There is a universal law among drug abusers, which says that if a youngster gets into a group of friends who are using drugs, his chances of becoming addicted increase dramatically. Curiosity and the encouragement of friends are usually the starting points of drug abuse. Problems are not the reason why youngsters get into drugs. In fact, there are those who have much bigger problems who never touch drugs.

    First time drug usage usually happens because the kid accepts the idea that the drug in question is really harmless. The benefits of the high are what his friends talk about. The negatives are seldom mentioned. It is the wonderful feelings that come with the high that are glorified.

    In addition, because of favorable social contacts with those who use drugs, it becomes easier for the youngsters to accept the idea that those who use drugs are not bad.

    There is a subtle kind of conversion that takes place. One wants to be accepted by his peers, so he bends to their request to try the drug. He does so, gets the high and is convinced that it’s good. Much like what happens when kids are asked to smoke and drink with their friends. It begins as a social need. Later, when the drug user becomes a full-fledged addict, he will want to use it on his own. Still with his friends, but also he will want to hoard his drugs for his own use.

    Though young people have heard from their elders that drugs are harmful, they tend to believe their peers more. The need to connect to their peers is seen as more important than it is to connect to adults.

    The more mature young people are, the less apt they are to want to use drugs. They have less of a need to conform to their peers and are more likely to take their own direction. For the less mature, drugs are often seen as a rite of passage, a way to assert one’s own independence from authority.

    The pleasures of drugs can be so great that users do not see themselves as victims. They, in fact, see themselves as luckier than those who do not use. So talk about victimization just does not work for them. I have given many talks in schools and I believe I have never convinced an addict to stop using. I go there to talk to those who have not yet used. The addicts are not listening. Rarely does any kind of talk succeed in turning them around. They are hearing a lot more talk about the highs they are getting from their friends. The hardened addict needs action to stop him. Talk won’t do it.