As parents, we want to protect our children from harm and guide them to become happy, healthy, and productive members of society. Fortunately, that’s the outcome for many. However, it’s certainly not for all. Along the way, some kids turn to drugs and alcohol, preventing them from reaching their full potential in life.
While it’s often just a temporary point in an otherwise fruitful life, you may be curious about why some young people turn to drugs and alcohol, and others don’t. Many factors contribute, but here are some of the most common causes:
Emotional and Mental Health
A common topic of discussion at Banyan Rehab Centers is how some adults started using drugs and alcohol in their youth for emotional and mental health reasons. Some teens had stress, depression, or anxiety that they didn’t know how to manage, while others had low self-esteem and felt like they didn’t belong. For many, there was a history of trauma, such as bullying, loss, neglect, or abuse, and substances helped them numb their feelings.
Social Influences
Many young adults start using drugs and alcohol for social reasons. There can be an element of peer pressure, with children wanting to fit in. If their peers abuse substances and they look up to them as role models, they may wish to start abusing drugs and alcohol, too. The same applies when substances are heavily used, advertised, and displayed as ‘cool’ on social media and other online platforms.
Family and Home Life
Not everyone has the perfect home life. Some children can have inconsistent boundaries or a lack of supervision. Others can be exposed to family conflict, substance abuse, and even neglect. Drugs and alcohol can also be readily available at home. When substances are a part of a child’s home life, they are more likely to abuse them themselves.
Genetic Vulnerability
We know that a child’s home life, exposures, relationships, and experiences all contribute to substance abuse. However, a lesser-known fact is that genes may make some children more susceptible to substance abuse disorders than others.
A new NIH study that involved the genomic data of over one million people revealed specific genes inherited across addiction disorders. While there isn’t one specific addiction gene, there are variations in multiple genes that affect dopamine, opioid receptors, stress response, and alcohol metabolism. This information may prove valuable for expanding preventative services and empowering people to make more informed choices about drug use.
Not Knowing Healthy Coping Mechanisms
When young adults face challenges, they don’t always know how to manage them, work through them, or seek help for them due to a lack of problem-solving and communication skills. As a result, it’s not uncommon for them to turn to substances as a quick but harmful solution.
Teens can start using substances for a number of reasons, such as peer pressure, their home life, and poor mental and emotional health. Awareness of these causes may make it easier for teens to make more informed choices and for parents, caregivers, and peers to look for warning signs.
