The teenager years are arguably the hardest while growing up; I think it’s no surprise that many teens across the world find themselves vulnerable, going to drugs and alcohol. We’re at a point where we’re just starting to slowly figure out our identities. Unfortunately, a lot of factors make this process even harder; teens are very often pressured into doing something they’re not comfortable with, and they give in from fear of alienation, or possibly because they think whatever it is they’ll do will make them better in some way…it’s almost like our self-worth is determined by whether or not we drink/do drugs. Most of us struggle with self esteem issues while transitioning through the teen years, and therefore it’s possible we believe that drinking or drugs will help our social lives, making us feel significantly better about ourselves. Not only are we prone to experiencing peer pressure, but drugs and alcohol are practically glorified in media all around us; for example, its inevitable that we’ll see at least one movie in our lives that show teens at a party, drinking and having an amazing time. What the movies don’t usually show, though, are the kids after the fun parties who turn to substance abuse instead of just substance consummation. They don’t show the student who needs to go to school high every day just to be able to function properly. While it’s true that not everyone’s experiences will result in situations like this, some definitely will, because of a number of different factors (stress, depression, peer pressure, trauma, etc). It’s a very common and serious problem that circulates from country to country, and it’s important that teens are self-aware as there is a thin line between occasional partying and addiction.