Drug abuse among kids in the rural areas Within Montana the average age of first drug or alcohol use is 13. Three challenges arose from this young age. First materials for prevention or treatment were tailored for high school students with only limited application for middle school or younger children. Second in the case of alcohol abuse it showed how ingrained into the families and culture alcohol use had become. Third the rapid rise of prescription drug abuse made drugs accessible to younger children not previously able to access illegal drugs. The factors that caused them to begin use of drugs/alcohol by age 13 began when they were much younger. Substance use and misuse within a rural community can present many problems. Increased crime and violence, vehicular accidents caused by driving while intoxicated, spreading of infectious diseases, fetal alcohol syndrome, risky sexual behavior, homelessness, and unemployment may all be the result of one or more forms of substance use. These ...