-There is a high likelihood that your teen will be exposed to drugs and alcohol, and according to drug statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse there is a good chance that your teen will try drugs. Teens as young as 13 have often already tried drugs as powerful as cocaine. Teens might tell themselves they will only try a drug once, but many teens find themselves under continual peer pressure to continue to experiment with drugs and “join the party.”
Most teens don't start using drugs expecting to develop a substance abuse problem, and while most teens probably see their drug use as a casual way to have fun, there are negative effects that are a result of this use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The biggest consequence to casual drug use can be that it develops into a true addiction. Very few addicts recognize when they have crossed the line from casual use to addiction.-
Peer Pressure
Many teens do drugs because their friends do.
Low self-esteem and a need to fit in can lead to teen drug use and abuse. Their friends are doing it, so they feel they need to fit in. After they become addicted, they tend to engage in negative, unpredictable behaviours and lose friends. The loss of friends then leads to depression, self-pity and more drug abuse. Picking the right groups of friends can mean the difference between a child who stays away from drugs and a child who ends up an addict.
Curiosity
Teens will often try drugs, alcohol and cigarettes just out of curiosity. Other people are doing it, so