Why Do Teenagers (Juvenile) Take Drugs ?

By: Sanjoo Thangjam
Actually, there many reasons for taking drugs by teenagers however,  some of the most common factors are due to the following reasons :
i) PERSUASION BY FRIENDS, SCHOOL MATES etc ( PEER PRESSURE)
A peer may be a close friend, school mate, neighbour, etc. Peer is usually a person of more or less the same age.
Often, drugs are taken for the first time by a teenager due to peer group pressure.
ii) TEMPTATION OF TEENAGERS “TO LOOK AND BEHAVE” LIKE ADULTS  (SYMBOL OF ADULTHOOD)
They identify certain activities as associated with adulthood. For e.g., returning home late at night, driving a car, etc. They watch adult taking alcohol in social gathering or in parties, musical nights, etc.
So they feel that drinking alcohol or taking drugs as a method of moving into adulthood. Besides, if a teenager does not take alcohol or dugs, he is likely to be teased by his peers as ‘a baby’ or kid, or a mother’s child’.
iii) REFUSAL TO ACCEPT ANY KIND OF AUTHORITY (REBELLION):
They are neither children nor adults, but their parents often try to protect them or boss over. They often rebel against parental authority and protection in many ways. One way is by taking drugs.
They know clearly that taking drugs will never be accepted by their families. They take alcohol or drugs to break customs of the society and to look modern. They also may rebel against all kinds of rules, restriction or regulations of the school, college or government.
iv) MERE CURIOSITY TO EXPERIENCE HOW IT FEELS TO TAKE DRUGS:
Teenagers/adolescents are very curious about anything that is new. They have a great desire to have new experiences, to experiment and to be adventurous.
When they hear other youngsters talking about drugs and its pleasant effects, they become curious. They want to know how it actually feels to take drugs. So, out of curiosity, a number of teenagers try taking drugs.
v) IMITATING THE DRUG – TAKING BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS:
Teenagers may imitate the popular cinestars and singers, rich and upper class, westerners. Some of the popular stars, rich folks and westerners may take alcohol or drugs.
Teenager are not simply not aware of the amount of hard-work that led to the success of these people. They only imitate their smoking, drinking, drug taking etc, as part of their hero-ship.
The writer is a Social Activist for People Who Use Drugs ( PUD)