Adolescence and early adulthood are periods of growth, exploration, and for some teens and young adults the development of drug abuse and addiction. In today's society, the common problem among teenagers is the use of drugs. Teenage years are probably one of the most challenging periods of life. It is a stage of identity versus confusion – knowing oneself compared to losing oneself. Belonging and being accepted in a group is very important and being cool as well.
It is important at a young age they get the education and role models that will guide them to make the right decisions in their future. Children also need to be taught to say “no” to risky situations. It is not only influences that guide teenagers to drink and drive or to ride with a drunk driver but also gender and behavior. The more risky behavior a teenager partakes in, the more likely they are to drink and drive. Teenage drinking and driving fatalities have been going down, but it is still one of the leading causes of deaths in adolescents.
Both types of media may give wrong impression to impressionable and easily influenced young people. There is a striking instance of the influence of the media; kids in hopeless conditions repeat the unconscious activities they saw in the soap-operas. Another reason for the increase in juvenile crime is drug and alcohol abuse. In these days of twenty-first century almost none of parties celebrate without booze. In addition, in some streets of our country different types of drug are sold secretly: marijuana, ecstasy, hashish, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, etc.
ABSTRACT Although substance abuse is always a serious matter, adolescents substance abuse is especially dangerous. Nowadays teenagers abuse all sorts of drugs, including not only alcohol, cigarette, prescription drugs but also marijuana and cocaine. This paper, based on secondary research, discusses why young people use and abuse drugs and how it affects teenage. In particular, adolescent substance use results from lack of parents’ supervision, the availability of drugs in the environment they live and suffering from stress. The findings of the research indicate that using substances leads to a lot of effects on health and work, especially for teens, it causes some brain problem and has influences on study at school.
Smoking, drinking, and drug use may seem “adult” to youths who are not mature enough to understand that such behavior could threat their health and whole life. Many teenagers discover the risks of drug use only after suffering the negative effects of addiction. Another main cause is that many of today’s teens have not been educated about the risks of drugs and addiction. Looking at a society with less drug addicts should be accompanied by a huge public health campaign that teach teenagers the serious risks of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco addiction. Teenagers underestimate the dangers of addiction because they have
Why do children use drugs? To satisfy their curiosities, to feel grown up, to feel rebellious, to feel good, to fit in and belong are all reasons why children may get into drugs. Alcohol and other drugs have significant health impacts on the lives of children and their families. Understanding the reasons underlying this drug abuse in children could help reduce and prevent further drug use in children. The “nature versus nurture” argument is relevant to
Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are factors that some youthful and vulnerable teenagers have to deal with in their adolescent lives. One of the significant reasons of teenage drug use is peer pressure, particularly from the social influences among friends, acquaintances, school, and the community. Depending on the person’s experiences and choices, circumstances and consequences may vary. If a teenager’s social main group is using drugs, then there may be a strong pressure due to the fact that drugs are present and can easily be offered. Also, the person might get convinced to think that there is nothing wrong with trying drugs because “everybody else is doing it.” In the effect that teenagers will try drugs just to fit in the social norms, they might do it to impress their buddies to be considered "cool" as part of being in the group and gain acceptance by friends.
Open communication and role modeling is another method parents can use. Finally, promoting responsible behavior, and recognizing problems can help prevent drug use. Teen drug use is a very serious problem. There is a huge variety of drugs that teenagers can easily get their hands on. Taking these drugs effects teens in many ways.
Teens that are not considered normal are more likely to receive negative attitudes from those who are members of a peer group. This would make the teen give into peer pressure, because they want to be accepted. Teens also worry that other teens will make fun of them if they don’t take part in group activities; so they conform to these groups. A lot of teens like to use the saying “everyone’s doing it.”, which can influence some teens to participate in bad activities. In the story Secret Society of the Starving, 18 year old Claire was introduced to the pro-ana lifestyle by a friend that played on the soccer team with her.
Teenagers in our society are pressured into trying out alcohol for the first time to see how it tastes like. If they give in to their peers, they become part of the group, but if they do not they are not accepted into the group. As a result of teens being under the influence of alcohol, they are not aware that once they get behind the wheel they are risking their lives and the lives of other innocent people on the road. Teenagers think it’s cool