The Issue Of Teen Drug Abuse

Read Parts 1 through 4 of Dirty: A Search for Answers Inside America’s Teenage Drug Epidemic. These sections follow three children - Mike, Tristan, and Zalika - who have descended into drug and alcohol abuse, and adults’ attempts to intervene and help them turn their lives around.

60 of over 400 identified chemicals found in cannabis are called cannabinoids, including THC; the cause of the high. The cannabinoids attack natural cannabinoid receptors in the brain, causing lack of coordination, hyperawareness of sound, visual and audio distortions, lack of sense of time, and more. The overload of sensory regions disrupts the development of neural pathways. Teen brains are still trying to make connections and wire itself together, and this interference of normal brain function damages the hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, and other major parts of the brain. The list of possible effects of substance abuse is long and still growing; damage to behavioral function, attention deficit, depression, emotional damage, memory problems, lack of motor skills, poor visual/ spacial awareness, reduction of goal-directed behavior, hyperactive disorder, lower IQ, and

Heroin is making a comeback in the United States and is highly prevalent in certain areas. The heroin epidemic is sweeping across the Midwest, and claiming the lives of young white males. It is very different from the 1960’s use of heroin, and is now typically used because of its low cost and previous opioid addictions to other prescription drugs. Young white males in many different communities are becoming hooked because of the careless use of pain pills prescribed or taking them from parents’ medicine cabinets. The communities include rural towns, big cities, and suburbs all across the country.

Smoking of marijuana can cause the person to become addicted to cocaine, heroin, and other drugs. Heavy or daily use effects the parts that control memory, attention, and learning (Facts for Teens, 13). When teens are 12 and 13 they are more exposed to drugs and most likely don’t listen to their parents (Age in Stem., 1). Some other psychological side effects would be paranoia, anxiety, fatigue, Euphoria, and mood swings (Fact Sheet, 1). Studies have shown that when a person uses marijuana it causes the heart to beat faster and work harder (Fact Sheet, 2). When people have smoked large measures of marijuana for years, the drugs takes its charge on mental functions (Facts for Teens, 13).

People believe that cannabis has no harmful effects on the human brain but that is where they are wong. Teens face much higher risks due to the fact that their brains are not yet fully developed. “Cannabinoids exert their influence by regulating how cells communicate—how they send, receive, or process messages. Cannabinoids act like a type of “dimmer switch,” slowing down communication between cells” (Carah). The article further goes on to explain how marijuana can affect the brain for teens as well as for adults and how it can affect certain parts of the brain in different ways.

Marijuana over stimulates the parts of the brain that contain the highest number of receptors and can also affect the way the brain develops. When people use marijuana they can potentially impair their thinking, memory, and learning functions that can in turn affect how their brain

“Since 1992, the high rate of illicit drug use among youth has been steadily increasing” (Juvenile Justice, 1997). This has become a trend that needs to be put to a stop. There are too many youth that are involved in criminal activity and that are labeled actual juvenile delinquents in the criminal justice system. Researchers can’t help to believe that alcohol and substance abuse has something to do with the emerging problem. “Drug and alcohol use also increases the likelihood that a youthful offender will have prolonged interaction with the juvenile justice system” (Reclaiming Futures, 2012); this is a fact. Many juveniles who participate in substance abuse usually affect their loved ones and friends.

Plenty of teenagers in today’s society experiment with marijuana. Many teenagers also believe that marijuana is safer and less effective than alcohol and other hard drugs. But little do they know, marijuana has THC in it which is the main ingredient in it and targets receptors in the brain. Using marijuana at a young age can lead to school difficulties, problems with memory, car accidents, and poor decision making. According to the Central Virginia Marijuana Prevention Task Force, students who smoke marijuana have poorer educational outcomes than nonsmoking students. When teenagers smoke marijuana, it could lead to marijuana use disorders in which a user feels withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug.

When smoking marijuana, a chemical called THC spreads through the body, the lungs and then enters the blood stream.(“Marijuana & Teens”) In the article, Health Effect of Marijuana Use it stated, "THC acts on specific molecular targets on brain cells, cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in normal brain development and functions"(9) The THC effect the part of the brain which helps influence pleasure, memory, and thinking. Which may how people study for classes or pay full attention in class. This passage suggest that getting through school might be difficult to accomplish. The people around you watch and observe your actions and will pick up on your behavior and habits. Adolescents that have close friends that abuses substances are likely to do the same thing but with a different substance. (Shadur & Hussong) This shows that a friend could have thought another friend how to use the substance or tell them what is the best situation to use it. With the possible legalization of marijuana in Canada, the people will be face a crisis. Dr. Haijzadeh stated in the article, ("Legalizing and regulating in Canada; review of potential economic, social, and health impacts") is worried Canada will see an increase in traffic deaths due to the legalization of marijuana. (Lake & Kerr) Dr. Haijzadeh suggest that the legalization will increase marijuana testing

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

Marijuana has the reputation of giving users a high when smoked, eaten, or inhaled through vaporization. The chemical that causes the feeling of euphoria is called Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When smoked or ingested, the THC rapidly passes through your lungs or stomach, then your bloodstream, and to other organs in your body. When it finally reaches your brain, the THC targets specific brain cells called cannabinoid receptors (Harding, 2013). These receptors are especially found in parts of your brain that control your memory, thinking, pleasure, concentration, perception of time, and coordinated movement. Users will experience alterations with their mood, have difficulty with problem solving, and will definitely have trouble

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, 9.8 % are estimated to be current users of illicit drugs, with 4.9 % using drugs other than marijuana. Nearly three quarters of students have started to drink alcohol and nearly half (47%) have tried using an illicit drug (not including alcohol or tobacco) by the senior year of high school.” (Hassan, Harris, Sherritt, Van Hook, & Brooks, 2009)

Based on the report of Global Youth Justice Organization, the misuse of marijuana is the common juvenile crime performed by the youth. Marijuana abuse was ranked to be #6 in their list. Teens are being involved to marijuana use for diverse reasons and this includes poor supervision and communication of parents, family problems, lack of self- discipline, lack of discipline from parents or guardians, and family history of marijuana or drug abuse. Other risk factors would be physical and sexual abuse, emotional problems, curiosity, and peer pressure (GlobalYouthJustice, n.d.).

It has been discovered that most people who struggle with drug addiction began experimenting with drugs in their teens. Teenage drug abuse is one of the largest problems in society today and the problem grows and larger every year. Drugs are a pervasive force in our culture today. To expect kids not to be influenced by the culture of their time is as unrealistic as believing in the tooth fairy (Bauman 140). Teens may feel pressured by their friends to try drugs, they may have easy access to drugs, they may use drugs to rebel against their family or society, or they may take an illegal drug because they are curious about it or the pleasure that it gives them.

“I’m in love with the coco” (a song depicting a love for cocaine song by O.T. Genasis), just one of the most recent songs to have explicit usage of drugs. Referring to drug usage and sales is a popular trend in today 's hip-hop and rap lyrics. As a society where do we draw the line with censorship of this material? Not only are the lyrics being said, but the drug usage is also being portrayed in the music videos; all the way from marijuana usage to cocaine and popping pills. There 's no doubt that this type of music has a negative effect on today 's youth, but by censoring, this variety of music are we in effect censoring the culture and reality that sings it.