Some people take drugs occasionally, while others become highly drug-dependent.
Statistics reveal that the earlier drug use begins, the greater the risk of drug dependence.
Youth are most at risk because they are less mature physically, emotionally and intellectually and have less self-control than adults. Click the link below for a list of the stages of drug use. Note that some people never use drugs at all, and that the stages do not necessarily follow each other. A Stage One drug user will not necessarily become a Stage Two user, for example. Download Word Document with texts for Why Do Kids Take Drugs , Drug Use Patterns , and Stages of Drug Use.