Teenage Drug Use Research Paper

Teen Drug Use

Have you ever seen what drugs can do to a teenager? I will be discussing the statistics and point of view on the teenage drug use throughout the past few years. The drug use has been steady or dropped over the past few years and numbers show more teens are making the right choices to say no to drugs. It is common that peer pressure is a factor of drug use in teens. Throughout my research paper I will go over many of the factors that pressure teens into using drugs. The first drug is Marijuana, is the most common illicit drug used in the United States by teens as well as adults. The growing belief by young people that marijuana is a safe drug may be the result of recent public discussions about medical marijuana and
the public debate over the drug’s legal status. Many believe it is natural and cannot cause any harm to the human body. Second on the list is opioids. Many teens still take opioids and are completely addicted. It attacks the nervous system and the spinal cord leading to permanent brain damage. Last on the list is inhalants. Inhalants are often among the first drugs that young adolescents use. In fact, they are one of the few classes of drugs that are used more by younger adolescents than older ones. Inhalant use can become chronic and continue into adulthood. By using inhalants you are more prone to using other more dangerous drugs, it is also known as a gateway drug to teens.

Marijuana, the most used drug throughout the world. Teens are becoming hooked more and more everyday by this drug. Statistics show that the use of marijuana is still spiralling out of control. In 2014 the United states alone sold over 2.4 billion dollars worth of marijuana. It is fairly easy to come by and more teens have access to this drug. In 2014 statistics showed that 41.6% of high school seniors are using marijuana while in school. Even though marijuana doesn't have many side effects it still has a couple. People can and do injure themselves and die because of marijuana's effects on judgment, perception, and coordination when driving under the influence of the drug. Also, people can experience extreme anxiety panic attacks or psychotic reactions where they lose touch with reality and may become paranoid according to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

Opioids, Opioid prescription drugs are most commonly prescribed as painkillers, especially after having major surgery or to provide relief for patients who are in severe, chronic pain.
These drugs are so addictive and potent that they’re prescribed with great caution and very specific orders. If the drugs are taken exactly as prescribed, then they can be effective and patients can remain safe from addiction. However, virtually any use outside of those prescribed puts a person at serious risk of addiction, overdose, and even death. In fact, opioids are so strong that even one large dose can be fatal. The most commonly prescribed opioids include: Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Diphenoxylate, Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl, Propoxyphene, Hydromorphone, Meperidine, and Methadone. Many teens die using these painkillers and don't realize how potent they are if not prescribed. According to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/opioids-and-pain-relievers teen drug abuse occurs in many different ways, but most commonly are abused by either taking more of the pills than prescribed or taking the drugs by another means than prescribed such as crushing up the pills into a powder, and snorting. Both of these means of abuse lead to greater risk of addiction and overdose in
teens.

Last, inhalants. This is the most common drug used by adolescents and high school students. Inhalants cause liver damage, lung damage, chest pains, heart damage, muscle weakness, and also nerve damage according to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/inhalants within seconds users become high or start feeling the change. The high usually only lasts a few minutes with causes teens to use more and more to get high. By this time the inhalant is already working against your heart and lungs causing shortness of breath and pains in the chest.if inhalants are used for a long amount of time you can get addicted even though it is not very likely that addiction starts after the first few times. People who use inhalants normally sniff or inhale the fumes,spray the fumes directly in the mouth or the nose, huffing from a fume soaked rag placed in the mouth, or inhaling fumes from a balloon filled with nitrous oxide. This is the number one drug that gets teens hooked on the high from other drugs and leads them down the wrong path in life.

In conclusion I have covered over the major drug abuse factors in teens. I have told you what drugs are most common in teens how they are addictive. I have also told you the long term and short term side effects. I have covered marijuana, opioids, and inhalants. This research paper should show that using drugs while you're a teen or even at all is an extremely poor choice. I hope I have covered the major topics to convince you that teen drug abuse is serious and needs to be stopped!