What increases the Risk of Having a Drug Problem? Part 1

Here are some factors that can make a person more likely to develop a drug problem:

• Starting drug use when you're young. When kids or teens use drugs, it affects how their bodies and brains grow. Using drugs when you're young increases your chances of becoming addicted when you're an adult.
• Hanging around other people who use drugs. Friends or family members who use drugs might influence you to use drugs.
• Trouble at home. If a person’s home is an unhappy place, or was when they were growing up, they might be more likely to have a drug problem. When kids aren't cared for, or there are lots of fights, or a parent is using drugs, the risk of addiction goes up. Kids in these situations should ask for help from a trusted adult, like a school counselor, a coach, or someone from their faith community.

We’ll look at more of these risk factors in our next post.