I have several ideas - and they're tried and true. I'm still close to your age group and all these ideas worked for me. My brother continued to hang out with alcoholics, then it was cocaine users and then depression. I'm sorry to sound scare-tactical but it's true - it was a slippery slope.

I have a theory that your third degree people are the ones you end up being closes with. You meet your '1st degree' in a new school, a new job, etc. They're the most outgoing, that reach out to you - and they take you to some social event and you meet their people - those are your 2nd degree people. Shortly thereafter, you realize you don't have much in common with your 1st degree people and you resonate more with their friends (2nd degree). Through the 2nd degree friends - you meet your best friends. They're the more kooky, intellectual, self-thinkers that you really resonate with. Self-thinkers are more likely to be people, IMHO, that work their path - whatever that means for them - but it rarely means apathy or addiction from my research.

Guaranteed successful social research:

COMMUNITY ART GROUPS: Join a live-drawing group that meets in the evenings. There's no alcohol allowed, you'll meet people that draw for fun, you'll love it. Go to whatever art opening is happening at the local art groups and then the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree people show themselves.

FOOD CO-OPS: Every proper food co-op has a community board. Whatever yoga or art group is posted, is most likely posted by the most young, self-thinker that works there and you'll absolutely meet people that work on a holistic lifestyle. I've rarely met energetically-spiraling people at organic food co-ops or in yoga class.

YOGA, TAI-CHI, QI GONG: all these classes brought me to meet the most fascinating people. Most times, you eventually find out that the majority of the class participants came to a regulating, energetically balancing study for similar reasons to yourself. It's like energetic group therapy without rules and regulations. It stands to uplift people, raise their vibration. You won't meet anyone intoxicated in any of these places.

DRUM AND DANCE CIRCLES: People that are serious about hand drumming are not drinkers and they don't do drugs. You'll meet occasional pot smokers but drum and dance circles are about raising energy and purging your emotions through the rhythm and fire. You can find the nearest drum and dance circles in either the back of the local art 'zine' or perhaps on craigslist. In fact, post something to craigslist under 'community events' or 'activity partners' and ask where these types of circles happen. Most likely, whomever knows about these will lead you (1st,2nd,3rd tier) to sweat lodges. These are people that pay close attention to their body/mind connection.

Any of these groups draw to them people that want to separate themselves from a normal 'party' paradigm and understand food intolerance, spiritual quest and creativity. You are absolutely going to get through this. It's your destiny.

Do not refute this time. You had to go gather your darker energy and experience so that with this next phase of light -you'll be exponentially more balanced and a true guide for those that will need you!