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Teen Drug Abuse

Eleni Sakkas

12 ELA 3

Mr. Janosch

November 14th, 2017

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Americans all around the world especially teens are abusing drugs due to peer pressure,

curiosity, boredom, or because of stress. About “13% of 9th graders, 30% of 10th graders, and

40% of 12th graders said they used drugs at least once in the past year. Abusing drug substances

impacts the brain’s ability to function properly and prevents proper growth and development.

However most of the people who use heroin, cocaine, tobacco, alcohol, Xanax, etc. do not know

the full risk when consuming them. Read further on to determine the initial risks and responses,

how to treat someone who is addicted, the top five addicting drugs, why drugs, how these

substances actually affect your brains, behaviors, and figuring out how addictions start.

“An addictive drug is defined as both rewarding and reinforcing – that means it triggers

the brain’s reward system, giving pleasure and a sense of accomplishment or wholeness. It also

creates a feedback loop that means the person is more likely to continue to use the substance due

to the sense of reward. While this system in the brain works well when a person successfully

applies for a job, for example, or exercises a healthy amount, the system can reinforce damaging

behaviors, like substance abuse” (“The Top 5 Most Addictive Drugs in the World”). Addiction

is when you have a strong urge to take a drug even if it is causing you harm. The top 5 most

addicting drugs are heroin, cocaine, tobacco, alcohol, and Xanax. Heroin is the most addictive

kills pain, elevates mood, and floods the brain with “happy” neurotransmitters. Cocaine gives

high energy, extreme alertness, and talkativeness. However, blood pressure and heart rates

dangerously increase. Tobacco decreases appetite, boosts mood, increases heart rate, blood

pressure, and make you more alert. However, you start to crave for nicotine every 2-3 hours.

Alcohol relaxes the person drinking it and individuals feel they need alcohol to feel happy and

normal and is easy to drink too much. Xanax relieves pain.

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People abuse drugs for multiple reasons; peer pressure, curiosity, boredom, or because of

stress. We all heard about it and are convinced it won't happen to us but the tale of peer pressure

is the reason we experiment with drugs and alcohol. According to drugabuse.com, “peer pressure

happens often between the ages of sixteen and eighteen when teenagers being too think

“everyone else is doing it,” so we should too.” Whether with friends or a significant other we

feel the need to join in to be able to fit in. Peer pressure tends to have more of an effect on

children who have a low self-esteem. Some kids give in to it too be liked, to fit in, or because

they feel they will be made fun of. Others go along with it because they are curious to try

something new. Which leads me to the next reason, curiosity.

Curiosity is a strong desire to learn something new which is a natural part of life as a

teenager. “Teens begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol simply because we are curious and

want to know what it feels like. As teenagers, we have the delusion that we are invincible. Even

if we know drugs are bad, we don't believe that anything bad can actually happen to us”

(drugabuse.com). According to the article, “Teen Drug Use: From Curiosity To Addiction” by

Paradigm Malibu, there are 5 stages that lead to addiction. Curiosity- before experimentation,

experimentation, drug-seeking stage, drug pre-occupation stage, and finally addiction. Teenagers

are usually curious because they are bored. Which leads to the next reason, boredom. Boredom is

one of the most common reasons that teenagers begin experimenting with drugs is because they

are simply bored. Their everyday life is probably the same and most likely aren't apart of extra-

curricular activities or doesn't have many responsibilities.

Last but not least, Teens tend to abuse drugs because of stress. Believe it or not but High

school is pretty difficult. Besides academic pressure, teens have to deal with bullying. According

to the article “Facts about bullying,” about 49% of children in grades 4-12 reported being bullied
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by other students at least once during the past month. Whereas 30.8% reported bullying others

during that time. Teens tend to abuse rugs just to get away from all of this. Other than school,

teens are also stressed about family problems, romantic relationships, or traumatic events. There

are two different levels of stress: short-term stress causes uncomfortable physical reactions but

helps you focus. Long-term stress (such as illness, divorce, or the death of a loved one) can lead

to serious heart problems. Traumatic events like violence or terrorism can cause post-traumatic

stress disorder (PTSD).

“Using drugs changes the brain. Once addicted, a person wants to use drugs even when

he or she faces extremely negative consequences” (“The truth about: "rehab" & drug addiction:

the reality is far from glamorous”). These negative consequences can include impaired driving

(driving under the influence of a drug that can impact a drivers motor skills), sexual activity

(teen drug abuse link to poor judgement, resulting in unplanned and unsafe sex), drug

dependence (might use drugs later in life), concentration problems (memory loss and ability to

learn), and serious health problems (Ecstasy can cause liver and heart failure an abuse of over the

counter drugs can cause distress and seizures). A drug addiction can lead to someone missing

school, receive bad grades which can impact their future career, and get into trouble at home, and

possibly with the law. “This is because drug addiction is a chronic disease, like asthma or

diabetes--it requires long-term treatment to help people get to a point where they can manage

their recovery and regain their lives” (“The truth about "rehab" & drug addiction: the reality is

far from glamorous”). Treatment is effective but very difficult to maintain. Drinking is said to be

more harmful to teens than adults because their brains are still in the developing phase. Drinking

during this period can lead to lifelong damage in brain function relating to memory and

coordination.
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“Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain's communication system and disrupt the way

nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information” (“Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the

Brain”). A part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex is located in the frontal lobe and doesn't

fully develop until age 25. Since teens prefrontal cortex is still developing, teens rely on the

amygdala to make decisions and solve problems. This can be damaged by the use of drugs.

Drugs like cannabis, alcohol, ecstasy, and heroin, will affect your mood and behavior. According

to “Teen drug use: risks and initial response”, “During middle and late adolescence while the

physiological mechanisms are present, abstract thinking is a skill for practice. Young people who

are using chemicals are less likely to make wise decisions, control impulses, or solve problems

readily. In addition, young people who use chemicals tend to have a high level of self-doubt and

feelings of instability about career and ability to succeed into adulthood.”

We all wonder sometimes what does someone abusing drugs look like? Well, the truth is,

anyone can become addicted to drugs. “Drug addiction does not depend on your income, your

job, your age, race or color. Addiction is a disease of the brain and it can happen to anyone”

(“Easy-to-read drug facts). According to phoenixhouse.org, there are 3 reasons people might

become addicted to drugs: Biology, the environment, and development. Biology means the genes

the person is born with play a big role in their addiction vulnerability. The environment includes

factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, etc. Development is the age the drug

abuse started. If someone starts abusing drugs at a young age, the more likely it is to progress

into something more serious and harder to control.

Data as gathered from an onset and prevention of smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse

among 526 students in California. “Over two school years, students who were trained to resist

social pressures toward tobacco, alcohol, and drug use began smoking at less than one-half the
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rate of those who did not receive special training” (“Pilot study of smoking, alcohol and drug

abuse prevention”). Drug abuse can be prevented by being aware of sudden behavior change

like new friends, physical appearance, new eating habits, a new sleeping pattern, and school

performance. Also, pay attention to the teen's whereabouts. Encourage him/her to get involved in

adult-supervised activities. Establish that there are rules and consequences for abusing drugs.

Take an inventory of prescription drugs in your home. Provide support and have the teen know

that you will help them through anything. Knowing that they have someone who cares goes a

long way and doesn't forget to set a good example. Teen notice what others do around them

especially their friends and family, so if you are abusing drugs you are not showing a very great

example.

Teen who experiments with drugs put everything important at risk, including their health

and safety. To prevent drug abuse talk to teens around you about the consequence of using drugs

and the importance of making these choices. If you suspect that a teen is abusing drugs talk to

him or her. Casual drug use can easily turn into drug abuse. Encourage honesty and speak

calmly. Express that you are concerned and want to help. Focus on the behavior, and not the

person. If a teen admits to abusing drugs establish the consequences and let him or her know how

disappointed you are. There are over 3,500 certified physicians who specialize in addiction in the

United States that others are able to get in touch with. In addition, you can also call the treatment

helpline at 1-800-662-HELP to ask about treatment centers.

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Work cited

“10 Reasons Teens Abuse Alcohol or Drugs.” Drug and Addiction Treatment Centers |
Promises, 15 Feb. 2016, www.promises.com/articles/teens/10-reasons-teens-abuse-
alcohol-or-drugs/.

“Facts About Bullying.” StopBullying.gov, www.stopbullying.gov/media/facts/index.html.

“Teen Drug Use: From Curiosity To Addiction.” Paradigm Malibu, 17 Aug. 2015,
paradigmmalibu.com/teen-drug-use-curiosity-addiction/.
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“The Top 5 Most Addictive Drugs in the World.” Recovery First Treatment Center,
www.recoveryfirst.org/drug-abuse/most-addictive-drugs/.

“What Are Some Things Teenagers Have to Deal With in High School?” Synonym,
classroom.synonym.com/things-teenagers-deal-high-school-8381.html.

"The truth about: 'rehab' & drug addiction: the reality is far from glamorous." Science World, 6
Apr. 2009, p. 20+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&sw=w&u=nysl_me_73_shb&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA
196439739&it=r&asid=1ad324a9e99a35c6dd8fef5e090487fc. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

“Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Brain.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/mental-

health/addiction/drug-abuse-addiction#1.

“Drugs and mental health.” DRUGS.ie - Drug and Alcohol Information Ireland,
www.drugs.ie/drugs_info/about_drugs/mental_health/.

Casemore, Bradley P. "Teen drug use: risks and initial response." Addiction & Recovery, vol.
12, no. 1, 1992, p. 8+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&sw=w&u=nysl_me_73_shb&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA11971
199&it=r&asid=4b84e22c3570240c703a68148199a420. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.

https://www.phoenixhouse.org/faq/why-do-some-people-become-addicted-while-others-do-not/

“Pilot study of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse prevention.” American Journal of Public
Health, ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.70.7.719.