For teen, life is all about developing an individual identity, finding a place among peers, establishing loyal friendships, and the excitement of trying new things. But when that exuberant spirit of adolescence gets derailed by alcohol and drugs, something quite different waits around the corner.

Drugs are beguiling substances. All drugs—nicotine, alcohol, inhalants, prescription drugs, and illegal substances— offer an enticement to the teen user. Some offer euphoria, relaxation, stimulation, or a "rush." Others seem to offer a sense of belonging or sophistication, popularity, or a novel experience. Although drugs may even deliver on that promise for a time, eventually teens who abuse drugs find themselves experiencing the other side of drug use.

Teens who abuse or become addicted to chemical substances suffer more than the harmful physical effects of drugs. They expose themselves to the most serious misfortunes that can befall young people: depression...