Which factors influence a teen's decisions to use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco?

Several factors can significantly influence a teen's decisions regarding the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. These include:

1. Volunteering in Community Organizations and Programs: Engaging in community service can provide teens with a sense of purpose, belonging, and responsibility, which may reduce the likelihood of substance use.

2. Making Wise Choices about Friend Groups: The peers a teen associates with have a substantial impact on their behavior. Choosing friends who value healthy lifestyles and avoid substance use can help discourage similar behaviors.

3. Being Involved in Activities, Clubs, or Sports: Participation in extracurricular activities can offer positive outlets for energy and time, fostering self-esteem and social connections that do not revolve around substance use.

4. Seeing Peers, Family Members, or People in Media Using Substances: Exposure to drug and alcohol use depicted in media, or through family and friends, can normalize these behaviors, potentially leading to increased experimentation and use among teens.

These factors interact in complex ways, and promoting healthy choices and environments can help mitigate the risk of substance use among adolescents.