The current drug epidemic facing American society requires immediate actions before it is too late to prevent full drugs’ integration into the mass culture. The widespread consumption of both licit and illicit drugs has become a daily routine for millions of people across the country. However, if earlier people were not fully aware of the hazardous implications these substances bring, nowadays, scientists discovered the influential patterns of almost any drug known to society.
Still, alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs like marijuana are perceived by people as safe tools for relaxation and socializing. The issue is especially evident when it comes to drug dependence among teenagers and college students. Although these social groups are not legally allowed to consume tobacco and alcohol, there is a network of places that contribute to licit drug popularization among underage adolescents.
Since the issue’s rapid expansion, educators and governors across the country decided to pay more attention to education on the subject of drug dependence. Special classes are now held in schools and colleges regularly (Levinthal, 2014). However, such kind of drug abuse prevention does not show any measurable results, as various types of drugs are still available everywhere, and it is sometimes difficult for adolescents to resist temptation.
The legislative aspect, which deals with illegal drug possession and selling, is either not effective enough or is not designed to combat the issue appropriately. Hence, the US healthcare system has a comprehensive approach to treating patients who struggle with drug abuse, but it is not aimed at decreasing the risks of the abuse appearance. What preventative measures are, in your opinion, the most efficient in terms of teenage drug abuse? Why do already existing measures fail to work properly?
Reference
Levinthal, C. F. (2014). Drugs, behavior, and modern society (8th ed.). London, United Kingdom: Pearson Education.