...substance abuse and the Barriers to Treatment Approximately 25 million at risk substance users are not receiving treatment for their addiction (Smith, 2012). A Survey conducted in 2009 by the National Household Survey team on drug use revealed that the primary reason for not receiving treatment was due to a lack of insurance coverage and the inability to pay privately (Smith, 2012). Locating a treatment center that will accept anyone under the age of 21 is nearly impossible. Addiction treatment options and insurance coverage needs to be more readily available and affordable to teens and their families, as they are at greater risk of developing health related issues, run an increased risk of participating in risky behavior, and finally, the teens, and their families, difficulty dealing with the emotional devastation drug abuse causes. The AACAP (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) has linked numerous problems related to adolescent drug use in adulthood (Wisdom, 2011). Among these are neurological changes that take place in the Central Nervous System with prolonged drug use. The brain atrophies, grey and white matter decrease, and the metabolism of glucose decreases. (Buttner, 2011). Along with these physical changes, there is a higher probability that, as adults, the addict will suffer from depression, memory loss and a decline in their cognitive development (Buttner, 2011). Another physical complication comes with the use of the substance injection drugs, which...
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...THE CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT’S 2 The parents of a teenager who talk to his or her teenagers about the use of drugs on a regular basis are 42 percent to not abuse drugs than a teenager whose parents did not talk to him or her. There is a higher amount of male teenagers arrested who have been tested and found positive for marijuana (The National Institute of Justices Arrestee and Drug Monitoring System). With many teenagers, drugs and alcohol are the most commonly abused drugs. Those teenagers do not see what drugs and alcohol can to him or her, or even see the consequences that can result from the abuse. The abuse of drugs can come from a variety of negative problems that the teenager may be going through. Why has there been an increase in drug abuse among high school students in the United States? Teenagers in the United States have one of the highest rates of drug abuse among other countries, and alcohol and tobacco use also still remains high (Higgins, 1988). Peer pressure has been acknowledged as one of the components that affects high school students in the United States. When a teenager is addicted to drugs or medication that he or she is prescribed, he or she may not be able to have control on the amount that he or she uses. Medication that has been prescribed to a teenager may make him or her feel better, but if the medication does not help than he or she may take more of the medication or look toward...
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...A drug is a substance that alters the mind, body or both. Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in colleges today. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. Today children are subjected to all sorts of situations both good and bad. School systems are much more difficult to deal with nowadays. Most people from older generations still think that school is simple you go to class, go to lunch, bring home your homework and that’s it. This however is not the case anymore. Drugs are making their presence in schools more and more and it is becoming a very big problem. There are more steps that can be taken to help stop present juvenile drug abusers as well as prevent other children from even beginning. For example, programs should be set up for the students, something that will actually interest more students. There should also be support groups for parents who feel lost as to what they should do to guide their children. In 2007 according to the U.S. Census Bureau there were approximately 41,738 children between the ages of 10 and 19 living in the United States. In the same year according to the same source there were 160,410 drug related arrests in the United States involving children between the ages of 10 and 19. This includes possession charges and dealing charges. Keeping in mind that there are far fewer children than criminal arrests, this means that there are some children who get repeated offenses...
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...There is a lot of peer pressure in the world today for our children. Teenagers get approached just about every day by their peers to do something negative and many of them fall victim to it. Although this was given as an example, I find that it is a very significant problem that needs a breakthrough now. What I plan to do my paper on is teenagers and drugs. Drug use and abuse is bad for all parties involved (adults and teenagers). But it is really destroying our teens. Today it is so easy for teenagers to obtain just about any type of drug that they would want. These drugs include marijuana(also known as weed, pot, kush, loud, etc..), methamphetamine (also known as meth, crystal, christine, christina, speed, ice, etc…), cocaine, crack, herion, PCP, sherm, ecstasy or molly’s, and lastly a very long list of prescription drugs. Anything that has a way in causing addiction in my opinion is a problem and needs to be at the front of the line to be addressed especially when it comes to our children. Teens use to have to go out into the streets and search for the drug of choice, but today many of use parents are bringing the drugs right to them and into our homes and giving our children an in home supply without even knowing it. Yes the drugs are right there in our bathroom medicine cabinets, on our dressers, and even in our purses. They are also readily available at just about any store that sells cold medicine. Something needs to be done soon before...
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...Negative peer stress is commonly wide-spread nowadays, and it is when teenagers close to our age inspires...
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...Professor: Shelley Evans Final copy: Drug abuse Teen drug and substance abuse is a way to get away and forget about their life problems. It is common among teenagers to use and abuse over the counter and illegal substances. In 2002 a national survey was done and it showed “That 54% of high school students indicated using an illicit drug before graduating from high school.” Crouch, B. Caravati, E., & Booth, J. (2004) pg1252. One need to raise awareness among teenagers regarding the abuse of drugs and substances. By seeking therapy, consulting parents and close friends, or speaking with a drug counselor will help teenagers manage drug abuse. Seeking therapy and joining a support groups is a good way to help teenagers get motivated, stay positive, and quit the use of drugs. Therapy is a great way to set goals with your counselor to stay motivated and moving forward with a positive attitude. “Addiction counselors can easily incorporate a positive psychology approach in their work.” Miller, G. A. (2005) Pg205. The support, encouragement, and understanding from a counselor builds trust with their client. Counselors need to be able to gain a trusting relationship with their client in order to help them develop a positive attitude. A client without a positive attitude could struggle through treatment. It is crucial for the counselor to gain trust from their client. Miller, G. A. (2005) Pg206 Within the leading factors to drug abuse the following are peer pressure, family...
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...A drug is a substance that modifies one or more of the body’s functions when it is consumed. Therefore, many common foods qualify as drugs. According to this definition, some of our most cherished beverages such as tea, coffee, and cola are drugs. However this paper focuses on drugs that are abused by teenagers. Surveys show that cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and inhalants are the most commonly used drugs among teenagers age thirteen through eighteen. One of the most startling findings from recent data is the degree to which to which teenagers are now involved in drug use. This drug abuse problem has gotten worse. Perhaps our society must hit “rock bottom” before changes can occur. According to the Michigan Institute for Social research, reported the results of their 1992 and 1993 national survey of nearly fifty thousand American high school students across the country ages thirteen through eighteen. Studies show that a gradual decrease in the use of most illicit drugs by younger people. The peak year for illicit drug use by high school seniors was in 1980. The 1992 and 1993 surveys reported an alarming shift, a modest but statistically significant increase in the use of several drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and inhalants. This survey attributes the increase in drug use to students’ perceived risk or danger in using a particular drug. In 1992, thirteen year-olds were less likely to see cocaine, crack and marijuana as dangerous. But in 1993, there was a significant...
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...The Drug Abuse Epidemic and Today’s Teenagers Drug abuse among teenagers has been an issue since the 1980’s when programs such as D.A.R.E., (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), were implemented. Using the slogan “Just Say No”, the program trained school officials and police officers to teach techniques and children and adolescents effective ways to resist experimenting with all drugs, including tobacco and alcohol. While there has been some success, this epidemic has become a major problem in today’s society that is not getting better due to the availability of prescription and over the counter medications, continued funding cuts for athletics and other extra-curricular activities and the increase in teenagers being left unsupervised. The availability of prescription and over the counter medications has made abuse easier among teens. Many parents do not even realize the dangers that are in their own medicine cabinets. “In 2011, 22% of 12th graders indicated misuse of a prescription drug without medical supervision in their lifetime; and 15% over the past year.” During that same time, one in 12 high school seniors reported that in the past year they had obtained the prescription pain reliever Vicodin, and one in 20 high school seniors used OxyContin for non-medical uses. And 70% of those teens surveyed had stated they obtained them from family and friends. (“Prescription” 2011). “Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock...
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...Social Studies School Based Assessment Social Studies School Based Assessment Subject: Social Studies School: St. George’s College Candidate Number: Territory: Jamaica Teacher: Mrs. Oliver Year: 2015 Title: An investigation into the role elders play in preventing drugs abuse among teenagers in the community of Pembroke Hall. Title: An investigation into the role elders play in preventing drugs abuse among teenagers in the community of Pembroke Hall. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Firstly, I would like to give thanks to God almighty who gave me the strength and knowledge to be able to complete this project. For the advice given towards the completion of this project I would like to give special thanks to my parents, Orville Reid and Marva Perkins, for their continued guidance and help in this project and for providing me with the tools needed. Special thanks must also be given to my brothers, Scott Reid and Sean Reid, for providing me with the books needed to assist me in gathering the information for this project. I would also like to thank my teacher of Social Studies, Mrs. Oliver, for valuable time on giving assistance when needed and also assisting and guiding me of the right way of completing this project. Lastly, I would like to give special thanks to the members of the community of Pembroke Hall for their cooperation and support in answering the questionnaires. TABLE OF CONTENTS Topic Page Number...
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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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...DRUG ABUSE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Introduction As there are so many cases of drug abuse among university students, we need to find out the reasons why they are taking drugs and what can be done to overcome this problem. Body Family factors is one of the reason why university students are taking drugs. Poor parental supervision will give them more opportunities for exposure to drugs. Poor parental communication could lead the children to take drugs. They think their parents do not care about them. Educate your teenager about drug use, so they get the real * facts about the dangers of drug use. Family break up or parental conflicts. Parents keep quarelling everyday. Teenagers who failed to find ways to relief their frustration misuse drugs to feel better (Neil,n.d,as cited in Top 8 Reasons, n.d.) Students may take drugs due to the university factors. Availability of drugs in the university. Other students are selling drugs. They want to try something new. Students are stress in studies. Full of works and assignments. Parents play an important role in preventing or dealing with teenagers who abuse drugs. Talk to your teenager openly and honesty (Stanton,1983) Asking your child to tell you his/her thought and feelings about drugs. Talking with your child about his/her emotion and your feeling too. Teach responsible behaviour. Teach the balance of rights and responsibilities. Give rewards for their responsible behaviour. Encourage your...
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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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...Treatments for Adolescent Substance Abuse Substance abuse is no stranger to today’s society. In fact, substance abuse has been an issue for many, many years now. A somewhat recent issue with substance abuse is that adolescents are becoming more involved. Teenagers, in particular, are more vulnerable to experiment with drugs and alcohol. With adolescents being introduced to such harmful substances it can lead to many problems. Not only does substance abuse pose issues with social problems, it also poses issues with educational issues, and it may even lead to death. While there are many problems with adolescent substance abuse, there are ways to solve this prevailing issue. Toddlers and young children are completely dependent on their parents while teenagers are going through different phases in which they are trying to transition into adulthood. Often detrimental stimuli are being introduced and adolescents are more prone to be susceptible to give in peer pressure because the judging process within the brain is not fully developed. (Kirst-Ashman, 2013). With this being said, the actions of teenagers are mainly based on the people that they hang out with. Therefore, if teenagers are around other teenagers that are smoking, drinking, or using other substances then they are more likely to try those substances as well. While a teenager’s peers have a lot to do with the actions they take other factors can lead to substance abuse too. Gangs have been a huge issue in...
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...than ever, thousands of young people experiment prohibited drugs. Whereas numerous of young teenagers by no means take their drug usage farther than the experimentation level, far too many will persist to absorb in this treacherous behavior until their drug abuse interrupts their lives. The most prevalent drugs of abuse among teenagers include alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs as well as common over-the-counter medications such as cough syrups containing pseudoephedrine and inhalants. This paper focuses on the drug abuse of prescription medications among teenagers from age 13 to 18 that has emerged as a public health concern and one that has evolved into epidemic levels. This seeks to elevate the visibility of the elapsed challenges, and problems associated with this epidemic. Prescription Medication Abuse: A Public Health Threat There is a compelling rationale that prescription medications are intentionally to be taken under the direction of a physician because if improperly consume these can be hazardous. Subsequently, teens are crafting decision to abuse prescription medications based on lack of information. In fact, numerous teens assumed that prescription medication abuse is safer than abusing illicit medications. Unfortunately, drug abuse pertaining to medication prescription is on the rise. This is the primary reason why this is relevant to me, more over because I have two teenagers. In 2004, approximately 15 million Americans between the...
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...the National Institute on Drug Abuse about six million people over the age 12 have used cocaine at least once in the past year.” Our text book stated : “Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs available to teenagers and along with the amphetamines are powerful psychostimulant that markedly affect mental functioning and behavior. These drugs augment the action of several neurotransmitters, the most important is dopamine. “( text book) Cocaine is a purified extract from the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca bush. Different chemical processes produce the two main forms of cocaine: Powdered cocaine: commonly known on the street as “coke” or “blow” dissolves in water. Users can snort or inject powdered cocaine .Crack cocaine: commonly known on the street as “crack: or “ rock” is made by chemical process that leaves it in its “freebase” form, which can be smoked. One of the most risky effects of teenage cocaine use is that the body can develop a tolerance to the drug, and the user needs increasingly larger doses of the drug to achieve the same feeling. This can increase the chance of an overdose, as the user takes successively greater amounts of cocaine in an effort to get high. In certain cases, first time users of cocaine have suffered from sudden death, the possibility of which dramatically increases when alcohol is simultaneously consumed. The objective of this paper is to discuss the symptom of the abuse in teenagers, the degree that the substance...
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