why kids turn to drugs Essay - 1513 Words

Why Kids Turn to Drugs There is no simple answer to why a young person might begin using alcohol or other drugs. Many times, it is a combination of several factors, including society, family and peers. They may turn to drugs to escape stress or loneliness or to overcome shyness in social situations. They may want to be seen as grown up or as a risk taker. Or, they may simply be curious. Teens often want to be like their role models as well. So, if their favorite music group, older sibling, parents or a quot;coolquot; peer at school uses drugs or alcohol, they may also use drugs or alcohol to emulate their role model(s). Adolescence is often a time of low self-esteem, which can develop as a result of not being able to grow and change as†¦show more content†¦Remind them that they are not alone and they have the ability to make good choices. Be a good role model: Set firm rules about drug and alcohol use and be consistent about enforcing them. Adults need to also make wise choices about their own use of alcohol and other drugs; in other words, what is done is as important as what is said. Teenagers may be involved with alcohol and legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with alcohol and drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often don ¦t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience. Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others. Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use alcohol and other drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems. Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those: with a family history of substance abuse who are depressed who have lowShow MoreRelatedWhy Kids Turn to Drugs1524 Words   |  7 PagesWhy Kids Turn to Drugs There is no simple answer to why a young person might begin using alcohol or other drugs. Many times, it is a combination of several factors, including society, family and peers. They may turn to drugs to escape stress or loneliness or to overcome shyness in social situations. They may want to be seen as grown up or as a risk taker. Or, they may simply be curious. Teens often want to be like their role models as well. So, if their favorite music group, older sibling, parentsRead MoreAnalysis Of Sonny s Blues 1089 Words   |  5 Pagesbothers who go down different paths, in which Sonny turns to drugs and the narrator goes to college to become a teacher. Sonny goes to prison for selling and using drugs and the narrator is in disbelief, but he remembers what his mother told him, which is to always watch over and protect his little brother. As darkness pervades, the narrator finds it difficult to be his brother’s keeper, understand the issue with drugs and alcohol, and to unde rstand why so many blacks were physically and mentally imprisonedRead MoreEssay on Random Drug Testing Should NOT Be Allowed in Schools591 Words   |  3 Pagescontroversy right now within the government and high schools is whether or not random drug testing should be legal in schools. There are many reasons why it should not be legalized, one reason being it goes against the fourth amendment. Why should we have testing in schools when many major health organizations oppose it? All it will do is make teens turn to other illegal and counterproductive things. These are many reasons why drug testing should not be allowed in high schools. In the Fourth Amendment itRead More Classification Essay - The Types of Kids that Make Up My Generation1162 Words   |  5 Pages–The Types of Kids that Make Up My Generation One of the things that has troubled me as of late is my generation. The generation that is referred to is the group of people currently aged 15-21 - whether or not this is a generation, so to speak, is irrelevant. These people, for the most part, disturb me. It frightens me to know that the people that Ive grown up with are going to be leading the country and the world in the decades to come. The overwhelming majority of the kids that Ive comeRead MoreMarijuan Is Everywhere1011 Words   |  4 Pagesthe news a person can hear about the war on drugs that was started back in the1970’s by President Nixon and although it is a war on all illegal drugs the major one is marijuana. It is the drug that people get arrested the most for and it is the biggest illegal drug seller in the United States today. What is the war on drugs, it is an increase of the size of federal drug control agencies and increase in the presence of those agencies where illegal drug activity is at a high. A person may not see thisRead MoreEssay on Gangs1133 Words   |  5 Pageswere able to turn on the news and not hear about some sort of violent act? Crime is a growing concern amongst most cities, and street gangs are behind a lot of the trouble. Street gangs have plagued the streets for centuries and there is no stopping the urge to commit such hideous crimes. Gangs grow from recruiting young kids but what makes a kid decide to join a crime filled lifestyle. The gang life contains many negative aspects including the most notorious reason for violence, drugs. Getting highRead MoreEmily Gjertsson. American Literature And History. Duncan,1104 Words   |  5 PagesEmily Gjertsson American Literature and History Duncan, Fierce February 6, 2017 The School-to-Prison Pipeline Four kids, each under the age of 18 were sentenced as adults for 6-11 years in prison before DNA evidence proved them all innocent. You all probably remember Trayvon Martin, who was walking home, pursued by a neighborhood watch captain for having a â€Å"suspicious† appearance, and then fatally shot. You might know of Philando Castile, who was pulled over for a broken tail light, and was alsoRead MorePeer Pressure In Adolescents: Drugs, Alcohol, And Sex.1188 Words   |  5 PagesPeer Pressure in Adolescents: Drugs, Alcohol, and Sex â€Å"A feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one s age and social group in order to be liked or respected by them†1. That is how the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines peer pressure. It seems simple right? Well it is much more than that. Peer pressure is much more complicated than just needing to be liked. It is all about finding out who you are and where you fit in in society. It can have a much bigger impact on the lives ofRead MorePromoting A Drug Awareness Program For Teens1695 Words   |  7 PagesPromoting a Drug Awareness Program for Teens Teen drug use/abuse is common. According to the U. S. Department of Health Human Services, the most common drugs teens use are alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and prescription drugs (2016). Other drugs used are inhalants, over-the-counter medications, and other illegal drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. The use of drugs and alcohol increase the risk of injury or death. According to WebMD, alcohol and drug abuse is a leading causeRead MoreIs Addiction a Disease865 Words   |  4 Pagesgenerally been attributed to drug addiction. Drug addiction is very serious and those that fall into substance abuse can cause severe damage to themselves and others around them. Drug addiction is the most common form of addiction. People use certain drugs and generally overuse will cause a physical and mental dependence. Addictive drugs such as heroin and cocaine are very dangerous and may lead people to become damaging to themselves and other around them. These drugs exhibit tremen dous chemical