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).
Why are drugs illegal at all? ... The "war on drugs", more often seeming a war on the people than on drugs, requires more money, time, and effort than any other criminal activity, and the more of these we waste the more drugs we see. ... Taking drugs is stupid, but it shouldn't be illegal. ... Why is drug abuse wrong, one may ask? ... Why is drug abuse wrong? ...
Drug Abuse A BREIF DESCRIPTION Definition The use of illegal drugs or the abuse of medicine or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are indicated or in a way or in quantities other than intended for. ... Different drugs can do different things and have different affects on people. ... Intravenous Drug Abuse Many drugs can be injected. These drugs cause severe problems and put people in a mental retardate state. ... Drugs and how it affects society Drugs affect society in a big way. ...
There are over 40 million illegal drug users in the world today and America is the biggest market for drugs. ... Alcohol is a very addictive drug C. ... Marijuana is a popular drug. ... It is one of the most danderous drugs. ... Drug use itself can be a crime. ...
In many cases drugs are first used in a social or casual way. A person might try a drug at a party or social event. ... People do not become addicted drugs over night; actually Drug addiction is a complex illness. The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. ... "To guide our children's decisions about drugs, we can now draw on credible real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of their drug use. ...
In many cases drugs are first used in a social or casual way. A person might try a drug at a party or social event. ... People do not become addicted drugs over night; actually Drug addiction is a complex illness. The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. ... "To guide our children's decisions about drugs, we can now draw on credible real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of their drug use. ...
In many cases drugs are first used in a social or casual way. A person might try a drug at a party or social event. ... People do not become addicted drugs over night; actually Drug addiction is a complex illness. The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. ... "To guide our children's decisions about drugs, we can now draw on credible real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of their drug use. ...
In many cases drugs are first used in a social or casual way. A person might try a drug at a party or social event. ... People do not become addicted drugs over night; actually Drug addiction is a complex illness. The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. ... "To guide our children's decisions about drugs, we can now draw on credible real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of their drug use. ...
In many cases drugs are first used in a social or casual way. A person might try a drug at a party or social event. ... People do not become addicted drugs over night; actually Drug addiction is a complex illness. The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. ... "To guide our children's decisions about drugs, we can now draw on credible real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of their drug use. ...
In many cases drugs are first used in a social or casual way. A person might try a drug at a party or social event. ... People do not become addicted drugs over night; actually Drug addiction is a complex illness. The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. ... "To guide our children's decisions about drugs, we can now draw on credible real-life examples of friends who had trouble as a result of their drug use. ...
Since drug legalization is the topic of this essay let us focus on alternatives to the "War on Drugs". One possibility for controlling drug abuse is to legalize illegal drugs. ... Legalizing drugs is a viable alternative to the current policy on drugs in America. ... The market for drugs is one of supply and demand and people demand illegal drugs. ... In Holland, where drugs laws are more flexible, drug usage has not gone up. ...
