Thrill-Seeking & Drug Use

Thrill-seeking is a natural characteristic of boys, but extreme sensation-seeking signal susceptibility to drug use. Parents should help sensation-seeking teens find healthy, alternative forms of excite in order to reduce any tendencies toward drug use.

Boys will be boys. Whether climbing trees, speeding around on bikes, or pushing the limits of parental tolerance, boys tend to love life on the edge. Many parents have wondered what inner forces propelled their boy to proceed in the face of obvious danger. The answer is partly biological. Growing boys are natural thrill-seekers because of testosterone, the hormone associated with maleness. Testosterone is a catalyst of risk. It induces boys to take great risks for something that, viewed rationally, is a small potential reward. Testosterone causes even young boys to be attracted to high-risk activities, such as car racing and contact sports.

But as a boy grows into a teen, extreme risk-taking can indicate vulnerability to the temptation to abuse drugs. Studies suggest that teens that crave high degrees of stimulation or excitement are at a much greater risk for drug, alcohol, or tobacco abuse. You can identify these “sensation seeking” teens by their willingness to take greater risks than their peers and boredom with less exiting activities.

Sensation seeking is not necessarily a negative character trait. Most leaders are characterized by a willingness to take risks and act confidently in the face of new challenges. Many of society’s greatest advancements occurred through men who were willing to take risks that others would not.

So what separates a future leader from a future drug abuser? One simple answer: influences. Parental involvement ranks high (just behind sports) as one of the most important factors in a child’s decision to reject drugs. A parent’s best bet to ensure that their sensation-seeking teen avoids drugs and ends up in the “leader” category is to help direct the teen’s energy toward healthy activities. A Partnership for A Drug Free America study indicates that two-thirds of teenagers cite fear of parental disapproval as a primary reason to abstain from drug use.

Parents must offer alternative activities to serve as substitutes for the excitement that they might otherwise obtain from drug use. Activities that involve active and competitive behavioral are often most appealing. Examples of constructive activities for sensation seeking teens include sports, hiking, fishing, music, and interesting hobbies. The idea is to satisfy the teen’s need for excitement naturally, without chemical substances.

What parents do to influence their teens is important. Stressing the dangers of drug use may not get through to a sensation-seeking teen because of his perception of risk. Such tactics may have the unintended effect of attracting the teen to drug use precisely because it is a risky behavior.

There is no way to overstate the importance of parental involvement in this area. If you notice an extreme sensation-seeking side to your teen, find out his interests and encourage him to take up constructive activities to satisfy his appetite for thrills.

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