There are many reasons why teens are starting to use drugs and alcohol, but I think it’s time to think on this topic because there is no single reason why teenagers use drugs and alcohol. It’s important that parents of teenagers understand these reasons and talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking and doing drugs.

It's common for friends tend to urge one another to have a drink or smoke because alcohol and drugs are readily available. Teens see their friends enjoying illegal substances, which makes them see this to be a part of the normal teenage experience.

Teens also often want to escape from depression and sad, suicidal thoughts, so they turn to chemicals for solace. For example, some teens abuse prescription medicine to manage stress or regulate their lives. Sometimes they abuse prescription stimulants (used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) to provide additional energy and the ability to focus when they’re studying or taking tests. Others are abusing prescription pain relievers and tranquilizers to cope with academic, social or emotional stress.

Drug abuse can negatively affect the memory of teenagers. This may lead to poor academic performance and difficulty memorizing things. The problem may deteriorate as a person grows older. During the teenage years, the brain sheds gray matter to work more efficiently. Teenagers and young adults who abuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to indulge in risky sexual behavior. Evidence has shown that young people who abuse drugs are less likely to use protection during sex and are more likely to have sex with strangers. This considerably increases the chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teen pregnancy.

I want to bring awareness every day on this topic because no teenager should be doing this with an excuse. It’s unacceptable for this to be overlooked by everyone. It’s not supposed to be a choice or privilege, it’s supposed to be a crime to be ruining a teenager's brain.

This has been a huge problem in every community, but in the eyes of myself, a Native American of the Zuni tribe, it seems to have had a really huge impact in my community. The use of illegal substances by teenagers in Zuni needs to stop here and now, or else this might be a problem that never is fixed. It’s important that the Independent readers who are parents understand these reasons and talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking and doing drugs.