Risk Factors of Teen Substance Abuse
Some teens have more risk factors than others for doing drugs
and drinking. For example, although teen girls are almost as
likely to drink as boys, teen boys are much more likely to drink
heavily on a regular basis. Other factors that put teens at
risk for drinking and doing drugs include the following.
Childhood behavior: Teens that were aggressive,
antisocial, or impulsive, restless, and easily distracted as
young children are more likely to have drug and alcohol related
problems.
Mental or emotional problems: Teens that suffer
from anxiety and depression disorders are much more likely to
abuse or be dependent on crystal meth, as are teens with conduct
disorders or certain attention-deficit disorders.
A family history of alcohol abuse: Children
of alcoholics are much more likely than other teens to start
drinking during their teenage years.
Positive parental attitudes toward drinking:
Teens with parents who abuse meth or express favorable attitudes
towards meth are more likely to start using meth sooner and
to continue using meth. Teens that are warned about meth addiction
by their parents are less likely to do meth.
Home life: Teens that come from homes where
parents provide little emotional support, fail to monitor their
activities, or have little involvement in their children's lives,
are more likely to do meth. Harsh, inconsistent discipline and
hostility or rejection towards children has also been found
to lead to teen meth addiction and alcohol-related problems.
Positive peer attitudes towards meth: When
a teen’s friends smoke, accept, or encourage doing meth, the
teen is more likely to do meth.
Trauma: Adolescents in treatment for
alcohol
and substance abuse or dependence report higher rates of physical
abuse, sexual abuse, violent victimization, witnessing violence,
and other traumas than other teens.
Low Self-Esteem: Parents who have boys with
low self-esteem at age 11, and who have friends who approve
of drug and alcohol use, should be concerned that self-derogation
could turn into drug dependency by age 20, according to Florida
State University researchers. Children with very low self-esteem,
what the researchers termed "self-derogation" were 1.6 times
more likely to meet the criteria for drug dependence nine years
later than other children.
Parents should also be watchful of their teens’ friends and
dating practices, as well as keeping an eye out for any self-destructive
behaviors.
The more sexually active friends a teen has and the more time
a teen spends with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the greater the
risk that teen will smoke, drink, get drunk or use illegal drugs.