Risk of substance abuse disorders

Drug and alcohol use disorders have a group of symptoms based on:

• The inability to control when and how much a substance is used.
• The impact on a person's ability to fulfill responsibilities and engage with other people.
• Risky use when it's hazardous or even if physical or psychological harm is expected.
• High tolerance of the substance and withdrawal symptoms.

Substance use disorders can range from mild to severe. It's not easy to predict if a teen who uses drugs or alcohol will develop a substance use disorder. But there are several factors that increase the risk. These include:

• Alcohol or drug use before age 15.
• A family history of substance use disorder.
• A mental or behavioral health condition, such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an eating disorder.
• Impulsive or risk-taking behavior.
• Low self-esteem or feelings of social rejection.
• A history of traumatic events, such as ongoing family conflict, violence, abuse, a death in the family or natural disasters.
• Homelessness.
• Stigma about identity, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary or other nonconforming identity.