Will the young person become dependent on drugs?

Young people might try drugs at some stage in their adolescence and for most they never develop problems.

It can be distressing for family members when young people use drugs. It can be helpful for family members to have knowledge about different patterns of drug use.  

It can be useful for parents to understand the difference between experimental, recreational, regular and dependent use. Most young people will start using drugs experimentally and this experience will inform whether they use drugs again. Young people oscillate between different patterns of drug use regularly.  

Recreational use is where a young person might use drugs in a controlled way on a regular basis and not become dependent on these drugs. For example, the young person will only use drugs in particular circumstances with friends and this use does not have a negative impact upon their life.  A more harmful form of recreational use which is also situational is a bingeing pattern. For example, the young person attends a party with friends and has several drinks with the intention of becoming intoxicated.  

Dependent use is where a young person comes to rely on their drug of choice to function, to help them manage emotions, or to manage life on a daily basis. Young people who use drugs regularly can develop a tolerance which means it takes larger amounts of the drug to get the same effect.  

What are risk and protective factors?

Risk factors are circumstances or factors that increase the chances of problems with drugs developing. Some examples of issues that young people who use drugs may be experiencing are family breakdown, isolation and loneliness, significant loss, mental ill health and living in unsafe environments.  

In addition to risk factors, there are protective factors. If present in a young person’s life, these increase a young person’s likelihood of not developing problems with drugs or alcohol.  Protective factors also occur at different levels of a young person’s life and include strong and supportive relationships with families, positive friendship networks, positive experiences at school or work and stable housing.  

These factors don’t cause or prevent problems on their own and every individual will have a unique combination of experiences and factors for them. But generally, when risk factors out number protective factors, a young person is more vulnerable to developing a problem.  

Was this helpful? Talk to YoDAA if you are worried about a young person you care about.