The following review is based on the book Your kids at risk: How teen sex threatens our sons and daughters (2007). The book is a comprehensive text regarding the effects of sexual promiscuity amongst today’s teens, the signs in which to look for, and ways in which to prevent the potentially detrimental outcomes. The book discusses a variety of issues threatening our teens today in the form of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and what Dr. Meeker describes as “emotional STDs”, which she defines as depression, ultimately resulting from the complications associated with teen sex. Dr. Meeker offers a great amount of detailed information regarding STDs, both the curable as well as the incurable that are plaguing many teens todays. Additionally, she provides a range of information, from birth control to media influence to emotional health and offers her point of view of not only a pediatrician’s perspective, but as a mother…
Teenagers are vulnerable to aquiring substance abuse disorders. This has much to do with their functional and neurocognitive brain development and how the areas of the brain manage the child’s feelings and cognition (Wiers, Boelema, Nikolaou, & Gladwin, 2015). It is estimated that by the time adolescents become high school seniors 70% had tried alcohol, 50% had tried an illegal drug and 20% had taken prescription medications that may, or may not, have been prescribed to them. There are a number of reasons adolescents abuse these substances such as to deal with stress or personal problems, to fit in or seem cool around other peers, or just to try the experience. While some may be able to try these substances and that be the end of it, others find the substances may help them cope with things, one way or another. (NIH Staff, 2014).…
Growing up and entering the teenage years exposes young people to new things that they have never had to deal with before, such as drugs. Many children do not know how to handle a situation when faced with drugs, which opens the possibility of bad decision making. Just one bad decision can lead to a lifetime of addiction and struggling. The use of dangerous drugs is a growing issue amongst teens in real life while also depicted in modern works of literature such as Crank and Go Ask Alice.…
Teenage drug abuse is one of the largest problems in society today and the problem grows and larger every year. Drugs are a pervasive force in our culture today. To expect kids not to be influenced by the culture of their time is as “unrealistic as believing in the tooth fairy,” (Jauman 140). Teens may feel pressured by their friends to try drugs, they may have easy access to drugs, they may use drugs to rebel against their family or society, or they may take an illegal drug because they are curious about it or the pleasure that it gives…
Adolescence constitutes an important period of growth in which adolescents develop physically, socially, psychologically, and cognitively (Stagman, Schwarz, & Powers, 2011). During this time, adolescents make choices that impact their health and also develop attitudes and behaviors about their health. Among these choices stands drug use which can affect the developmental milestones of adolescence. Towey and Fleming (2006) describe that drug use in adolescence can impact the development of autonomy, the formation of intimate relationships, and the integration into adult society. Drug use increases their risk at developing dependency and addiction (The Gallup Organization, 1996) and 5% of school-age children in the United States qualify for a diagnosis of substance abuse disorder (Tarter, 2002). As a result, they have poor health outcomes and a poor quality of life and this becomes an issue in counseling not only for developing early intervention by identifying…
Directly or indirectly, adolescents are affected by substance abuse. Substance use is one of the United States’ leading health problems. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, deaths associated with drug use have “more than doubled since the early 1980s” (www.drugabuse.gov). Substance use addictions are costly to tax payers. Substance use is an overlooked problem and continues to grow. Eliminating the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is impossible. Never the less it is important to create awareness on the health effects of the abuse of substances among…
In 2013 an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users. It’s available and accessible for anyone who knows where to get it or whom to talk to about it. Interest will develop in a matter of time. For instance, if one teenager hears a personal drug experience from another student in the school, the person may become curious and try to have a connection. Most teenagers today would believe that the first use of drugs is safe. Although there is no instant addiction with the first try, young persons can tend to experiment further and in a matter of time, anyone can have the euphoric effects of the drugs and may keep seeking it in order to function adequately. The accessibility of the drugs and the curiosity and experimentation of the person are high risk factors that can result in a drug addiction among…
Some adolescents are not aware of all of the risk that comes with substance use. They do not know all of the effects that each drug will have on them cognitively, physically and emotionally. As they get older they gain more knowledge about drugs and their effects. They are able to assess the risks and determine that substances are not worth their health. They are not able to assess whether the rewards of taking drugs are worth the risks. Also some adolescents are not able to evaluate the bigger picture of how drugs are going to affect all aspects of their lives in the present and in the…
Teens did not know their own bodies. There were little factual resources that teenagers can depend. Few choices left for them, teenagers were guided along high risk actions. Abstinence was the approved option by parents, as it teaches teens to not be sexually active but not on protection or STDS. Another path is exploration on their own means. Exploration was dangerous, because teenagers were unaware of the consequences. Both options plunged teens’ health into a abyss. Then around 1980s, media started to reach towards the topic of sexual activity in teenagers. Many teen movies brushed against the topic about sexual activity and gave more positive responses than usual. Now, there is a rapid increase in sexual activity amongst teens. Due to this rise of sexually active teens, sexual health programs in high schools need to be updated to accommodate this change. High schools need to avoid only abstinence learning and implemented new programs for…
Teenagers have been abusing drugs for decades with no sign of slowing down. In recent years, the use of drugs has become so common in teens that 78% of teens say they have friends who regularly use drugs ("Drug Guide"). Consequently, teens are now so accustomed to drugs that it is no longer startling to find out that their friends are using drugs. Rappers, singers, and actors nonchalantly doing drugs all over the internet and television lead teenagers to believe that it is okay to do drugs. Many teenagers have lost the idea that drugs are harmful and now believe that drugs are not hurting them. Studies show 90% of all substance abuse disorders begin before the age of 18 ("Tara Conner”). In addition to the amount of drug users that start…
Teenagers today experience many different things in society. Whether it is their first date, first day of high school or everything in between, teens always want to try something new or different. One of they things they try is alcohol. Unfortunately, underage drinkers often over indulge the use of alcohol. I will attempt to shed some light on why teenagers are drawn to this deviant behavior of underage drinking. Many causes contribute to underage drinking which include peer pressure, family problems, low self esteem, and just plain curiosity. Eighty percent of all teens have tried alcohol before the end of high school this includes a few sips. Most students who enter college are about eighteen years old. They find a new kind of free will in…
According to studies adolescents who experienced substance abuse gave several reasons in why they turned to drugs or alcohol such as “my friends pressured me” or “I wanted to feel good and get high,” “to have a good time with friends,” or to “escape from my problems” (Titus, Godley & White 2006, p33.). Adolescents may also be influenced by other negative events that may be happening in the adolescent’s life. Research typically shows the reasons related to starting drugs or alcohol is peer-social behavior, dealing with negative conditions or feelings, or achieving a satisfying state (Titus, Godley & White, 2006). Studies reveal positive and negative emotions in the understanding of deviant behavior in youths’. Most teenagers generally use drugs for gratification however the adolescents who may become addicted say they are unhappy with past decisions or current situations (Brunelle, Cousineau, & Brochu, (2005).…
There is no shortage of statistical data showing that the United States has significant drug issues among its young people. Despite recent declines, 14.2 of the teenagers between the ages of 12 and 20 reported heavy binge drinking at some point during 2013, according to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Additionally,…
Teen substance abuse continues to be a significant problem in US. While they may find new substances to abuse for time to time, teens are still using drugs and alcohol as an escape from the typical issues plaguing America's youth. Perhaps by taking an honest look at the numbers, we can all get some insight as to the depth of the problems and how we can best address them.…
In order to reduce the experimentation with substances and alcohol, parents could be effective and monitor their adolescents’ activity, educate ways to resist peer pressure, and highlighting health risks (Berk, 2009). These ways will potentially help adolescents because they have an imaginary audience, where they believe that they are the center of everyones’ attention (Berk, 2009). Therefore, adolescents will do everything they can to avoid embarrassment and will resort to peer pressure. The prevention and treatment strategies will help these adolescents become more aware and potentially avoid peer pressure with substance abuse and…