Drugs

            Drug use among our youth and teens is a growing problem, and is considered one of the toughest problems that families face today (ONDCP 2003). The Monitoring the Future Survey shows that in 2002 fifty-three percent of all 12th graders, 44.6 percent of 10th graders, and 24.5 percent of 8th graders have used drugs at least once in their lifetime. Drugs have negative consequences on people of all ages, but it seems to have the most harmful impact on kids and teenagers. .
             According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's nationwide survey, 42.4 percent of high school students have used marijuana during their lifetime. Younger people tend to be more inclined to use drugs, mostly between the ages of 12 and 25 (NHSDA). Hispanics have the highest rate of drug use among highschoolers, most of them male. Although female drug users are more likely to become addicts and abusers and suffer the effects sooner than males, the general rate of users is lower (CDC 2003). White highschoolers have the second highest rate of drug use followed by blacks. Children and teenagers who are neglected at home and have a lack of discipline have more tendency to get into drug use because nobody is there to tell them not to do it (Linda, Knox, Schacht 2001). Pregnant teens also have a high rate of drug use. .
             Drug use and abuse leads to emotional, mental, and physical sickness, especially among the younger age groups. All drugs have short term as well as long term effects. Some of the common short term effects are increased heart beat and blood pressure, heart attack, anxiety, and distorted perception of reality. The long term affects of drug use are impaired memory, brain damage, and even death (TeenOutReach 1999). There are many different types of drugs that have varied effects but one thing that all drugs have in common is the deleterious affect on study habits and grades (YRBS 2002). Marijuana, the most common illegal drug among highschoolers, results in memory loss, excessive coughing, chest colds, panic attacks, and lung injuries (ONDCP 2003).