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According to the Wall Street Journal, adolescents may be more vulnerable to drug, alcohol, and tobacco addiction, not just because of social factors, but also due to the way their growing brains are wired.

The organization of the adolescent brain- -which lends itself to highly motivated exploration of the world, in order to learn how to be adult- -may also make it particularly vulnerable to addiction. Knowing how adolescents are vulnerable to addiction could lead to new treatments, (drug and non-drug), and new methods of prevention.

Some studies say stimulants for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may make them less likely to fall prey to addictions.

The impulse toward novelty in the adolescent brain, and its extreme “plasticity”, or ability to change in response to experience, make adolescents more vulnerable to addiction than adults. As the adolescent brain seeks to specialize in rewarding activities, addictive substances can crowd out other activities, shrinking the ability to learn.

SOURCE:
Robert Mc. Gough. "The Growing Brain May Make Teens More Prone to Addiction." The Wall Street Journal. 2003