They have significantly more psychiatric disturbances, and they only do well with the aid of intense psychotherapy. They do not grow out of it. It is in the tumultuous growth group that chemical dependency often develops. Adolescents almost always use alcohol or drugs the first time under peer pressure. They want to be accepted and be a part of the group.
Children are likely to model after the chemical use of their parents.
They may experiment with other drugs. They begin to use drugs to communicate, to relate, to belong. With regular drinking, tolerance develops. The adolescent needs more of the drug to get intoxicated. The family may first notice emotional changes here.