These are the factors, which unless addressed, are associated with the greatest potential for people misusing drugs. There are many risk factors for drug abuse, each representing a challenge to the psychological and social development of an individual and each having a differential impact depending on the phase of development. Risk factors include:
- Chaotic home environments particularly in which parents abuse substances
- Ineffective parenting
- Behaviour problems
- Poor school performance
- Poor social and coping skills
- Affiliations with deviant peers
- Perceptions of approval of drug using behaviour
- Shy and/or aggressive behaviour
- Mental health problems
- Living in high prevalence of use areas