Adolescents may abuse substances for the following reasons:

- peer pressure

- curiosity

- failure to consider both the possible short- and long-term consequences of their actions

- magical thinking, assuming that they can handle all problems, including those caused by substance abuse

- emotional disorders, such as depression, for which they seek to self-medicate with alcohol and/or illegal drugs

- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), for which adolescents may self-medicate with alcohol and/or drugs. (Studies indicate that adolescents who are treated for their ADHD are less likely to become substance abusers than teenagers whose ADHD is untreated.)

- unawareness or disbelief that there are risks and dangers associated with substance abuse (such as addiction, severe side effects, and a lack of control, making the substance abuser more vulnerable to victimization)

- a false feeling of security/immortality

All of these mind-sets are common to adolescents, who may lack the maturity to make reasoned decisions. As a result, teenagers may turn to substance abuse, and they may suffer as a result. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2004, many adolescents did not receive the treatment that they needed for substance abuse. An estimated 2.3 million youths ages 12-17 years (about 9 percent of all youths in this age group) needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol problem; however, only about 185,000 youths actually received treatment in a specialized treatment facility. As a result, about 92 percent did not receive treatment in a facility.

In the United States, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among all youths who were ages 12 to 17 years in 2004, about 11 percent were current illicit drug users. Some adolescents abused more than one substance, such as both alcohol and marijuana or other combinations of substances. About 7 percent used marijuana, and 4 percent were nonmedical users of prescription drugs, 1 percent abused inhalants, and less than 1 percent of the adolescents used either hallucinogenic drugs or cocaine.

It is noteworthy that adolescent drug and alcohol use slightly declined in 2004 from that in preceding years. For example, 15.8 percent of youths had used marijuana in the past year in 2002. By 2004, that percentage had declined to 14.5 percent. The past month usage of marijuana also slightly declined, from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 7.6 percent in 2004.

With regard to substance abuse or dependence (addiction), the percentages of youths abusing drugs were significantly lower in 2004. As can be seen from the table, from 2002 to 2004, the largest percentages of youths either abused alcohol or were dependent on an illegal drug or alcohol. The second largest category of youths were those who abused alcohol or who were alcoholics. For example, 6 percent of youths abused alcohol in 2004 and 8.8 percent abused either illicit drugs or alcohol. It should also be noted that the percentages of youths who were abusing prescription drugs was slightly up, from 1.3 percent in 2002 to 1.5 percent in 2004.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in considering the rates of first-time drug use for specific drugs, among youths ages 12-17 years, 5.0 percent used marijuana for the first time in 2004. With regard to inhalants, most individuals who used inhalants were below age 18 years, and 75 percent were younger than age 18 when they first used an inhalant, with the average age of first use of 16 years in 2004. The largest users of inhalants were 14-15 years old, although their percentage of use was small (1.6 percent).

Most users of cocaine and HEROIN are older than adolescents (ages 12-17). For example, the average age of first use of cocaine was 20 years old in 2004, and the average age of the first use of heroin was 24.4 years. In addition, the average age of users of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ Ecstasy) was 19.5 years in 2004.

The average age of those using prescription drugs nonmedically for the first time was as follows: 29.3 years for sedatives, 25.2 years for tranquilizers, and 24.1 years for stimulants. Among new users of methamphetamine, the average age was 22.1 years. Thus, drugs that were the greatest risks for adolescents were marijuana and inhalants (as well as alcohol, for which the average age of first use was 17.5 years in 2004).

References:

1)         McCabe, S. E., C. J. Teter, and C. J. Boyd. "The Use, Misuse and Diversion of Prescription Stimulants among Middle and High School Students." Substance Use & Misuse 39, no. 7 (2004): 1,095-1,116.

2)         Poulin, Christiane. "Medical and Nonmedical Stimulant Use among Adolescents: From Sanctioned to Unsanctioned Use." Canadian Medical Association Journal 165, no. 8 (2001): 1,039-1,044.

3)         Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Overview of Findings for the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, Md.: Department of Health and Human Services, September 2005.

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