Social and health issues that take part during the formation of human identity have negative consequences on the individual’s further development. Thus, teenage drug abuse presents a severe danger to an individual’s health in adulthood. The problem of teenage drug abuse inflicts a threat to the future society and health state of the overall population in the United States. This essay will discuss the core reasons and consequences of teenage drug abuse and propose a possible solution based on the collected information.
There are several reasons for teenage drug abuse in the United States. As teenagers are influenced by high concertation of hormones, some of the core reasons for teenage drug abuse are specific to the age category, implying that those reasons are not connected to adult drug abuse. Moreover, teenagers are more influenced by external factors such as social connections and media. One of the core reasons for teenage drug abuse is the willingness to be accepted and validated in a social circle of individuals who already use drugs. In teenagers’ perception, drugs are often used in media as an attribute of cool characters, so they frequently try to fit in with the cool image, unaware of the consequences of drug use. In addition, current teenagers often experience depression and helplessness from being unable to control their lives or social rejection from excessive social media involvement and resort to drug abuse to feel better.
The consequences of teenage drug abuse include development and widespread poor morals, increased danger from sexual activity-related problems, such as STDs and unplanned pregnancy, dangerous driving, and poor performance in school. Even though some minor consequences of episodic drug abuse could be solved, threats like impaired driving present a significant danger to the population. Development and widespread of poor morals will also negatively affect the development of society as poor morals suggest an increased number of crime commitments among adolescents. With the current issues in the prison system, such as difficulties in offenders’ re-entry into the society, the teenagers’ future will be negatively affected in cases of crime commission.
Despite the complex character of the issues imposed by teenage drug abuse, one primary measure could solve the issue or partially improve the current state. The significant difference between teenage drug abuse and drug abuse among adults is parental participation in teenagers’ lives. Increasing the level of parental awareness on the issue of teenage drug abuse and providing them with necessary information could positively influence the situation. Providing parents with helpful information such as red flags in teenager’s behavior, and current state of drug involvement in the local area/school would help the parents establish connection with the teenager. The connection will provide an opportunity for a dialogue on the topic of drug use and its consequences. Moreover, active parental participation in teenagers’ activities would help prevent other issues, such as dangerous and harmful connections or violent tendencies.
In conclusion, this essay explored the issue of teenage drug abuse in the United States through the aspects of core reasons and consequences. Based on the collected information, teenagers are more subjected to drug abuse due to their social interactions and the high risk of depression tendencies. The increased parental participation in teenagers’ lives is the primary solution to the problem. Parents should express concerns about the child’s social circle and activities outside the home. Increasing parental awareness on the problem and providing opportunities for parent-teenager dialogue on the issue of drug abuse will positively influence the current state of teenage drug abuse in the United States.