Chrissy+P.

= = = = =media type="youtube" key="jhjwUR2SeAE" height="344" width="425"= = Teens and Drug Use. = Everywhere you go, there are drugs. Drugs may not seem threatening to an adult, but it definitely is to a teenager. 1 in 3 teens in America will end up trying or being a user of a [|controlled substance]. Drugs are so dangerous with most teenagers because they do not know the risks that are involved with using drugs. Teen drug use is very dangerous because it is not only hurting teens, but its hurting their families, and tearing them apart. Drugs are an emotional and social problem for teens because they inhibit growth and personality.

=Why do a large amount of teens use drugs?= There are many reasons why teens will use or try drugs. Many teens use or try drugs because of [|peer pressure], but they also use it as an escape from reality, if they are depressed or down about someting. Most teen's don't think about the risks they are taking when they are smoking [|marijuana]. Many teens think that marijuana is a harmless drug, but it really is not. Marijuana harms a teen's future as much as it harms their body. It is also a [|gateway drug], and it can lead to a teen looking for a better high, and moving onto more dangerous drugs. These more dangerous drugs can lead to brain damage and death, especially ones that provide instant [|euphoric] highs, such as [|cocaine], [|heroin], [|ecstasy], ect.. (Glazer). Teens also may try drugs if they hangout with someone who does drugs. A teenager's friend or circle of friends' has a very big impact on their personality and life choices. Many teens think using drugs is a "normal" thing to do if their friend(s) support drug use. Teens who beleive that everyone does drugs are at especially a high risk, because they will think drug use is alright (Glazer).

=How do I get my teen to stop using drugs?= In most cases with teens, they get into drugs by hanging out with a certain circle of friends. If you are a parent whose teen is using drugs: Get your child out of that circle of friends that is providing them with drugs. It is one of the most important steps you can take to get your child clean and on the right path. It may be hard for the teen to cut off any relationship with that circle of friends, but they WILL appreciate it in the end. If you're child is addicted to a drug, seek professional help immediatly, preferrably a social worker. Having a "talk" with your teen about their drug use will probably not help. If a teen is using drugs and they want to keep using drugs; they won't stop. If you're a parent and your teen is using drugs; get professional help immediately. Make sure you're teen is not using drugs. This is when you could have "the talk" with them, to make sure that they are not using drugs. If you do have a teenager and they refuse to give up using drugs, the first thing you will think of is sending them to rehab. In my personal point of view rehab is a very dangerous decision. I say this because when a teen goes to rehab with other people who have drug problems, those other people could provide your teen with drugs, and it will just hurt your teen even more and keep them going on the road to self destruction, which we DON'T want. And remember, drug addiction is unbeleivably difficult to overcome even for an adult, so always make sure you are there for your teen. They will need your help. = = = = =Drug Education trying to help.= Many drug programs or trying to help prevent teens from using drugs. Many of these [|drug education] classes do role playing by putting teens in real life situations, and the teens have a choice to make decisions, bad or good (Glazer). But are the teens really making choices for their own benefit? Or are they just picking the right choice to make the teachers happy? A bunch of students from a middle school were asked why they think kids use drugs. At the same time all the kids answered, "peer pressure"-- the answer they know is expected (Moilanen). If someone has a drug problem, their choice is usally to go to rehab or drug treatment programs, but it seems lately there is a severe shortage of treatment programs (Drucker).

=Which drugs are the worst?= Every drug is bad. I say this because drugs mess around with teens heads'. Many teens who are addicted to drugs seem to be unaware of others feelings, and the only important thing in that teens life is the drug they are dependent on. The worst drugs a teen can get their hands on is anything addictive, like heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, PCP, and meth. Even marijuana can be a very dangerous drug, because of the gateway theory, which can lead kids into the kinds of drugs I just listed because they are looking for a better high. A drug that many teens are getting their hands on is ecstasy, [|MDMA]. Teens think ecstasy is safe, and it's near impossible to overdose on. They're wrong. Many ecstasy users have ended their night in the hospital (Moilanen). Some terms for ecstasy is, Adam, Love Drug, E, X, and XTC. Ecstasy gives euphoric like feelings, because it causes the brain to be flooded with serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter, and sertonin takes a big part in controlling mood, sleep, pain, emotion, and appetite (Moilanen). Ecstasy is becoming very popular among teens because they like to use it at [|raves] and parties because the drug makes colors look brighter, and music sounds clear and much louder than it really is.

=What are the signs of drug use?= If your teen has been acting strangely; talk to them. Make sure you know why they have been acting they way they have. Tell them that you understand what they are going through, because being a teenager is one of the most rough times of life. Here are some behavioral signs of drug use:
 * Change in attitude (negative attitude) [[image:signsofuse.jpg width="174" height="238" align="right"]]
 * Bad grades
 * Forgetting things easily
 * Excessive need for privacy (doesn't want to be around anyone)
 * Chronic dishonesty
 * Unexplained need for money
 * Resentful behavior
 * Paranoia

If your teen shows 3 or more of these signs, you should get them help immediatly.

I beleive that drugs not only hurt a teen physically, but also hurt a teen emotionally and socially. I say this because drugs can change a person no matter how strong the person is. Teens are most vulnerable to drugs, and we should make sure that they do not get involved with them, because it just leads a teen down the wrong road. Make sure your teen is not using any drugs, because its easier to prevent a teen from using them, than getting your teen clean from drugs. If you know anybody with a drug problem, and they need help, please look at this website []. Make sure your loved one gets help before it's too late.

Works Cited

Drucker, Ernest. "Drug Prohibition and Public Health: 25 Years of Evidence." Drug Policy Letter May/June 1999: 4-18. //SIRS Researcher.// Web. 05 February 2010. "Drug Use Rising Among Teens." //Today’s Science On File//: n. pag. //Today’s Science//. Facts On File News Services, 28 Feb. 1995. Web. 5 Feb. 2010. "Ecstasy." //Issues & Controversies On File:// n. pag. //Issues & Controversies//. Facts On File News Services, 1 Mar. 2002. Web. 4 Feb. 2010. Glazer, Sarah. "Preventing Teen Drug Use." //CQ Researcher// July. 28 1995. //CQ Reasercher//. Web. Mon. 1 Feb. 2010 Moilanen, Renee. "Just Say No Again." //Reason Magazine.// Jan. 2004. //SIRS Researcher//. Web 3 Feb. 2010.