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Drug and alcohol abuse in the adolescent years has always been a problem that has been carried on generation after generation. With new drugs and variations of older ones being manufactured everyday, shipped all around the world, the selection for today’s youth is astonishing.
Experts say this abuse can be influenced by peers, music, and/or society, but in the end it is the youths’ decision to use. The reasons why teens use drugs vary from experimentation to depression, an abusive childhood to boredom. The list is endless.
The effects of the use of drugs are also endless. Addiction is just the beginning, and the worst part. An addict will do anything for their drug, including, but not limited to stealing, dropping out of school, lying, and selling drugs. The physical affect depends solely on the drug, or drugs being used, but even ‘least harmful’ drug has a negative physical affect.
Prevention also plays a major role in the choices a teen makes. If not informed by someone in the know, they could be misinformed by peers, pushers, and/or drug dealers that want them to use. The group of friends a teen has is highly influential to them. The chances of a teen using increases greatly if their friends use. The signs that a youth is using are usually obvious, but should be noted as well.

Reasons for using vary from youth to youth. Generally, it starts with experimentation, if the teen likes the drug; chances are they will do it again. This in turn leads to dependency and addiction. Adolescence is a time of opportunity and growth - a time when young people explore their identities and roles. Through this process of experimentation, learning and development, youth “lay down the foundations for physical, psychological and social maturity” (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 2002a). Whether these foundations are good or bad, it’s a decision only the individual can make.
Experimentation is usually...