Adolescents may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often fail to see the link between the actions of today and the consequences tomorrow. Adolescents may feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.

Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Many Adolescents will experiment - start and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency or addiction, often moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.

Adolescence is a time of exploration and new things. Adolescents may drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up, or to fit in (peer pressure).

It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.

Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those who are depressed, have a family history of substance abuse, and generally feel alone or that that just don't fit in. Harbor Area Substance Abuse Treatment Center is here to help.