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This story illustrates the concept of denial.
Alan Stevens, who is 14 years old, is smoking marijuana almost daily and experimenting with a number of other drugs.
His father laughs off Alan's drug use when other family members say that Alan's drug use is out of control. Mr. Stevens used drugs himself when he was a teen. He was able to quit when he made a decision to quit, so he is convinced that Alan will be able to do the same.
Mr. Stevens does not let himself think about the fact that the marijuana Alan is using is much stronger than the marijuana that kids used years ago. He ignores that Alan is not able to go for more than a day or two without using drugs, a pattern that is much more dangerous than Mr. Stevens' pattern of use ever was. Alan also has fewer interests, abilities, friends and other supportive people in his life than Mr. Stevens had when he was a teen, which makes quitting much more difficult. Alan doesn't have anything to distract him, or anyone who will talk to him about his behaviors.
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