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Tags: health, wellness, drug abuse, illegal drugs
 Teenagers are highly susceptible. They are easily influenced by their environment. This includes adults, their peers and the media. Most teenagers are often at a loss as to what is right. For them, what is “cool” and popular may be what matters. Even if it means illegal drugs. The teenage years can actually be tumultuous.
During this stage, a teenager can be vulnerable. This transition to adulthood can quite be demanding, and a teenager may not be able to take the stress. Being unable to cope, a teenager may then turn to illegal drugs. As a means for escape and to alter their senses. To evade their problems.
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What seems more alarming is that teenagers can have easy access to illegal drugs. Teenagers can easily obtain illegal drugs. Apparently, they are a wide and lucrative market for the illegal drug industry. According to the Bureau of Justice, 85% of teenagers know where to get marijuana. And 55% claimed they know how to get amphetamines.
A large number of teenagers know who to contact to get hold of illegal drugs. Regardless of race and location, knowledge of drug availability is similar among teenagers. Whether students live in the rural area, the suburbs or in urban areas, they have similar levels of drug availability, about 35% on the overall.
What seems more frightening is that 29% of students cited that someone has offered, sold or given them illegal drugs within the school premises. Availability of illegal drugs in schools has increased over the last ten years. Overall use of illegal drugs may have declined, but the threat still remains.
Illegal drugs are widely available, and they can easily wreak tremendous havoc. Too many teenagers are still abusing illegal drugs. Fifty percent of teenagers have reported some use of an illicit drug during their lives. Surveys have cited that the percentage of drug abuse among teenagers is low. But the fact is, drop outs or those who are truant were not represented.
And they are those who have a higher tendency to get involved with illegal drugs. Alcohol and cigarettes are the two most common substances that teenagers abuse. Seventy-five percent of teenagers claimed they have at least tried alcohol. The media has so much to do with this trend. Especially as it glamorizes the use of alcohol.
And teenagers can only have the wrong perception. And marijuana and inhalants. They are among the most common illegal drugs that teenagers abuse. Forty-four percent of teenagers reported that they have used marijuana. Sixty percent of teenagers who abuse drugs use marijuana. Among middle school students, inhalants are the most commonly abused illegal drug.
Seventeen percent of eight graders were reported to have used them. Inhalants are easily accessible. They are cheap and most of them are common household substances. Prescription drug abuse is also prevalent among teenagers. Prescription drug abuse in this bracket rises at 25% each year. Getting the message across to teenagers about drug abuse is expedient.
This means educating them consistently about the dangers of drug abuse and for teenagers to learn how to take responsibility for their lives.
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About the author
The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose recently published a step-by-step guide on how to lose weight the EASY way and become totally healthy and happy. More info on her life-changing eating habits plan HERE.
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