Despite controversial views, no one “chooses” to become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Adolescents who experiment may hold certain expectations about the effects of using specific substances, but cannot entirely anticipate how or when they become addicted. Part of the excitement is not knowing what to expect.

At some unpredictable point like a switch flipped in the brain, the adolescent loses the ability to make a rational decision regarding substance use. This has been described as a loss of control. Because of a lack of physical, emotional and intellectual maturity, adolescents can become dependent on substances much quicker than adults. Experts estimate that the adolescent is four to five times more likely to become an alcoholic when he begins consuming alcohol at age 14 rather than 21. Adolescents who start to experiment with drugs and alcohol much younger develop a higher tolerance to gateway drugs such as marijuana. By the time these teens reach 14 or 15, the excitement threshold is higher along with the perception that they need to take greater risks.

An underlying debate about the origins of substance abuse is whether the decision to use substances is based on rational choice. Although adolescents who use for the first time may be making a choice, it is often an impulsive, uneducated or misinformed choice. Some research shows that the initial decision to engage in alcohol use or other drug use results from choices based on a value system that differs from the value system of non-users (Carney, 1974; Vuchinich, 1987). Another study on trends of adolescent substance abuse (Johnson, O’Malley, and Bachman, 1995) supports the view that choices are also determined by the attitudes and beliefs of teens, in particular the risk young people see associated with use, and the extent to which they and their friends disapprove of use.

The reasons for continued drug use among teens are often different from the reasons for initial use. Continued substance use among addicts and alcoholics is driven more by physiological and psychological dependence rather than by rational decisions. As discomfort, anxiety and fear increase, the denial sets in as teens rationalize or minimize their use. This sets the stage for addictive substance use.

Chemically dependent adolescents develop a mind-set that allows them to continue “using” in spite of growing consequences, thus becoming dependent on chemicals just to feel “normal.” Some of the messages they give themselves and others are, “It’s okay, everyone uses… I’m not hurting anyone else; it’s my body… I don’t need to use… I can stop at anytime.”

What is common to many addicts and alcoholics is that they may in fact be able to stop for short periods of time without withdrawal, but don’t have the skills to remain abstinent. Chemically dependent adolescents learn that substance abuse becomes an effective way to avoid problems, at least in the short-run. However, this illogical thinking is short-lived as problems become insurmountable and non-using friends, school, the police and family members begin to confront the adolescent’s behavior.