Dear Counselor, I'm concerned about my teenage son that he may using illegal drugs and alcohol. He just doesn't seem motivated anymore and doesn't participate anymore in activities that he once enjoyed. Concerned Dear Concerned, Adolescence is a difficult time and young people sometimes turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with life's frustrations, to feel more adult-like, to fit in, to rebel, or to satisfy their curiosity about drugs and drinking. Teens with depression or other mental health problems are particularly vulnerable to alcohol or drug use.
Many adolescents fail to recognize that they are depressed and why they are depressed.
But, when they drink alcohol or take drugs to alleviate their stress or emotional pain, they can develop or worsen depression. Alcohol is a drug, with serious risks and potentially harmful consequences. Marijuana and other drugs are also dangerous and often addictive. Casual use of drugs like club drugs, inhalants, and steroids can cause long-lasting brain damage and impair health. Excessive need for privacy, secretive, or suspicious behavior Suffering serious injuries from driving under the influence or engaging in other risky behavior.