Adolescents and Substance Abuse

Adolescents or youth use alcohol and other illegal drugs for a variety of reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in with their peers.
Youth who experiment with drugs and alcohol generally begin by doing just that-experimenting.
Risk factors in a young person's life may propel experimentation into a serious addiction.
These risk factors include depression, low self-esteem, lack of connectedness, and family history of alcohol or substance abuse.
Adolescents do not see the link between the actions that they take today and consequences that may occur in the future.
Behaviors started in youth can persist, extend into adulthood and blossom into serious and costly health problems for the individual, their families and the community.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) report, Illicit Drug Policies: Selected Laws from the 50 States, February 2002, states that, "Each year substance abuse costs our schools at least $41 billion in truancy, special education and disciplinary problems, disruption, teacher turnover and property damage."

For information: Jeanne Kaufmann
Phone: (303) 364-7700, ext. 186