Home and Family. The influence of the home environment
is usually most important in childhood. Parents or older family
members who abuse alcohol or drugs or who engage in criminal
behavior can increase children’s risks of developing their own
drug problems.
❚ Peer and School. Friends and acquaintances have the greatest
influence during adolescence. Drug-abusing peers can sway even
those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Academic
failure or poor social skills can put a child further at risk for
drug abuse.