Effects of Drug and Alcohol on Teenagers Today, 90% of America’s teenagers have tried alcohol. Over 50% have used marijuana, 17% have admitted to using cocaine, and 12.5% have admitted to using some form of hallucinogens. The average age a teen will begin to experiment with drugs is 13, and for alcohol it is even younger (“Facts about Alcohol and Drug Abuse”). Many teens feel pressured by their peers to test drugs or alcohol. Others use it as a stress relief or to compensate low self-esteem. Drug and alcohol use is becoming a rising problem in the United States. Alcohol abuse and dependence on alcohol cause around 148 billion each year. Healthcare for alcohol related problems cost an average of 18.8 billion every year. Specialized treatments,
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The brain of a teenager is at risk of being smaller in certain parts. Alcohol decreases a teen’s ability to pay attention and keep focus (Dryden-Edwards). Teens going through alcohol withdraw tend to have problems with memory. The younger a teen begins drinking the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol. Drinking in excess amounts can lead to the use of other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and meth. Alcohol addiction in teens usually masks anxiety or depression (Dryden-Edwards). Drug abuse can drastically alter the state of a teen’s brain. Drug use can affect the neurotransmitters and damage connections to the brain. Drugs can affect the brain’s memory. Drug abuse inhibits development of perceptual abilities ("Health Effects of Teen Substance Abuse - Mental and Physical Effects"). Drug addiction can lead to depression and anxiety. Teens dependent on drugs are more likely to be sexually active which, puts them at risk for pregnancy, rape, or sexually transmitted diseases (Dryden-Edwards,2015). In "Health Effects of Teen Substance Abuse - Mental and Physical Effects" Addiction Center explains social risks:
In addition to the physical risks of teen drinking and drug abuse, there are many other consequences that could haunt teens well into adulthood. Because substance abuse can muddy reasoning and encourage rash decisions, there are many side effects of substance abuse that go far beyond the biological and physiological aspects ("Health Effects of Teen Substance Abuse - Mental and Physical
The brain of a teenager is at risk of being smaller in certain parts. Alcohol decreases a teen’s ability to pay attention and keep focus (Dryden-Edwards). Teens going through alcohol withdraw tend to have problems with memory. The younger a teen begins drinking the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol. Drinking in excess amounts can lead to the use of other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and meth. Alcohol addiction in teens usually masks anxiety or depression (Dryden-Edwards). Drug abuse can drastically alter the state of a teen’s brain. Drug use can affect the neurotransmitters and damage connections to the brain. Drugs can affect the brain’s memory. Drug abuse inhibits development of perceptual abilities ("Health Effects of Teen Substance Abuse - Mental and Physical Effects"). Drug addiction can lead to depression and anxiety. Teens dependent on drugs are more likely to be sexually active which, puts them at risk for pregnancy, rape, or sexually transmitted diseases (Dryden-Edwards,2015). In "Health Effects of Teen Substance Abuse - Mental and Physical Effects" Addiction Center explains social risks:
In addition to the physical risks of teen drinking and drug abuse, there are many other consequences that could haunt teens well into adulthood. Because substance abuse can muddy reasoning and encourage rash decisions, there are many side effects of substance abuse that go far beyond the biological and physiological aspects ("Health Effects of Teen Substance Abuse - Mental and Physical