Why do we use substances?

INA KONING: It’s not surprising that many young people want to try alcohol or drugs. When you’re young, you’re curious and want to try all sorts of things. However, young people use alcohol and drugs for many different reasons, such as one, a relaxed atmosphere. From a young age, most teenagers see people drinking alcohol, usually at festive occasions like a party. This can support the idea that alcohol and having a good time are connected. Two, peers, everyone is using. Whether and when you start drinking or using drugs is often strongly related to your environment and friends. It is important to be part of a group and have friends when you are young.

When your friends start drinking alcohol or using drugs, it is tempting to do so yourself as well so that you belong to the group. Three, your feeling when drinking. You become more relaxed and free. After having drunk alcohol, most teenagers experience that they become more relaxed and loose. You notice that you dare to say more and that it becomes easier to talk to the people around you. Four, to cope with bad feelings. Being under influence may help you to cope with your worries and to feel better. Sometimes teenagers start using alcohol or drugs after they went through an awful experience to get their mind off the bad memory for a while.

Problems at home or other kinds of stress can also make you want to escape from reality every now and then. So there are plenty of reasons for starting and continuing using alcohol or drugs. In the initiation phase of drinking alcohol, particularly parents but also peers play an important role.