In the meantime, it's important for both generations to keep the lines of communication open. While legal, nicotine and alcohol are addictive drugs. They can also cause serious medical problems. While the use of drugs by teenagers has decreased over the past decade, in some ways the problem has gotten worse. For instance, the age of first experimentation with marijuana has gotten younger.
Teenagers often use drugs to cope with the challenges of adolescence.
Drug use also makes it nearly impossible to learn. Drugs can also lead teens into difficulty outside school. They may get into trouble for selling drugs, or stealing to buy them. Drugs can also cause problems with sexuality. They can impede good judgment and self control.