Teen drug use, while showing signs of decline in recent years, is more dangerous than ever. The potential for overdose due in large part to illicit fentanyl, is a scary reality. It is critical for parents to educate pre-teens and teens about the risks associated with drug use. Moreover, understanding why teens do drugs can help parents and caregivers establish the appropriate prevention measures to keep their child safe. Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why teens use drugs.
What You’ll Learn
- What are some of the reasons teens turn to drugs?
- Why is fentanyl so dangerous?
- How can parents help prevent substance use disorders in their teen?
- How can treatment help a teen who is struggling with a substance use disorder?
Quick Read
Teen drug use is declining, but the dangers are increasing, particularly due to the risk of overdose from substances like fentanyl. Parents must educate their pre-teens and teens about the risks of drug use and understand the reasons behind it to implement effective prevention measures. Factors such as family environment, peer pressure, bullying, unresolved trauma, and low self-esteem can drive teens to experiment with drugs. Signs of potential addiction include mood swings, changes in friendships, and declining academic performance.
To prevent substance use, parents should model healthy coping mechanisms, maintain open communication, encourage positive friendships, and address any concerning behaviors promptly. If a teen is struggling with substance use, professional treatment can provide the necessary support. Programs like those at Newport Academy offer tailored treatment plans that address both substance use and underlying mental health issues, helping teens develop healthier coping strategies in a supportive environment.
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Teen Drug Use Statistics
Recent data on teen drug use shows the percentage of adolescents reporting they used any illicit substances in 2023 remain below pre-pandemic levels, with 11 percent of 8th graders, 20 percent of 10th graders, and 31 percent of 12th graders saying they used illicit drug in the past year. Teens with a mental health disorder, however, are more likely to use illicit drugs. According to the 2025 State of Mental Health in America report, the percentage of young people with a past year major depressive episode (MDE) who used illicit drugs was 21 percent higher than those without MDE.
While overall, adolescent drug use has seen a decline over the past several years, it has become increasingly more dangerous due to overdose. Drug overdose, most commonly from fentanyl, is now the third leading cause of death in children under 19. Therefore, it is more important than ever to talk to your teen about the dangers of drug use. Any substance can unknowingly contain dangerous amounts of fentanyl.
Hence, it is critical to know the signs and symptoms of teen drug addition so that you can take immediate steps to get your teen the help they need.
Signs of Teenage Drug Addiction
Unusual mood swings and behavior are often normal for pre-teens and teenagers. But if your teen begins exhibiting some of the following symptoms, they may be dealing with drug addiction and need professional support.
- Hostility or irritability
- Breaks household rules and curfews
- School attendance becomes irregular or grades slip
- Relationships with family and friends deteriorate
- A new circle of friends
- Money disappears from the house
- Interest in hobbies or sports stops
- Sleeping patterns change
These signs and symptoms aren’t solely linked to drug use. They may be indicative of other problems, such as underlying mental health issues, anger issues, or defiant behavior.
Regardless of the cause, these behaviors are warning signs that the teen is struggling and needs more support.
10 Reasons Why Young People Use Drugs
While many pre-teens or teens simply experiment with drugs at this stage of life, some may continue their substance use and be at risk for teenage addiction. Knowing some of the reasons behind the drug use can help you as a parent be more vigilant about your child’s surroundings and behavior. Here are 10 reasons teenagers may use drugs and/or alcohol.
1. Substances in the Home Environment
If a teen sees their family members using and enjoying drugs or drinking alcohol, the teen is more likely to use substances as well. Casual or normalized use in a teen’s family can make them think drug and alcohol use is a regular part of life, especially if substances are readily available in the home.
2. Peer Pressure
A teen may feel obligated to try substances if their friends are doing it. Friends sometimes use peer pressure to try to convince each other to use substances. But sometimes the pressure comes from within. Teens may be afraid of being judged, not fitting in, or looking weak if they don’t use drugs.
3. Bullying
If a teen is bullied, or feels that they don’t fit in, they may struggle to form and sustain healthy friendships. Supportive peer relationships in adolescence are foundational for good self-esteem and overall health. If their friendships are toxic, they’re more likely to cope with their isolation and pain with substance use.
4. Unresolved Trauma
Untreated trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, or mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder can cause a teen to turn to substances in order to cope with their distress. They may find short-term relief from the numbing effects of drugs or alcohol. But over time, substance use makes physical and mental health worse.
5. Genetics and Family History
Countless studies have proven a genetic link in addiction and mental health. Teenagers with parents, grandparents or other relatives who had a drinking or substance use problem are more likely to develop one themselves.
6. Family Conflict
Parents who fight regularly, neglect or abuse their child, are overbearing, or don’t provide adequate support can result in young people escaping into drug and alcohol use. Some teens will take drugs to self-medicate their pain, while others will do it as an act of rebellion against the parents who are causing them stress.
7. Low Self-Esteem
Self-consciousness and self-esteem issues are common in adolescents. Teens may try to escape those distressing feelings through substance use. Or they may use drugs or alcohol as a way to fit in and feel “cool.”
8. Weight Loss
Some teens will begin taking stimulants in an effort to lose weight. This is part of the damaging pursuit of an unrealistic body type that causes millions of adolescents, especially young women, to develop eating disorders every year. In addition to stimulant use, the desire to lose weight can lead to drinking and tobacco use. All of these drugs can be addictive.
9. Academic Struggles
Kids who have high academic expectations placed on them may use cocaine or other stimulants in an effort to keep their grades from slipping.
10. Sports Injuries or Performance Goals
High school athletes may use steroids to help the perform better in games. Or they might start using prescription opioid painkillers due to a sports injury, and then become dependent on them. Because adolescents’ brains and bodies are more vulnerable to drug addiction, they’re at higher risk of becoming addicted.
Risk Factors for Teen Drug Use
Regardless of gender, economic class, and age, no one is immune to addiction. But there are risk factors that make a teenager more likely to use drugs, alcohol, and other substances.
Brain development: For one, the adolescent brain isn’t yet fully developed. The risk-taking parts of the brain are more active, while the parts that weigh possible consequences and plan ahead are still immature.
Environment: Teens who have experienced chronic stress and/or early-life trauma are more likely to use drugs to self-medicate underlying and untreated mental health issues.
Genetics: Having a family history of substance use makes an adolescent much more likely to use substances themselves.
Age: Research shows that the earlier a teen starts using drugs, the greater the likelihood that they will develop problem drug use.
Tips for Preventing Teen Drug Use
Parents can play an important role in preventing their pre-teen or teen from using drugs or alcohol. Here are some ways to create a positive connection with your child and help them make positive choices:
- Be a role model. Adolescents are easily influenced by their surroundings and by the behavior of those close to them. By helping them build positive coping skills, you can let them know that while life is full of ups and downs, there are healthy ways to manage stress, disappointment, or sadness. Be vulnerable about your own struggles and the coping mechanisms you use to get through, whether that’s taking a long walk, listening to your favorite music, or journaling.
- Talk to your teen. The more you talk to your teen and know what’s going on in their lives, the more you can identify when something is wrong. Adolescence is a time of transition and exploration, therefore it is important to monitor how your child is progressing through this challenging period of time. Understanding the signs and symptoms of depression or anxiety can help you intervene sooner with the help of a mental health professional. Untreated, these mental health conditions can lead to problem substance use and other self-destructive behavior.
- Encourage positive friendships. Your teen’s social circle is an important indicator as to whether they experiment with drugs or alcohol. One study found that teenagers who were integrated into friendship networks had better mental health, fewer depressive symptoms, and a stronger sense of belonging.
- Don’t ignore the signs. If your pre-teen or teen is showing any signs of substance use, it is critical to confront them. It may be an uncomfortable or confrontational conversation, but one of the most important conversations you can have with your child. You could save their life.
These prevention strategies help build your teen’s resilience, or capacity to deal with stressful situations and difficulties in a healthy way. Resilience is a skill that everyone can learn, and it’s been shown to reduce the risk of problem substance use in teens.
Teenage Substance Use Treatment at Newport Academy
At Newport Academy, we understand how overwhelming and scary it can feel to be the parent of a teen who may be struggling with substance use. If you’re worried about your teen using drugs and alcohol, you don’t need to figure out their treatment on your own. Help from a mental health professional can ensure your teen receives proper treatment.
Our programs address pre-teen and teen drug use as well as primary mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma in a therapeutic environment. Newport’s residential teen drug rehab program for adolescents includes personalized medical care, family therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and academic programs, which allow for individualized academic focus in an environment built to support them and their needs.
Our Tailored Treatment Plans for Teen Substance Use Disorder
Newport’s tailored approach provides customized treatment plans for each teen, within a supportive community of peers who are experiencing similar challenges. Underlying mental health issues and trauma are addressed, families learn how to change harmful dynamics and form better relationships, and teens learn skills for coping with life stresses without using substances. Expert clinicians guide adolescents in a wide variety of experiential therapies, including Adventure Therapy, music, art, and yoga.
Our program offers a wide range of options to ensure teens have what they need to succeed, no matter who they are or what they’ve experienced. Newport’s whole-person, comprehensive approach addresses each person’s physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs and provides experiential tools to help your teen—and your whole family—flourish.
Start the healing journey today: Contact us for a free teen health assessment.
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