Children and youth use many of the same substances as adults, for many of the same reasons. But some children and youth say they use substances for these reasons:
- to forget their problems
- to perform better
- to feel better
- to experiment
- they feel bored and don't know how to get "un-bored"
- they have trouble relaxing around people their age
- their friends use substances, and they want to feel like they belong in the group
- they don't know of any other ways to deal with negative emotions like anxiety, grief or depression
