Peer Pressure/Parental or authority figure pressure or perceived disapproval or cruelty

Feelings of being out of control/unable to cope with life as it is

Feelings of inadequacy, unattractiveness, of not measuring up in any given area of life

Feelings of not fitting in/social isolation or rejection if they say no

Unawareness of their preciousness, uniqueness, Gifting & Calling, and the world's deep need for what only they can contribute

Unawareness that they are not responsible for saving/healing the world and that if there is strife or discord in their environment it is not their fault

Unawareness of who they are – the typical profile of an addict is a type AAA personality with a strong social consciousness who truly wants to make a difference in this world. These people cannot sit still and loaf on the couch – and if they do not have a clear vision for how to use their time and energy productively, they will find SOMETHING to do – leading to a clear-cut case of Misdirected Potential.

Poor home life role models/lack of positive mentoring. If a parent or authority figure is absentee, abusive, an addict, or too strict or too lax in discipline, if peers are addicted, and if there is no positive role model to offset negative programming, youth will turn to addictions by default, perceiving them to be a perfectly acceptable solution to life's anxieties.

Source: Key To Life, 2002, Lift Me Up Music