Teenage Drug Abuse

96 Pages·2012·2.83 MB·English

by  Leanne Currie-McGhee

Other books in the Compact Research
Teenage Problems set:
Teenage Alcoholism
Teenage Drug Abuse
Teenage Eating Disorders
Teenage Mental Illness
Teenage Sex and Pregnancy
*For a complete list of titles please visit www.referencepointpress.com.
Teenage
Drug Abuse
Leanne K. Currie-McGhee
Teenage Problems
San Diego, CA
© 2012 ReferencePoint Press, Inc.
Printed in the United States
For more information, contact:
ReferencePoint Press, Inc.
PO Box 27779
San Diego, CA 92198
www.ReferencePointPress.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any
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Picture credits:
Cover: iStockphoto.com and Thinkstock/Comstock
Maury Aaseng: 32–34, 46–49, 61–63, 75–77
Corbis/Ocean: 15
iStockphoto.com: 13
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Currie-McGhee, L. K. (Leanne K.)
Teenage drug abuse / by Leanne Currie-Mcghee.
p. cm. — (Compact research)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-60152-376-1 (e-book)
1. Teenagers—Drug use—United States—Juvenile literature. 2. Drug abuse—Treatment—
United States—Juvenile literature. 3. Teenagers—Drug use—United States—Prevention—
Juvenile literature. I. Title.
HV5824.Y68C87 2012
618.92'86—dc22
2010046672
Contents
Foreword 6
Teenage Drug Abuse at a Glance 8
Overview 10
How Serious Is Teenage Drug Abuse? 21
Primary Source Quotes 28
Facts and Illustrations 31
What Are the Dangers of Teenage Drug Abuse? 35
Primary Source Quotes 42
Facts and Illustrations 45
How Is Teenage Drug Abuse Treated? 50
Primary Source Quotes 57
Facts and Illustrations 60
Can Teenage Drug Abuse Be Prevented? 64
Primary Source Quotes 71
Facts and Illustrations 74
Key People and Advocacy Groups 78
Chronology 80
Related Organizations 82
For Further Research 86
Source Notes 88
List of Illustrations 90
Index 91
About the Author 96
Foreword
“Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”
—T.S. Eliot, “The Rock.”
A
s modern civilization continues to evolve, its ability to create, store,
distribute, and access information expands exponentially. The ex-
plosion of information from all media continues to increase at a
phenomenal rate. By 2020 some experts predict the worldwide informa-
tion base will double every 73 days. While access to diverse sources of
information and perspectives is paramount to any democratic society,
information alone cannot help people gain knowledge and understand-
ing. Information must be organized and presented clearly and succinctly
in order to be understood. The challenge in the digital age becomes not
the creation of information, but how best to sort, organize, enhance, and
present information.
d
r
o ReferencePoint Press developed the Compact Research series with this
w
e challenge of the information age in mind. More than any other subject
r
o
F area today, researching current issues can yield vast, diverse, and unquali-
fied information that can be intimidating and overwhelming for even the
most advanced and motivated researcher. The Compact Research series of-
fers a compact, relevant, intelligent, and conveniently organized collection
of information covering a variety of current topics ranging from illegal
immigration and deforestation to diseases such as anorexia and meningitis.
The series focuses on three types of information: objective single-
author narratives, opinion-based primary source quotations, and facts
6
Foreword
and statistics. The clearly written objective narratives provide context
and reliable background information. Primary source quotes are care-
fully selected and cited, exposing the reader to differing points of view.
And facts and statistics sections aid the reader in evaluating perspectives.
Presenting these key types of information creates a richer, more balanced
learning experience.
For better understanding and convenience, the series enhances infor-
mation by organizing it into narrower topics and adding design features
that make it easy for a reader to identify desired content. For example, in
Compact Research: Illegal Immigration, a chapter covering the economic
impact of illegal immigration has an objective narrative explaining the
various ways the economy is impacted, a balanced section of numerous
primary source quotes on the topic, followed by facts and full-color il-
lustrations to encourage evaluation of contrasting perspectives.
The ancient Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca wrote, “It
is quality rather than quantity that matters.” More than just a collection
of content, the Compact Research series is simply committed to creating,
finding, organizing, and presenting the most relevant and appropriate
amount of information on a current topic in a user-friendly style that
invites, intrigues, and fosters understanding.
7
Teenage Drug
Abuse at a Glance
Drug Abuse Among Teens
The 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that an esti-
mated 22.5 million persons in the United States were suffering from sub-
stance addiction or abuse; of these, 1.8 million were 12 to 17 years old.
Most Common Drugs
The most common substances abused by US teenagers are alcohol and
marijuana. Prescription drugs are the third most abused substance among
tenth and twelfth graders.
Internet Impact
e
c The Internet has made it easier for teenagers to obtain, without a pre-
n
a
l scription, prescription drugs such as Vicodin and oxycodone.
G

a

t Risky Behavior
a

e
s When teenagers use drugs or alcohol they are more likely to indulge in
u
b
A risky behavior such as unprotected sex, driving while high or drunk, and

g
u getting into fights.
r
D

e Damage to the Developing Brain
g
a
n
e A teenager’s brain is not fully developed and can be damaged by excessive
e
T use of drugs or alcohol. The prefrontal cortex, which allows people to
understand situations and make sound decisions while keeping emotions
and desires under control, is especially susceptible to harm.
8
Teenage Drug Abuse at a Glance
Addiction Risk
Teenagers who try alcohol or drugs are more likely than teenagers who
never use these substances to become addicts as they get older.
Health Hazards
Drug and alcohol abuse can lead to physical problems including liver
disease, lung cancer, and stroke—all of which can be fatal.
Getting Off Drugs
Teenage drug users most often turn to self-help groups for assistance
in overcoming addiction. Residential and off-site treatment centers and
counseling have also proved useful for beating teen drug and alcohol ad-
diction.
How Medications Help
Various medications can help teen addicts fight cravings and withdrawal
symptoms resulting from addiction to tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.
9
Overview
“Adolescents warrant increased attention because
they are at heightened risk for drug abuse, they may
suffer more severe consequences, and childhood and
early adolescence represent times when targeted pre-
vention efforts may have the most impact.”
—Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
“When it comes to teen substance abuse, it seems like
we’re always playing catch up. Anytime a new drug
hits the streets, its popularity soars, and we find our-
selves fighting against it. At the same time, drugs that
have been around for years sometimes rise sharply
and unexpectedly in popularity.”
—ASK (Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base), an educational website.
w
e How Serious Is Teenage Drug Abuse?
i
v
r M
e illions of young people in the United States endanger themselves
v
O and others by abusing drugs, alcohol, and tobacco every year.
Each year the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) conducts a nationwide survey on drug and
alcohol use. According to the agency’s 2009 National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, approximately 5.4 percent of young people in the United
States between the ages of 12 and 20 (2.1 million) reported that they
were heavy alcohol drinkers. In the same survey, 10 percent of youths
aged 12 to 17 (2.5 million) reported that they were illicit drug users.
10