Share

Drug abuse in teens

From a teen's perspective, drugs can appear to have more advantages than disadvantages. Otherwise young people wouldn't be doing drugs.

Despite what most people think, most kids don't start off taking drugs, because they want to get high – they are motivated by a variety of psychological factors rather than physical ones.

They want to have fun, have friends and have the status of being a risk-taker. The danger is part of the appeal.

Among the many reasons for young people taking drugs, are:

  • Stress relief
  • To forget or escape problems
  • Being a rebel and a risk-taker
  • Relief of boredom/wanting to have fun
  • Escaping difficult decisions
  • A feeling of being special
  • Being part of a significant group of people
  • Being addicted
  • Curiosity

And a rehab programme that does not take these reasons for taking drugs into account, is bound to fail. People need to be taught new strategies to achieve these things.

What's particularly worrying is that, across the world, drug trend are changing for the worse:

  • More teens are trying drugs than before;
  • The age at which teens are starting is decreasing;
  • The kinds of drugs teens are taking are more addictive.

Why do teens seem to be more at risk than others?
One's teens can be a time of great changes, of agony mixed with ecstasy, a time of feeling awkward and insecure one moment and fabulous the next.

Adolescence is a tricky and intense stop between childhood and adulthood in which a new identity has to be found, major decisions have to be made and great responsibilities have to be taken on.

This is also a time when friends start replacing family as a social support mechanism as teens move towards greater individuality. For many teens, acceptance in this group is very important – and if taking drugs will make this acceptance happen, then so be it.

Horror stories about addicts dying in gutters tend have little impact on teens and their drug habits. On the contrary.

Why scare tactics don't work on teens

The messages given are often that drugs kill, and while they undoubtedly sometimes do, most adolescents know of many casual drug users on whose lives this does not seem to have impacted seriously. This makes them discard the warning entirely.

But there are undoubtedly consequences to taking drugs, such as underperformance or financial problems or stunted emotional development. And these need to be pointed out, if any impact is to be made in discouraging drug use.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE