Drug use among our youth and teens is a growing problem, and is considered one of the toughest problems that families face to

Drugs

Drug use among our youth and teens is a growing problem, and is considered one of the toughest problems that families face today (ONDCP 2003). The Monitoring the Future Survey shows that in 2002 fifty-three percent of all 12th graders, 44.6 percent of 10th graders, and 24.5 percent of 8th graders have used drugs at least once in their lifetime. Drugs have negative consequences on people of all ages, but it seems to have the most harmful impact on kids and teenagers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide survey, 42.4 percent of high school students have used marijuana during their lifetime. Younger people tend to be more inclined to use drugs, mostly between the ages of 12 and 25 (NHSDA). Hispanics have the highest rate of drug use among highschoolers, most of them male. Although female drug users are more likely to become addicts and abusers and suffer the effects sooner than males, the general rate of users is lower (CDC 2003). White highschoolers have the second highest rate of drug use followed by blacks. Children and teenagers who are neglected at home and have a lack of discipline have more tendency to get into drug use because nobody is there to tell them not to do it (Linda, Knox, Schacht 2001). Pregnant teens also have a high rate of drug use.

Drug use and abuse leads to emotional, mental, and physical sickness, especially among the younger age groups. All drugs have short term as well as long term effects. Some of the common short term effects are increased heart beat and blood pressure, heart attack, anxiety, and distorted perception of reality. The long term affects of drug use are impaired memory, brain damage, and even death (TeenOutReach 1999). There are many different types of drugs that have varied effects but one thing that all drugs have in common is the deleterious affect on study habits and grades (YRBS 2002). Marijuana, the most common illegal drug among highschoolers, results in memory loss, excessive coughing, chest colds, panic attacks, and lung injuries (ONDCP 2003). Young people who get into drugs are more vulnerable to becoming addicts and will live short lives. Approximately three thousand children begin smoking on a regular basis everyday (NHSDA 1995). Not only does it have a harmful affect on the individual, but it hurts our economy as well. America spends 40 billion dollars annually to fight this “war on drugs” (Wenner 2001).

Drug use conflicts with many of my beliefs and values. Laws were made for us to obey and most drugs are illegal in the United States. Its is also against the law for minors to use drugs even if the drug is legal, such as tobacco. Maintaining good health is extremely important and we should take care of our bodies. Drugs can cause mental and physical health problems and in sever cases, death. Although it is part of some cultures to use drugs for spiritual purposes, most religions discourage drug use and stress obeying the law, not indulging oneself in immoral practices, and taking care of ones body.

From the symbolic functionalist point of view, drug use and abuse is a result of anomie in today’s society and it is also a result from other social problems. Media exhibits a lot of drug use, so many of our teens are exposed to it in their everyday lives. We see it everyday in our schools, neighborhoods, and sometimes even our own homes so it has become normal. Our society has a lack of norms and views drug use as part of life rather than a social problem. Also, home life greatly impacts a child and can influence someone to do drugs. If someone feels isolated and neglected at home, he is more prone to do drugs. Problems at home such as divorce or poverty can also trigger a child to get into drugs. If a child or teenager does not receive enough supervision, there is nobody to tell them that doing drugs is wrong. If a different area in someone’s life makes him depressed, he might resort to drugs to relieve stress or emotional pain.

There are many solutions that can be used to solve this problem. On the primary level, we can put advertisements about drugs in magazines and newspapers and put commercials on television stations on the harmful affects of drugs. This would affect the general public and make everyone aware of what drugs can do to a person. Secondary solutions would be to institute drug awareness programs in elementary, middle, and highschools since the youth are the ones at risk. Programs such as D.A.R.E and G.R.E.A.T. help kids gain knowledge about many types of drugs. If someone is aware of the serious consequences of doing drugs, they are less likely to try it. Another solution would be to have big brother programs and other after school activities for the students to go to. Kids with positive influence in their life are less inclined to get into drugs so spending time with their peers would help greatly. Tertiary programs would be support groups for the youth that could be held after school hours. It helps if they have others that they can talk to who are experiencing the same problems because they won’t feel isolated anymore.

Drug use has been increasing in the past several years, and it is harming our youth. More kids are falling into drugs everyday and it is not only harmful to the individual, but to our society as a whole. This problem has been extremely hard for our nation to deal with, but it can be and needs to be dealt with.

Bibliography: