But first things first, what causes youths to turn to substance abuse? To be quite honest, there are many reasons:
Some youths turn to substance abuse to escape the painful realities of their lives, which could include a substance or domestic abuse within the home, financial difficulties or homelessness. In these cases, substance abuse is utilized as a “Painkiller” …show more content…
“The Canadian Lung Association found that 70 percent of teens who smoke have friends who smoke or started smoking because of peer pressure. According to the Underage Drinking Research Initiative, “two-thirds of 10th graders and two-fifths of 8th graders have tried alcohol.” At school, my classmates may be pressured by other students to join them to drink or smoke. Some students are convinced that substance abuse will make them look cooler in the eyes of their friends. As young people, we don’t always realize that the decisions we make can affect us for a