Teenage drug use

                                       Teenage Drug Use

   In today’s society, the common problem among teenagers is the use of drugs. Teen age years is probably one of the most challenging periods of life. It is a stage of identity versus confusion – knowing oneself compared to losing oneself. Belonging and being accepted in a group is very important and being cool as well.

   During these years of growing up, teenagers encounter their share of positive and negative experiences. Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are factors that some youthful and vulnerable teenagers have to deal with in their adolescent lives.

   One of the significant reasons of teenage drug use is peer pressure, particularly from the social influences among friends, acquaintances, school, and the community. Depending on the person’s experiences and choices, circumstances and consequences may vary. If a teenager’s social main group is using drugs, then there may be a strong pressure due to the fact that drugs are present and can easily be offered. Also, the person might get convinced to think that there is nothing wrong with trying drugs because “everybody else is doing it.” In the effect that teenagers will try drugs just to fit in the social norms, they might do it to impress their buddies to be considered “cool” as part of being in the group and gain acceptance by friends.

   The issue of using drugs is everywhere in the country and around the world. It’s available and accessible for anyone who knows where to get it or whom to talk to about it. Interest will develop in a matter of time. For instance, if one teenager hears a personal drug experience from another student in the school, the person may become curious and try to have a connection. Most teenagers today would believe that the first use of drugs is safe. Although there is no instant addiction with the first try, young persons can tend to experiment further and in a matter of time, anyone can have the euphoric effects of the drugs and may keep seeking it in order to function adequately. The accessibility of the drugs and the curiosity and experimentation of the person are high risk factors that can result in a drug addiction among teenagers.

   Because of the chemical changes in the brain that most drugs can create, as well as environmental influences, one of the most devastating side effects of addiction is depression. Using heavy and very highly addictive drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and opium will cause sudden mood changes and unusual flares of temper from the effects in the brain, deterioration in the immune system, and nervous breakdowns from the changes in the heart rate, and among other side effects. Drug addiction can also change a person’s social life, running into conflicts with family and friends, and resulting in a desire for isolation. This will create more problems,   limiting the person’s social support and the burden of financial strain that leads a teen to do anything to obtain money to continue getting drugs.

   When things become out of control and a stage of serious hopelessness, problems may seem inescapable, in other words “hitting rock bottom.” According to a previous study, persons who are feeling hopeless and lonely with no prospects for improvement may lead to depression, which can further lead to attempted suicide. Many studies have found that drugs are a contributing factor to suicide because drugs can inhibit or impair judgment; thereby, affecting the brain and a person’s thinking.

   In short, the cause of using drugs can have a great effect on the person and in the society. Depression and suicide, mainly from substance abuse, are now the common problems among the younger population.

   Teenagers need to be educated about substance abuse, such as drug addiction to create awareness among them and to help them make better choices in their lives. There are many non-profitable organizations that can help teenagers to cope with drug abuse. There are telephone help lines, community services, and individual counseling that can give information and they are available in almost every educational institution. There is help available to anyone who seeks it.

Drug Abuse Drug abuse is the nonmedical use of a drug that interferes with a healthy and productive life. Drug abuse occurs from the rich to the poor and among young people as well as adults. Any drug may be abused, including alcohol and medications prescribed by a doctor. After continued use of certain drugs, some people develop drug dependence. Drug dependence can be psychological, physical, or both. A person with a psychological dependence craves a drug for the feeling of well-being it might provide. A person with a physical dependence continues drug use mainly to avoid the physical illness that results when drug use stops. The danger of any type of drug dependence is that the need for a drug may become so overpowering that nothing matters except getting more. Many people begin and continue to use drugs because they want a pleasing change in their state of mind. But really drugs only change the brain's perception of difficulties and problems.

When a drug wears off, the user's real problems nearly always remain. Some of the most commonly abused drugs in the United States and Canada can be purchased legally. They are alcoholic beverages, tobacco, inhalants, and prescription drugs. Alcoholic beverages are made mainly from grains or fruits and contain ethyl alcohol, one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world. Alcohol is a depressant that lowers the activity of the central nervous system. It also interferes with thinking, concentration, and movement. Heavy use of alcohol can lead to death. Even a single episode of excessive drinking can cause coma and death. Some people develop a physical dependence on alcohol, and overcoming that dependence may be extremely difficult. Tobacco is a plant native to North and South America, whose leaves are made into smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff. Tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine is a stimulant, a drug that raises activity of the central nervous system. In addition to nicotine, tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide and tar, which can cause lung cancer. Tobacco use contributes to heart disease and other health problems. Inhalants are substances that give off fumes inhaled for their intoxicating effects. They include certain glues, nail polish, gasoline, and aerosol sprays. The effect of these substances results from their fumes' taking the place of oxygen in the lungs. The reduced flow of oxygen to the brain creates an intoxicating effect. Inhalants can make the user relaxed, restless, uncoordinated, and sometimes delirious. Some fumes result in lung damage, brain damage, and coma. Some also can cause death when they coat the lungs' surface and prevent the absorption of oxygen. Prescription drugs can only be obtained legally with a physician's prescription. Commonly abused prescription drugs include tranquilizers, barbiturates, amphetamines, and analgesics, which are pain relievers. Many prescription drugs are powerful, and some create physical dependence. Steroids are a special type of prescription drug used medically for a variety of purposes. Some athletes take anabolic steroids because the drugs help increase muscle size and strength. Some doctors think anabolic steroids may cause aggressive behavior and lead to liver damage. Many abused drugs are illegal. Illegal drugs include cocaine,

 marijuana, heroin and other opiates, hallucinogenic drugs, and designer drugs. Some of these drugs can be obtained legally with a prescription, but they are most often sold and used illegally. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant made from the leaves of the coca shrub, a plant native to the Andean region of South America. Most users eat or snort a powdered form of the drug, or inject a solution of cocaine and water. Some people also smoke a form of cocaine called crack. Crack produces stronger, briefer effects than other forms of cocaine because the body absorbs it faster. People easily develop a compulsive desire for cocaine, and many have great difficulty stopping use. Marijuana is the common name for hemp, a tall plant that grows easily in most parts of the world. It contains a drug called THC. People usually smoke the dried leaves and flowers of the plant in cigarettes or pipes. Some may mix marijuana with food and beverages. Heroin and other opiates are made from the sap of the opium poppy. Opium contains a narcotic called morphine. Some people smoke or eat opium, seeking pleasant effects from morphine. Physicians use morphine to relieve severe pain in patients. Codeine relieves coughs and mild pain. Heroin is a highly addictive drug made