Q.In your view, what motivates the youngsters to take to alcohol or drugs and how can this be avoided?

Step 1. The chapter lists several factors that push adolescents toward substance abuse: insufficient parental supervision and monitoring, poor communication between child and parents, poorly defined household rules, family conflict, parents' own favourable attitudes toward alcohol/drug use, unrealistic expectations of what drug use will provide, and a general tendency toward risk-taking behaviour.

Step 2. Underlying this, addictive substances offer perceived benefits — euphoria and a temporary sense of well-being — which drive repeated use even when it becomes self-destructive, especially without proper guidance.

Step 3. The chapter's recommended remedial measures include: avoiding undue pressure on a young person to perform beyond their capacity in studies or sport; providing education and counselling so they learn to handle stress and accept disappointment as part of life; and channelling their energy into sport, study and other constructive activities. …

Draw on the chapter's 'causes of substance abuse during adolescence' list for motivation, and its 'methods to control drug abuse …

• Giving only a single cause (e.g. 'peer pressure') instead of the fuller set of family, social and individual factors the chapter names. …