About this series:
This article is part of a three-part series by Editor-in-Training Ruby Guerrero, exploring the realities of addiction—from how it affects the brain, to the ways it can reshape families, to one student’s personal reflections on loving someone who struggles.

Read the rest of the series:
• What addition really does to the teenage brain
• The effects of addiction on families
• OPINION: Addiction’s hidden toll

Editor’s note: some names have been changed to protect the identities of minors discussing illegal substance use.

Addiction is a disorder that is often misunderstood – especially by those who have not witnessed it firsthand. While it is easy to make assumptions about people who struggle with addiction, the reality is much more complicated, especially for those around them.

Substance use among teenagers remains widespread. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 50% of teenagers have abused a drug at least once in their life.

Per a FOIA request, at West Chicago Community High School, approximately 11 students per year receive out-of-school suspensions (OSS) for possession or being under the influence of substances, while about four receive in-school suspensions (ISS). Over the years, the official number has decreased – especially since the pandemic – but that does not necessarily mean students have stopped using.

“I think it’s so much easier now,” high school student Louis said. “Because we get it from our friends, and those friends give it to others as well.”

Others echo those sentiments.

“You can literally just ask someone, and they could point you in the direction,” another student, Brad, said.

For some, substance use becomes a form of self-medication.

“That’s why I do it—to cope,” Louis said.

West Chicago Community High School psychologist Karen Szot agrees.

“A lot of people that use have low self-worth, depression, anxiety… they’re using to self-medicate or escape,” she said.

In 2022, there were 151 drug overdose deaths in DuPage County, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Among teens, substance use can feel like the only way to “feel better” or “calmer” — especially when daily life feels overwhelming or support systems are lacking. There is also a cultural sense of cynicism about the future. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1 in 3 teens (ages 13–18) will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime.

While the focus is often on the person using, those who love someone with addiction face their own challenges. Friends and family may struggle to know how to help, or how to process the damage that addiction causes in relationships. Experts say one of the hardest lessons is realizing that setting boundaries is not selfish – it is necessary.

Addiction affects more than just the person using. It strains trust, communication, and mental health for everyone involved. Those who witness addiction may feel pressure to “stay strong,” to “be understanding,” or to offer unconditional support – sometimes at the expense of their own well-being.

Professionals emphasize that it is okay to feel hurt or even angry about a loved one’s behavior, especially when that behavior is harmful or destructive. Holding back those emotions, or pretending everything is fine, often leads to long-term damage.

It is also okay to step away when necessary. According to mental health professionals, people cannot pour from an empty cup – if someone is not caring for themselves, they are likely not in a position to support someone else in a healthy way. Setting boundaries does not mean giving up on someone; it means protecting one’s own emotional stability to better help when possible.

“You have to take care of yourself first. It’s not selfish—it’s survival,” Szot said.

Supporting someone with addiction requires compassion, but also clarity. It is not about saving them. It is about being present without losing one’s sense of self in the process.