As with any scientific hypothesis, correlation does not mean causation. I think it's silly to say that lavish birthday parties and proms (or lack there of) cause people to turn to drugs... Addiction is rooted much deeper than that. I am 23, an (recovered) addict, and grew up in an addicted family. There is so much more at play... I never expected life to be a party - quite the opposite. I expected my entire life to be hell and THAT is what I was depressed about and tried to run away from with drugs. I used drugs to escape - not to party, though it may have looked like partying at times. I craved normalcy. I don't think most addicts want the world, I think most just want "normal" because they don't feel normal. Nobody that I know thinks that "normal" looks like a $1200 prom...