Extended families were also available for additional support. Often, kids experience a loss of belonging and of direction when their families fall apart around them. In periods of economic boon and bust, families tend to change residence more often for work-related reasons. This means new schools, new friends and major adjustments. Everyone involved loses most of the things which were familiar to them.
Adolescence is an extremely stressful period for many.
As we all know, these substances impair judgment. They also tend to exaggerate bad feelings. So, for people who are feeling depressed, angry or hopeless, drinking and drugging only makes them feel worse. All too often they end up killing themselves when in fact, had they not been high, the choices would not have been deadly ones. Some kids respond very well to this.