...Drugs: Teen Drug Addiction Kimberly Henderson COM 172 April 9, 2015 Beverly Woods Teen drug addiction is a very serious psychological and physical problem that involves many contributing factors abuse, divorce, peer pressure and physical issues, although there are many but limited recovery centers for teens. Even though we educate many teens still fall into the unfortunate lifestyle of drug addiction. Undeniably, no person ever says I want to be a drug addict. In today’s society teens are experiencing more stress from family, friends and school than ever before. “Divorce is common factor in teen drug addiction the parents may not accept or believe it but they play a crucial part in their teen’s lives in how they approach their child with family issues. A divorce can damage a teen severely depending on the age and gender”. (Temke, 2006p.2). Also abuse maybe an effect on a teenager. If a teen is being mentally, physically and sexually abused they will find ways to blame themselves for the abuse by using drugs to cover the pain. Friends who are using drugs will encourage them to try drugs to take the edge off,” saying it’s cool , you want become addicted, it helped me get through my problems.” Another is failing grades in school. Many may not see this but it’s considered to be a lack of confidence. Since parents today play a major role in their teenager education but can also add on stress from overloading their teenager with too many demands to be what they...
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...Maragañas Topic: Teenagers trying drugs Causes 1. Peer pressure 2. Rebellion 3. Lack of education Effects 1. Weakens social interaction 2. Poor performance at school 3. Drug addiction I. Introduction A. Intro Device: (statistics) About 60 000 teenagers in the country are involved with drugs, as noted by the Addiction Institute of the National Bureau of Investigation. B. Thesis Statement Teenagers are drawn towards drugs because of pressure from peers, urge to rebel against parents, and lack of education, yet these substances can lead to drug addiction, poor performance in school, and weakening of social ties. II. Body A. Bad influence from so-called “Friends” can lead a teenager to try drugs for the first time. 1. According to the Canadian Lung Association, the two reasons why teenagers take drugs are “my friends smoke” and “I thought it was cool”. http://teens.lovetoknow.com/Statistics_on_Peer_Pressure 2. 3. B. Teenagers may turn to drugs to make a statement of rebellion and an expression of hatred for family members. 1. 2. 3. C. Lack of education can be a cause for the appeal of drugs to teenagers. 1. 2. 3. D. Teenagers taking drugs tend to diverge from social ties. 1. 2. 3. E. Teenage druggies tend to do poorly at school. 1. 2. 3. F. Ongoing drug abuse can lead to addiction and dependence. 1. 2. 3. III. Conclusion The most effective weapon in the fight against drug abuse is proper...
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...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...
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...According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that Seventy percent of teenagers have tried alcohol by their senior year in high school, fifty percent of the teenagers have abused illegal drug, forty percent smoked a cigarette, and twenty percent have used a prescription drug for no purposes. Furthermore a research study found out that in 2014, students from the eighth grade level had used illegal drugs by twenty percent, meanwhile tenth and twelve graders were forty percent and fifty percent lifetime drug abusers. Not only are teenagers using drugs and alcohol in high schools but as you read, they are being introduced in junior high schools, and the age keeps getting younger. College students contribute the highest rate...
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...Addiction in Adolescence When it comes to abuse and addiction in adolescents the relationship between the two goes hand in hand. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014, p.1). Addiction can be several things, two well-known addictions are drinking and doing drug. When addiction starts to change the brain it leads to long terms affects which is usually abuse. Adolescents can and will go a little further with abuse by adding things like pill popping and smoking. “Many adolescents who abuse drugs have a history of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse or other trauma” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014, p.2). Abuse begins when adolescents start to do things like steal and lie to friends and family members to get what it is they want. How does abuse or addiction affect the developing brain of an adolescent? Drug abuse can cause serious progressive problems within the adolescent brain.”Memory loss, ability to concentrate, motor skills and coping skills are all affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Adolescents tend to make decisions that are irrational when under influence of drugs and alcohol, they may think they are making the right decisions but they are actually they are doing more harm to themselves then they realized. For adolescents, this can be even more significant as the brain is still developing and changing and...
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...Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in today's high schools. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. During these years adolescents are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, ad there us a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn lead to depression and suicide. One of the most important reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure. Peer pressure represents social influences that effect adolescents, it can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on person's social group and one can follow one path of the other. We are greatly influenced by the people around us. In today's schools drugs are very common, peer pressure usually is the reason for their usage. If the people in your social group use drugs there will be pressure a direct or indirect pressure from them. A person may be offered to try drugs, which is direct pressure. Indirect pressure is when someone sees everyone around him using drugs and he might think that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. Person...
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...Most teenagers have probably explored with alcohol use in high school before college. The problem with underage drinking is a problem throughout all high school and colleges around the country. A lot of people don’t understand the consequences or the impact it can have on their lives, as they get older. Most of the time parents are unaware of the risks that their children face when they are involved in underage drinking. According to the National Survey on Drug Use, it is approximated that 24% of the population between the ages of 12 through 20 have engaged in underage drinking. Medical Experts say that alcohol can be used to increase metabolism and also helps with digestion. Despite the fact that it is against the law for college and high school students to consume alcohol, there is a large amount of teenagers experiencing the usage of alcohol. Even though it is said to be favorable, too much consumption has led to negative result and side effects. It is apparent that teenage alcohol abuses are basic problems that need to be taken up in society by our leaders, advisers and as well as the parents. Many people ask this question everyday, “Why do teenagers take prescription drugs?” Well most of the time teens wrongly believe that these drugs are more safe than regular drugs mainly because they are accessible to them from home or from friends. Breaking away from reality and being bored are the main reasons that teenagers abuse drugs. Peer pressure to continue friendships and...
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...In society today, a common problem among teenagers is the use of drugs. Teen age years are probably the most challenging periods of life. It is a stage of finding yourself versus confusion of knowing oneself. Belonging and being accepted in a group seems to be very important, as well as being “cool”. Troubled, teens turn to things such as drugs to help Suppress or ease the emotional/mental pain of things such as the common rejection. During these years of maturing, teenagers encounter their share of positive and negative experiences. Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are some of the factors that youthful and vulnerable teenagers have to cope with in their young lives. One of the significant reasons for teenage drug use is peer pressure, particularly from the influences among friends, acquaintances, school, and the media. If a teenager’s main social group is using drugs, then there is 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 this country and around the world. It’s available and accessible for anyone who knows where to get it or who to...
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...Drug Addiction is a Problem in Today’s Society Tony E. Harbour Research Writing/Com/220 April 3, 2011 Cheryl Drug addiction is one of the major problems in American society. Actually, almost every country faces such problems today. A lot of measures are taken to fight against drug abuse, and, definitely, some changes for the better are evident. However, this problem is not eliminated and, perhaps, will never be. Today, Americans are losing their jobs, families, and even their lives over the abuse. There are a lot of legal drugs that Americans are addicted to, but there are also a lot of Americans who are addicted to street drugs. Either way, drug abuse is drug abuse. Who does drug addiction affect? Drug addiction affects everyone from infants to adults. According to 2006 statistics from the Department of Health and Family Services concerning drug abuse there was an estimated twenty million Americans aged twelve or older who were current illicit drug users. These drugs included, but were not limited to marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or addictive prescription drugs. (Drug Addiction Support). (2006). Every day, you hear about people having babies who are addicted to crack as well as other drugs and most of us say to ourselves or other people “I’m glad that’s not me or anyone I know”, but what people fail to realize is that according to statistics, drug abuse and addiction cost Americans four hundred and eighty four billion...
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...Addiction in Adolescence Valencia Scafe Dr. Jimmy Myers 23 April 2014 Addiction in Adolescence It is a curious thing that people continue to pursue habits that cause them certain or a definite harm, this harm maybe caused to their individual self or those around them, and yet they continue to pursue it. The answer to why may not be given clearly even by these people themselves. Most of the smokers, substance abusers and alcoholics, as well as drug addicts are well aware of the negative effects that they may be dragging themselves towards but are not able to change their habits, for their addiction is too great and their self-control too weak. For most people, pain is nothing but a nuisance, but for many others pain is what controls their lives. Pain however is a feeling that brings us discomfort and puts us through feelings that are at times almost imaginable; and we all can relate to different kinds of pains that we as human beings have gone through. Pain is a feeling that can lead to quite a few side effects in life, if not dealt with in a proper way; these side effects may include several different forms of pain such as anxiety, depression hence pushing the individual towards an incredible amount of stress (Abuse, 2010). Drug addiction and drug abuse has been a commonly, widespread global problem and refers to the excessive consumption of any substance that may cause addiction, this consumption reaches such a level that...
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...The Effects of Addiction on Adolescent Development Adolescence is a time where there is growth and maturity. It is also a time where adolescents are more prone to take risks, such as using and abusing drugs. Whether or not an adolescent chooses to engage in drug use and abuse depends on their home environment and those they choose to associate themselves with. Adolescents face an enormous amount of pressure to participate in risky behaviors from their peers. According to Broderick and Blewitt (2015), “risky behaviors are behaviors that constitute a departure from socially accepted norms or behaviors that pose a threat to the well-being of individuals or groups” (p. 389). One such risky behavior is drug use and addiction. Some adolescents use...
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...certain groups of people. Teenagers who play loud music in a public park obviously do not view it as a problem, but some other people may consider it an undesirable social condition. Some nonsmokers view smoking as an undesirable social condition that should be banned or restricted in public buildings. Every newspaper is filled with stories about undesirable social conditions. Examples include crime, violence, drug abuse, and environmental problems. Such social problems can be found at the local, state, national and international levels. There are many social problems that teenagers go threw. Drugs and Teenagers Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in today’s high schools. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. During these years adolescents are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there us a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn leads to depression and suicide. One of the most important reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure....
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...Teens and Drugs Robert Lorenz COM/156 May 13, 2012 Patrick Misiti Teens and Drugs At the age of 12 I picked up a gun and shot and killed my sister’s best friend. I chose many things to try to cover up this pain that was created. I was building a wall around me as I was moving into my teenage years. At this time in my life my mother thought I should start learning about responsibilities, without thinking about what I had just went through. She wanted me to try to keep my brother and sister from doing things that they should not do. With all this placed on my shoulders, my teenage years flew by so fast; I had no time to figure out who I was. In today’s society we all live in a fast pass world, including our children. With this in mind it takes both parents to work to get all the bills paid on time and be able to save for retirement. What this has created is teenagers are held responsible for their younger siblings and left home alone. With this much responsibility, teenagers are growing up to fast and have too much freedom. With this freedom come more problems. Teenagers today are finding ways to deal with these problems and escape from the responsibilities placed on their shoulders. Young people are looking for anything to escape the reality of these responsibilities. Even though street drug use is down, drugs are easy for children and teenagers to get even from their own home. With the problems that teens face today, such as maintaining grades, finals, not...
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...Drug abuse is probably one of the most relevant social problems faced by the United States considering that a study recently published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that one fourth of the American citizens consume illicit drugs on a regular basis (NIDA, 2013). After alcohol, the most commonly consumed drugs are marijuana, pain relievers like morphine or vicodine, cocaine, heroin, stimulants, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, inhalants and sedatives. In this regard, the data reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse point towards more than 4 million American citizens meeting the criteria of marijuana abuse, 1.9 million inappropriately using pain relievers and 0.9 million Americans abusing of cocaine (Figure 1, NIDA, 2015)...
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...Addiction: Stemming from Drug and Substance Abuse I. Introduction Addiction is a monster; it lives, and feeds off of you, takes from you, controls you and destroys you. It is a beast that tears you apart, rips out your soul, and laughs at your weakness. It is a stonewall that stands to keep you in and the rest out. It is a shadow that always lurks behind you, waiting to strike. Addiction lives in everyone’s mind, sitting, waiting (A prisoner in his own body, n.d.). Addiction is defined as the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma (Dictionary.com, n.d.). It has been reported that there is an increasing rate of drug and alcohol abuse whereas 23.5 million people are involved including children at 12 years of age. The given information has alarmed the populace regarding the said issue due to its adverse effects. Drug addiction is a detrimental vicious cycle as it threatens one’s health and society; however, this could be combatted. Considering that addiction is a crisis faced by numerous individuals, I would like awareness to be entailed by discussing its causes, possible solutions, and preventions. (Transition: What could be the possible causes of addiction?) II. Body Substance and drug abuse often lead to addiction as these are caused by curiosity, stress, and peer pressure. Curiosity drives people, especially teenagers, to try drugs. Adolescence...
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