Addiction and Depression

The Teens At Risk series deals with powerful and relevant issues facing teenagers today. This series reveals first-hand how young people deal with and overcome the very real challenges encountered as part of their growing up. A lot of depressed people, especially teenagers, also have problems with alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes the depression comes first and people try using drugs as a way to escape. Other times, the alcohol or other drug use comes first, and depression is caused by the drug itself, the withdrawal from it or the problems that substance abuse causes. The important point is that if someone has one or both of these problems, the sooner they get help the better. Teens at Risk teaches how to be honest about both issues - showing how depressed teens can deal effectively with their illness without substance abuse and how to communicate with people who can help them get into treatment.