Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Tavish Hower
Mr. Peterson
Plutto4@aol.com
English 101
11 December 2012
Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Every hour, over 3,500 teenagers try drugs for the first time. (Drug facts) This outrageous statistic sadly applies to many of my classmates and peers. Through first hand experiences and other people’s mistakes, I have learned the dangers of teen alcohol and drug abuse. In Desert Mountain High School alone, over 50 percent of the 20 students I asked smoke marijuana on a fairly regular basis. Marijuana is known to decrease productivity and motivation which is extremely dangerous to the minds of potential young scholars. Whether or not the cause seems to be justified, most teens do not realize the harm they are causing themselves and the people who love them when they abuse drugs and alcohol. The source of teen drug use is different in almost every case. However, drug use generally starts among young people due to stress and issues with self- confidence and fitting in. At a school like Desert Mountain High School, where popularity seems to be more important than academics, one can easily see how drugs can be a gateway to make friends and gain social status. “When I got to high school things changed. I felt distant from people, and had to fight harder to have friends -- and I was shy all the time. Then I began hanging out with older kids, going to parties and skipping school. My parents didn’t like my new friends and enforced strict rules. I quit school and my relationship with my family fell apart. I started smoking pot and drinking heavily. I was taking mushrooms and acid daily. Finally I wasn’t shy around people anymore. I had more “friends” than ever before and for the first time I felt like I was a part of something. People wanted to hang out with me. I felt cool.” (Check yourself) In some cases, students are quoted as saying “I only smoke because my parents are too protective of me.” This logic cannot be reasonable because although young people seem to
Mr. Peterson
Plutto4@aol.com
English 101
11 December 2012
Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Every hour, over 3,500 teenagers try drugs for the first time. (Drug facts) This outrageous statistic sadly applies to many of my classmates and peers. Through first hand experiences and other people’s mistakes, I have learned the dangers of teen alcohol and drug abuse. In Desert Mountain High School alone, over 50 percent of the 20 students I asked smoke marijuana on a fairly regular basis. Marijuana is known to decrease productivity and motivation which is extremely dangerous to the minds of potential young scholars. Whether or not the cause seems to be justified, most teens do not realize the harm they are causing themselves and the people who love them when they abuse drugs and alcohol. The source of teen drug use is different in almost every case. However, drug use generally starts among young people due to stress and issues with self- confidence and fitting in. At a school like Desert Mountain High School, where popularity seems to be more important than academics, one can easily see how drugs can be a gateway to make friends and gain social status. “When I got to high school things changed. I felt distant from people, and had to fight harder to have friends -- and I was shy all the time. Then I began hanging out with older kids, going to parties and skipping school. My parents didn’t like my new friends and enforced strict rules. I quit school and my relationship with my family fell apart. I started smoking pot and drinking heavily. I was taking mushrooms and acid daily. Finally I wasn’t shy around people anymore. I had more “friends” than ever before and for the first time I felt like I was a part of something. People wanted to hang out with me. I felt cool.” (Check yourself) In some cases, students are quoted as saying “I only smoke because my parents are too protective of me.” This logic cannot be reasonable because although young people seem to
Cited: 1.) "DRUG FACTS." Drug Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012. 2.) "Drug Stories | CheckYourself." Drug Stories | CheckYourself. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012. 3.) "Just Think Twice. You 've Heard the Fiction, Now Learn the Facts." Just Think Twice. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.