol or other drugs? 8. Do you feel more at ease on a date when drinking or using other drugs? 9. Have you gotten into trouble at home for using alcohol or other drugs? 10. Do you borrow money or "do without" other things to buy alcohol and other drugs?

11. Do you feel a sense of power when you use alcohol or other drugs? 12. Have you lost friends since you started using alcohol or other drugs? 13. Do your friends use “less” alcohol and/or other drugs than you do? 14. Do you drink or use other drugs until your supply is all gone? 15. Do you ever wake up and wonder what happened the night before? 16. Have you ever been busted or hospitalized due to alcohol or use of illicit drugs? 17. Do you "turn off" any studies or lectures about alcohol or illicit drug use? 18. Do you think you have a problem with alcohol or other drugs? 19. Has there ever been someone in your family with a drinking or other drug problem? 20. Could you have a problem with alcohol or other drugs?

teens/teenagers_and_drugs for-teens tm