Teen Substance Abuse

Substance abuse of psychoactive drugs is a primary negative aspect in the development of a teen. Teen drug abuse negatively impacts adolescents around the world, affecting all aspects of life. Whether it be cocaine, marijuana, or alcohol, all three of these drugs and other illegal substances have negative effects on the teenage way of life. Physical damage, mental damage, and social inhibition are the three aspects of the health triangle, each altered by substance abuse. Teen drug abuse has prolonged negative effects on physical, mental, and social aspects of life.
Physical effects of psychoactive drugs vary from brain damage and rewiring, to short term and long term effects, most being self-detrimental in the process. Brain damage can occur …show more content…
Deterring their ability to perform in athletics, causing struggles with friends and family, and hurt their career in the future. Beyond the fact of drugs physically hindering a teen’s ability to play sports, a teen could just be forced to stopped playing altogether. If a coach or school finds out about substance abuse of a player they could possibly be kicked off the team or suspended for an extended period of time. This inability to perform can be very detrimental socially, mentally, and physically to a teen. Substance abuse as a teen can also have an impact on career and future life situations. Stated by a drug abuse treatment facility, “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” (Addictioncenter.com), creating criminal records, wasted academic opportunities, and a late start on a chosen career path. Accompanying this is tension between friends and family. Friends may not want to be associated with someone who does drugs and leave, and family may try and pressure the user into stopping. When all these line up social and family tensions become extreme. The user may make now proceed new friends who also engage in substance abuse, further pushing the user into addiction. The social effects of drugs on friends, family, sports, and career/life choices all are negative results of teen …show more content…
Neurotransmitter damage, short term effects, and long term effects challenge the physical development of a teen, along with setting up their body for failure for the rest of their life. Mental inhibition caused by substance abuse also challenges learning and behavior in and out of class, while also causing psychological disorders. Social interactions are hurt and future abilities with a career or possible prison sentence are hindered at the helm of drug abuse. All of these facts added up, with the plus side being a euphoric high, it just doesn’t seem worth