In addition, drugs and alcohol work in the short-term. They do not drink for the taste, nor do they have a preference for one drug or beverage, as adults often do. They will use whatever their peer group is using. They also hold the belief that the negative event will not happen to me . For example, young girls value cigarettes as a way to stay thin and prevent weight gain.
Nicotine suppresses appetite, and also soothes and helps with self-assurance.
These are immediate benefits for the adolescent girl that are of greater value for her than any future consequences, such as emphysema, cancer or high blood pressure. In contrast to adult social use, an adolescent will rarely stop at one-two drinks. The goal is to experience the risk of getting high or drunk. Binge drinking is common in social situations for adolescents and is often viewed as normal by the peer group. In adults, binge drinking is typically associated with the middle stage of addiction.