In the book titled Youth Substance Abuse, written by David E. Newton, the heinous crime of teens using and abusing both legal prescription drugs and illegal drugs is written about in a way that truly opens one’s eyes about how problematic this issue is throughout the world. There are various types of drugs that are being abused and there are myriad causes as to why teens choose to abuse them. While youth substance abuse is at a shocking steady decline, usage of legal and illegal drugs in teens is still a prominent issue in society.
Throughout the years, teenage substance abuse has been an issue all over the world. According to the text, “One of the most troublesome public and personal health problems facing the United States and other countries worldwide today is teenage substance abuse” (Newton 4). The availableness of drugs in society is a huge problem that contributes to the usage among teens, and it always has been. There are many different types of drugs and many different ways to obtain them, and today the age of abusers is becoming younger every year.
Drug schedules I, II, III, IV, and V differ between the type of drug and the level of addiction, ranging from highly addictive to rarely abused. Schedule I has no accepted medical use and has a very high potential for abuse. Drugs in this schedule include marijuana, heroin, and cathinone. Schedule II has some accepted medical abuse and also has a very high potential for abuse. Codeine, methamphetamine, opium, fentanyl, and oxycodone are drugs in schedule II. Schedule III has some accepted medical use and has a less potential for abuse than schedules I and II. Schedule III drugs include; ketamine, anabolic steroids, and pentothal.
Schedule IV consists of drugs that are widely accepted in medical use, meaning they do more good than harm to the body and can help cure pain and illnesses. Schedule IV also has a low potential for abuse. Schedule IV drugs include Xanax and Ativan. Lastly, schedule V is also widely accepted for medical use and has a very low potential for abuse. Some schedule V drugs can be purchased over the counter, such as Robitussin (Newton 6). All five schedules of drugs are very easy to access. Whether it’s over the counter, prescribed, or through a dealer, anyone can obtain drugs as long as there is a demand.
There are myriad factors that can contribute to youth substance abuse. Simply being an adolescent is a risk factor because it is known that the brains of teenagers are less developed, therefore teens are more open and vulnerable to try drugs. Being a teen also comes with peer pressure. Teens do not want to be considered an “outcast,” or someone that doesn’t fit in, so they are likely to do anything their peers are doing. A study shows that “Sixth through eighth graders who drink and smoke are considered the most “popular” out of their peer group” (Newton 101), and the same is said about older adolescents.
There is actually evidence that the effects of peer pressure are directly related to family influences. Newton states that “The greater the attitude on the topic from family members, the less significant of the influence of peers” (100). Another factor that is linked with drug abuse is sexual abuse and trauma. Those who experience hard times in life are more likely to turn to drugs to heal their pain other than getting help from responsible peers, adults, or professionals.
Effects of drugs on the body can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. For example, hydrocodone can have advantages for someone who is recovering from surgery, while heroin has no known reason to use and has no advantages. Effects of stimulants such as Adderall and ecstasy consist of increased energy, changes in mood and an expanded sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. While these effects may not come across as harmful, long term abuse of stimulants can lead to death. Depressant abuse effects include slowed or slurred speech, lack of concentration, confusion, and the inability to urinate.
Hallucinogen abuse effects include loss of coordination and loss of ability to perform common tasks such as operating a vehicle (Newton 90). Not all effects can seem harmful at first, such as the effects of stimulants, therefore leading one to believe they may be bettering their health or their way of life, but they can increase to much more drastic effects such as the ones listed for depressants and hallucinogens. Overall, drug abuse does more harm than good to the body.
While the usage of illegal drugs and the abuse of legal drugs is prohibited, there are many people that are there to help abusers overcome their addiction. According to Newton,
“For much of American history, the use of psychoactive substances (primarily alcohol for most of that time) was considered an act of weak character by individuals who could not control their behavior. The proper “treatment” for such individuals often fell into one of two categories: (1) groups organized by and/or for other “deviants” where common problems could be addressed and, hopefully, resolved, or (2) mandatory incarceration, where “deviants” could be removed from contact with “normal” people” (102).
I think that there should be more counselors that are willing to truly devote their time into helping abusers overcome their addiction. Most abusers who are incarcerated for drug abuse continue to abuse after their sentence has been served and most abusers do not take support groups seriously. There should be more options for abusers to overcome their addiction. One problem of seeking help is the fear of being incarcerated, and incarceration has a very low success rate.
In conclusion, teenage drug abuse is still a prevalent issue in society. With the myriad effects of drug abuse and factors that contribute to it, the end of teenage drug abuse is not in the near future. While youth substance abuse is at a shocking steady decline, usage of legal and illegal drugs in teens is still a prominent problem in society.
Work Cited
- Newton, David E. Youth Substance Abuse: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2016.
