It is a time when it is easy to lose contact with reality. Those of us who have or had adolescent children or dare to look back at our own adolescence can no doubt confirm this chaotic stage. Even though adolescents feel invulnerable, capable of doing any thing, internally oftentimes they lack the wisdom, insight, experience and maturity to take sure steps in life. It is easy to stumble, to feel vulnerable, overwhelmed and to feel like a failure. When one lacks the skills to effectively overcome different challenges in life, it is very easy to fall into a dysfunctional coping lifestyle.
Drugs can become part of such a dysfunctional pattern.
When one combines drinking and driving it is easy to understand why alcohol related car crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths. Unfortunately, alcohol also contributes to many other mishaps of adolescents such as falls, accidents, drowning while under the influence of alcohol and alcohol poisoning. Other studies confirm that between 4 and 5 percent of seniors report the use of illicit drugs on a daily basis. The use of alcohol and drugs either leads to or exacerbates physical, behavioral, academic, sexual or legal problems. The use of drugs and alcohol impairs judgement, reflexes, inhibitions and emotions.