Drug Abuse among Teenagers

Prescribed medication has become one of the top three leading drugs used and abused by teenagers in America. According to Elizabeth Larsen, “The Centers for Disease Control classifies prescription drug abuse as the worst drug epidemic in United States history” (Larsen p.4). This is the worst drug epidemic in history because of the percentage of teenage usage. Based on different studies, pills are the most commonly abused drug among twelve- and thirteen- year olds because of how easy they are to access. In fact, many teens that abuse prescription medication has admitted that they, even with a substance addiction, still receive prescriptions from their doctor. The teenage usage of prescription medication could be prevented with better

Doesn’t matter what age, drugs are going to be used and abuse. From the time we are born, till the day we die, prescription drugs are prescribed for doctor approved use. Most prescription drugs are given to help control a disease, an imbalance, sickness, etc. With teenage drug abuse on the rise in most US high schools, it has become a problem parents are facing amongst their children. Being a parent to a teenager who has meddled with prescription drugs has been an unbelievable eye opener. Teens know who they get these drugs from; fellow students, friends, their parents cabinets, etc. Educating parents and discussing the risks with teens about the effects prescription drugs can cause is important to helping

Prescription drug abuse among teenagers is a serious and alarming trend that may be seen in today’s society. Prescription drug abuse is the usage of prescription medication not prescribed by a doctor. Many teens believe the drugs to be safe due to a doctor prescribing them, although every medication carries the risk of serious side effects. A substantial amount of teenagers experiencing depression, anxiety, or the need to be popular has been encouraged or introduced to abuse various drugs. Furthermore, results of prescription drug abuse on teens are displayed in a change in behavior and the need for rehab in some cases. The desire to become intoxicated or relieve physical or emotional pain by abusing drugs is the main cause

This essay will talk about teen drug use. Many teens do drugs. Drug use is known to cause delinquent behavior. Also you could even die using drugs if you overdose. It is very serious and parents need to stop their kids before anything serious happens to them. Don’t do drugs.

Several decades and much study have proven that substance abuse and addiction in adults causes adverse consequences on the adult brain. But, what about substance abuse and addiction in children? Substance abuse when young, although much less researched, has been connected with things such as changes in brain function, structure, and neurocognition. This research paper will talk about the effects of substance abuse and addiction in adolescence.

Anchor: Tonight on Channel 1 News, we are going to be reporting on a huge issue amongst teens...drug use. Teen drug use is an issue that is becoming more and more common and is harming teens in just about all schools across the country. For more information on this topic we now go over to Evan.

The abuse of prescription medication by adolescents, alongside their illicit drug usage, remains a prevalent issue in American society. As time progresses, the adolescent abuse of these drugs has intensified. This persists due to many elements such as social media and social networking sites, as well as other social-cultural factors. Not only do prescription and illicit drug use constitute a great crisis, but the medium that is used to expose and distribute these drugs is also a concern. Social media and social networking sites have popularized illicit and prescription drug use through their flexibility on what is posted and advertised on these web pages. Social media/social networking sites, the predominant sources of entertainment, play a

There are many substances that one as an adolescent can have an over accessible problem with. Alcohol and including drugs such as marijuana, lysergic acid Diethylamide LDS, Cocaine etc. can take a huge part of an adolescences neurodevelopment period. With the lack of knowledge these adolescents have with the affect that they can encounter. With resent research done demonstrating the abnormalities of the brain development caused by substance abuse. Abnormalities can be seen even in a small period in which the adolescent had consumption levels of 20 drinks in the period of a month from a 1-2-year range. When drug substance is consumed, such as marijuana anomalies are visible too; however, not to the same degree as alcohol consumption has. The most common substance used among adolescents are having a major effect on their brain development other drastic affects.

When tackling the hard subject of drug use and abuse with teenage children there are many tactics a parent can use to address the subject with their children. First it is important for the parent to be informed of the hard facts so that they can convey the appropriate information to their kids. First explaining the legal side of using drugs is beneficial in raising the children’s awareness of repercussions that can be associated with experimenting with drugs. More than 100,000 inmates are convicted each year in the prison system which is a small portion compared to the over 2 million drug related arrests each year. Drug convicted inmates consist of approximately 52 percent of the whole prison population altogether (Shannon, 13). Explaining to their teenagers that when experimenting with drug use that there is a high probability of ending up with legal trouble because they were caught with an illegal substance might convince them to abstain altogether. The second most important point is that teenagers who have ingested a drug also stand a chance of overdose that can lead to death all because they did not understand the drug that they were taking and how it would affect their body. Drug poisoning is the second highest cause of death in teenagers which surpasses death by gunshot and death by motor vehicle accidents (Shannon, 16). Teaching children how to make responsible choices begins at home and will help them to make responsible choices when they go out with their friends

Cassandra J. Dorius, Stephen J. Bahr, and colleges (2004) examined the buffering effects of closeness to the mother, closeness to the father, parental support and parental monitoring on adolescent use of marijuana and association with peers who use drugs. Results showed closeness to the father and an adolescent’s perception of being caught for breaking the rules helped defend against marijuana use and negative peer associations (Dorius et al 2004). Fathers have traditionally been the disciplinarians of the family. Closeness to the father may indicate adolescents place a greater emphasis on impressing the father and making him proud. Disappointing the father, coupled with disciplinary

drug users" and it was found that they all shared a similar lifestyle. All had

Perhaps one of the most devastating long-term effects of adolescent addiction is the effect that the drugs and alcohol have on brain development. The brain finally stops developing at the age of twenty five. Researchers have found that inhibitory control is developed during adolescence. “Basic cognitive processes are already well established in childhood. However, more complex cognitive functions, such as inhibitory control, undergo a substantial refinement during adolescence.” (Tamm et al) quoting Diamond and Goldman-Rakic, and goes on to say “it is during adolescence when this ability becomes more efficient” (Tamm et al).

In today’s society, one of the common problems among teenagers is the use of drugs. Teen age is probably one of the most challenging periods in life. It is a stage of self identity crisis that leads to great confusion amongst the teens. Belonging and being accepted in a group is very important in the minds of the teens; where many regard the act as cool. During these years of growth, teenagers encounter their share of positive and negative experiences. Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are factors that some youth and vulnerable teenagers have to deal with in this adolescent period.

A pattern that we’ve seen erupt over the last couple of years is the habit of teenagers and young adults falling prey to party drugs, there's been a sense of normalcy placed along with a pill popping culture, you'll notice rappers almost romanticizing and influencing teenagers into experimenting with prescription drugs. What most people don't take into consideration before consuming these drugs is that most prescription opioids have addictive side effects, that when taken in long term or copious amounts can cause the user to experience withdrawals and ultimately draw them back in a continuous cycle. Most would say, why can't they just not take the drugs? Or claim it was the users fault because they know better. While they are not entirely right, it's not wrong either. Research shows that a large majority of teens will find themselves in a position where they will be offered drugs before the age of 14 at a party, this decision will ultimately affect their life in the long run, be it becoming a social outcast from their peers for not trying these drugs, or taking them and developing an addiction that will surely harm their bodies before they’ve truly became adults.

Youth in the United States face challenges every day, some more than others. These challenges can be difficult to navigate and can leave these young people finding alternative ways to cope with the stress that accompanies these challenges. According to CBS News reports a recent survey indicates approximately two million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 currently need treatment for a substance abuse problem, but only about 150,000 get the help they need. This high number is largely due to the fact that it is easy for teens to access many kinds of drugs but trying anything just once can lead to drug addiction. Teens are often more experimental than adults and willing to try anything their friends are doing,