But what are the real reasons why some people end up abusing drugs and others do not?
There are various risk factors that can affect young people, such as living in a neighbour
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hood where drug dealing and drug abuse are taking place and where out-of-school activities
are not available. Economic strain on families where parents struggle to meet living costs
can influence family relationships negatively, while spending time with peers who are
involved in drugs or delinquency while seeking adventure puts young people at higher risk
of falling prey to drug abuse. As a consequence of these kinds of risk factors, young people
may suffer from mental health problems, making them even more vulnerable to substance
abuse. It is not so much the case that all young people freely choose to use drugs, as that
these kinds of risk factors may influence young people to initiate substance abuse. In the
case of tobacco and alcohol, the industries spend a lot of money on subliminal advertising
to get young people, especially in developing countries, to use their products