By STEPHEN BOGAN

In response to Joe Sutton-Holcomb’s op-ed piece “Teens know the difference between experimentation and addiction” in the April 22 Beachcomber, I would like to share some praise and feedback.

Columnist Sutton-Holcomb described the challenges of communication between parents and youths about alcohol and other drug use. It is not an easy discussion, and he captured that well.

He also made the point that there are differences between youth who are experimenting with substances and those who are addicted or in recovery from addiction.

Although the experimenting and addicted youth will look drastically different, it is an error in judgment to view these two groups as completely separate.

A young person who becomes an addict always starts with early and what they view as experimental use. They never strive to become addicted, and in fact many try to use and hope this never happens.

The problem is that the developmental nature of adolescence and the addictive nature of these chemicals make it difficult to predict who will become an addict and who will not.

For example, a youth aged 13 who drinks has an almost 50 percent greater chance to later become an alcoholic in adulthood. Those are very risky odds.

I agree with Sutton-Holcolmb that every young person who is experimenting is not into the depths of addiction, and some youths will find their way through adolescence and not have later problems. But as long as the risk is there, experimentation is not entirely “harmless.”

Every addict started with experimenting with what chemicals do to them and for them. If we could predict who will stay as “experimenters” and who go on to become addicts, we could save a lot of lives and change the dangerous course for many youth.

Through events such as the April 2 parent forum, we are having honest discussions to make the future safer for youth and parents. Since we cannot absolutely predict the future, we use the brain chemistry, the developmental age, the nature of the drugs, and warn in a caring, understanding way what the odds are.

I strongly agree with Sutton-Holcomb that parents and youth need to “find a happy medium that allows them to communicate” and “keep them safe without inhibiting their independence.”

Parents and youths owe it to each other to be honest about the challenges and risks of adolescence, including the progression of addiction from early use to full- blown dependence.

— Stephen Bogan, a therapist, also works at the state Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.