Stress and boredom can cause teens to use alcohol and drugs.

Teens who are stressed, bored and have extra spending money are twice as likely to smoke, drink and use illegal drugs. These findings were discovered in a Columbia University study recently reported by the Associated Press. Ron Kanwischer, assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says a number of things can cause kids to use drugs and alcohol.

SOUND BITE: "Stress however and dealing with strong feelings of anxiety or depression even, ah can cause people to seek relief, and in our culture I think, one of the things that is taught is that you can use alcohol or drugs to solve some of these problems. And so, it makes sense to me then that kids would be likely to try that as a way to find relief from what bothers them."

The study also found that kids at larger schools are more likely to be at high risk of substance abuse than kids from smaller schools. Kids who bond with their families, school and school activities are less likely to use substances. Kanwischer says parents can take some precautions to help prevent their kids from using substances.

SOUND BITE: "There do appear to be some other protective factors and some of those are simply having dinner with your kids a couple of times a week makes a big difference in terms of again affiliation, knowing what your kids are doing, what they're up to, who their friends are - that can all make a big difference in protecting your child from drugs and alcohol abuse."

Kanwischer says that it's the combination of factors plus accesiblilty through friends who use alcohol, drugs and cigarettes that can cause kids to try them. If parents suspect their child is using illegal drugs, they should see their primary care physician or mental health counselor for help in overcoming the problem.