If you want to understand teen drug use, you need to understand why teens use drugs in the first place. 

The teen years can be a tumultuous time. While not all teens will use drugs to cope, statistics show that 21.3% of 8th graders have tried illicit drugs at least once, and that number jumps to 46.6% for 12th graders. 

As the parent or caregiver of a teen, you already know that you can’t block every obstacle in your child’s path. You can, however, educate yourself on the risks and warning signs of substance use, including the reasons teens use drugs at such alarming rates. 

The Ridge RTC works with teens struggling with substance use disorder. Here’s what we know about the underlying reasons why teens turn to drugs, plus warning signs that all parents and caregivers should be on the lookout for. 

6 Reasons Teens Use Drugs

Why do teens do drugs? The answer differs by individual, but we do have a pretty good idea of the most common causes of teen drug use. Learn what they are and stay vigilant about the risk factors facing your child. 

1. Peer Pressure and Social Influence

Teens are highly susceptible to peer pressure, since the brain hasn’t yet figured out things like impulse control or informed decision making. As such, they may impulsively use drugs because they want to fit in with friends or social circles, or due to the influence of social media and pop culture. 

2. Stress and Academic Pressure

Drug use can be a coping mechanism for dealing with stress – particularly school-related stress. This includes stress and pressure around school performance, school social dynamics, and expectations from parents, teachers, and teens themselves. 

3. Mental Health Struggles

It’s estimated that nearly half of teens have struggled with mental illness at some point. This can be a major driver of drug use, especially when a mental health disorder like anxiety, depression, or trauma goes undiagnosed or untreated, at which point a teen may use drugs to self-medicate. 

4. Curiosity and Risk-Taking Behavior

Adolescence is a time of exploration and adventure. It’s also a time when illicit drugs are generally easy to come by, whether that’s online, at friends’ houses, or in school hallways. Combine thrill-seeking behavior with access to drugs and it’s easy to see why teen drug use is so common. 

5. Family and Environmental Factors

Tension at home and/or a lack of parental supervision opens the door to teen drug use, so it’s essential for parents and caregivers to recognize their own role when it comes to things like modeling healthy behaviors and providing teens with a safe and stable home environment. 

6. Trauma and Emotional Pain

Drugs can be used by teens as a balm to cope with abuse, neglect, or loss. They can also be a way to numb or escape painful emotions. In either case, it comes down to self-medication and a lack of better alternatives for addressing serious mental health concerns. 

Why Do Teens Do Drugs? Recognizing Patterns and Warning Signs

There has been a 3.8% increase year-over-year in teen drug use. That doesn’t mean your teen is guaranteed to try drugs, but it does mean you need to be aware of not just the causes of teen drug use but the early signs that something is going on. This includes:

• Changes in mood or behavior
• Declining academic performance
• Secretive behavior or withdrawal from family and friends
• Physical signs such as bloodshot eyes, unusual sleep patterns, or sudden weight loss or gain

If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s time to act. The sooner you do, the greater the chances your teen will go on to live a healthy, drug-free life. 

Self-Medicating vs. Drug Addiction in Teens: What to Consider

Teens who use substances are often labeled as addicts. However, many are really self-medicating to cope with emotional pain, anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief. While prolonged use can evolve into traditional drug addiction, most teens in treatment are really just seeking relief rather than engaging in compulsive substance abuse. 

The stigma surrounding addiction can overshadow the deeper issue—unresolved emotional distress—leading to ineffective treatment approaches. Addressing the whole person and identifying the root causes of their substance use is essential. 

Without this deeper, more personal intervention, teens may continue to rely on harmful coping mechanisms to manage their symptoms.

How Parents and Caregivers Can Help

Let’s switch the focus from why do teens do drugs? to what you can do about it. 

The biggest thing: set the stage for open and honest communication. A teen needs support, not judgment, and they thrive under clear and consistent boundaries. 

Try to get on the same page as your child, encouraging healthy coping mechanisms and talking about the challenges they’re facing. And if necessary, consider seeking out professional substance use treatment. A residential program or even just regular therapy sessions make all the difference in teen recovery.

Have More Questions Beyond “Why Do Teens Use Drugs”?

We are here to help. Talk to a Ridge RTC professional about why teens use drugs, as well as the options available for early intervention and treatment support. And explore our website for additional resources on adolescents and drugs, or contact us to discuss any concerns you might be having about potential teen drug use.