About Drug Use by Children

There is no single cause, no one reason why children, teenagers and adults use drugs. From studies of young people who use drugs we know that certain factors shape children’s attitudes about drugs and their decisions whether or not to use them.
Some of these factors are more important than others, and not all apply in each case. In most cases it is probably a combination of these factors that makes the crucial difference.
The single greatest influence in the lives of most children is their parents. The word ‘parent’ here applies not only to biological parents but also to stepparents, foster parents, relatives and others who serve as guardians. The examples they set and the values they communicate greatly determine children’s susceptibility to drug use.
Children are more likely to abuse drugs if their parents:
- Abuse alcohol or are alcoholics.
- Use alcohol or prescription medications to cope with stress.
- Tolerate or encourage heavy drinking or allow them to serve, pour, or purchase alcoholic beverages.
- Smoke tobacco.
- Use illicit drugs.
- Convey an ambivalent or positive attitude towards drugs and drug use.
Young drug abusers tend to have a number of characteristics in common.
These include:
- Isolation and alienation from family and friends.
- Little or no value for personal achievement.
- Little or no sense of personal and social responsibility.
- Poor grades and little commitment to doing well in school.
- Difficulty getting along with others (communicating their thoughts and feelings,
resolving differences).
- Inability to deal positively with stress, make rational decisions, approach problems
logically.
- Families that have a history of criminality, alcoholism or other anti-social behavior.
- Parents who are either too lenient or too strict, or who do not clearly define and consistently enforce rules.
It is generally assumed that the more of these “risk factors” there are in a child’s life, the more likely he or she is to develop serious drug problems.
During the primary school years, most young people do not use drugs. Not using drugs is the “norm” at this age. However, as children approach and enter adolescence they are exposed to information and drugs. During this stage of exploration and discovery, pressure from peers to use drugs intensifies, especially by the time they enter secondary schools.
Young people respond to a kind of natural “herd instinct.” As long as they believe and see most of their peers using drugs and/or approving drug use, they will be more likely to use drugs themselves.
But if they know that most of their peers do not use drugs, and that they disapprove of drug use, peer pressure will work in favor of stimulating the non-use norm.