Introduction
Psychiatrists, other mental health professionals, educators, and politicians are increasingly identifying the problem of substance use, drug abuse, and addiction among children and adolescents as a critical public health problem. Despite attempts to limit access to such harmful substances by young persons, the use of such substances is common among adolescents and growing in some groups.

Causes of addiction among Adolescents ?
Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often don’t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.

Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, peer pressure, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. Individual characteristics such as the presence of early childhood disruptive behavior problems, aggressive behavior, poor academic performance, risk-taking behaviors, and favorable beliefs and attitudes about substance use, also makes the child vulnerable to addiction.

The environment may account for addiction in children. Parental or family risk factors include parental beliefs and attitudes about substance use; tolerance of substance use; lack of closeness and attachment between parent and adolescent; lack of involvement, supervision, or discipline of the adolescent; and parental substance use. Peer-related variables such as peer substance use, peer attitudes, and a greater orientation of the adolescents to peers (as opposed to their parents) are also important risk factors. Community characteristics such as low socioeconomic status, high population density, physical deterioration, and high crime are also associated with higher levels of substance use in young persons.

Who is at risk?

• Early childhood disruptive behavior problems, aggressive behavior
• Poor academic performance
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Favorable beliefs and attitudes about substance use
• Early Smoking and Alcoholism (Gateway Drugs)
• Parental beliefs and attitudes about substance use; tolerance of substance use
• Lack of closeness and attachment between parent and adolescent
• Lack of parental involvement, supervision, or discipline of the adolescent
• Addiction in parents
• Peer Pressure
• Low socioeconomic status
• High population density

What are the substances of Abuse?
Adolescents abuse a variety of drugs:

Alcohol
Alcohol is the substance of choice for most adolescents. Alcohol intoxication is capable of causing irritability, violent behavior, feelings of depression and accidents. Longer-term, escalating levels of consumption of alcohol can produce tolerance as well as such intense adaptation of the body that cessation of use can lead to sleep disturbance and anxiety.

Tobacco
Teens who smoke are three times more likely than nonsmokers to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and other major drugs.

Depressants:
Depressants are those drugs that are used medicinally to relieve anxiety, irritability, and tension. There is a high potential for abuse and, combined with alcohol, effects are heightened and risks are multiplied.

Heroin:
Rich students quickly graduate to the use of heroin that can be sniffed or smoked instead of injected.

Steroids:
Anabolic steroids are a group of powerful compounds closely related to the male sex hormone testosterone. It is used for bodybuilding and increasing the muscle mass.

Marijuana:
Such as Ganja, Bhang and Charas; In some cases treatment for marijuana abuse and dependence is required.

Stimulants & Club drugs:
Crack (smokeable form of cocaine), ketamine, methamphetamine, and LSD are not freely available in India and are still out of the reach of the average student in our society. However these drugs are accessible to rich and affluent students.