abuse on drugs Essay

Submitted By ergon1621
Words: 6457
Pages: 26
Open Document
This topic was picked because it is even a bigger issue now than 1990’s now we have majuia cards and through are very easy to get and to make which is understandable for the people that need it like cancer and other issues.

More parents need to talk with their teens about the dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that finds discouraging trends on kids and drug use.
When teens were asked about the last substance abuse conversation they had with their parents, just 14 percent said they talked about abusing a prescription drug, said the report released Tuesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org.
"For parents, it really comes down to not using the power they have because they don't think this is an immediate problem, meaning their own home, own neighborhood kind of thing," says Steve Pasierb, president of the partnership. "They believe that this is probably a safer way, not as bad as illegal street drugs."
By comparison, most teens -- 81 percent -- said they have talked about the risks of marijuana use with their parents. Almost the same number said they have discussed alcohol with their parents. Almost one-third said they have talked about crack and cocaine.
Sheriffs: Nitrous oxide, or whip-its, becoming popular in Los Angeles
Sharing drug-use stories with kids to empathize may backfire
Does marijuana lower IQ? New study challenges link
Some parents didn't see a significant risk in teens misusing prescription drugs.
One-in-six parents said using prescription drugs to get high is safer than using street drugs, according to the survey. Almost one-third of the parents said attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications such as Ritalin or Adderall can improve a child's academic or testing performance even if the teen does not have ADHD.
For Tracey and Jeff Gerl, of Cypress, Texas, their son's drug abuse problem was a shock.
"We just didn't know," said Jeff. He and his wife had the "drugs are bad" talk with their son, Nick, and thought he got the message. They called the parents of friends when he said he was spending the night to make sure an adult would be home. They tried to get to know his friends. Despite their efforts, Nick started smoking pot at the age of 12.
In an Associated Press interview, Nick said he and his friends often raided their parents' medicine cabinets for anything they could get their hands on -- codeine, Xanax, Ritalin. Some kids, Nick said, would have "skittles parties," in which the teens threw all the pills they poached from home into a big bowl, mixed them up and then took a few without knowing exactly what they were ingesting.
By 14, Nick's parents knew something was wrong. The day before he turned 15, they sent Nick to The Center for Success and Independence in Houston for 7-1/2 months of substance abuse treatment. It wasn't easy on anyone in the family -- Nick, his two younger brothers and his parents. Nick tried to escape twice, but made it through the program and has been sober now for a year.
"My family life is a lot better. I'm realizing there are fun things in life that I can do sober," said Nick, now 16. "I got a chance to get clean and I have my whole life ahead of me."
One-in-four teens in the study said they had misused or abused a prescription drug at least once. That's up sharply, a 33 percent increase, in the last five years. One-in-eight teens report misusing or abusing the drugs Ritalin or Adderall --; stimulants prescribed to treat ADHD. Other national studies also have seen a rise in abuse numbers for these stimulants among teens.
The partnership's Pasierb says parents need to talk early and often with their children about the dangers of drugs, including prescription drugs. "They need to tell their children that this isn't healthy for you and it will break my heart if you do this."
Looking back, Tracey Gerl says she should have listened to her gut more when she first suspected Nick might be using drugs.
Show More

Related Documents: abuse on drugs Essay

Prescription Drug Abuse

Another preventive measure to tackle the issue of prescription drug abuse is the regulation in monitoring the system of prescribers and individuals who receive the prescribing. Right now, the system lacks uniformity and scrutiny in the integration process of prescription medications among patients. This is often the root to overprescribing and wrongful prescriptions. Other than that, the current system needs more control in the management of medications. The government still has a huge gap in identifying…

Words 838 - Pages 4

Drug Abuse Essay

Substance abuse is a condition involving the use of mind altering drugs or products in excessive or reckless use. These substances come in many forms, such as prescription drugs, illicit drugs and probably the most common, alcohol. In the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was reported that 152 million Americans over the age of 12 used illicit drugs and drink alcohol. Of those 152 million, 23 million need some sort of treatment for substance abuse but only 2.6 million actually receive…

Words 1089 - Pages 5

DRUG ABUSE Essay

many teenagers take drugs? No matter what the race, gender or the age is many teenager are getting addicted to drugs. During high school year many teenagers are trying to figure out who they are in society. Figuring it out “who they are” is not easy. For many teenagers high school years are the worst times. During this time many teenagers try to do anything to cope their problems by taking drugs. The most important social issue studied in grade 9 english class is Drug abuse because it causes depression…

Words 348 - Pages 2

drug abuse Essay

Drug abuse is an issue that is attracting much attention and condemnation in the society. Drugs by simple definition include those in raw or unprocessed and those in finished or processed forms . Frustration in life due to factors like unemployment, disease, marital conflicts, broken home, dropping out from school among others could lead youths to drug taking while lack of stiff penalty for the culprits further goes a long way in encouraging it in the society. When those involved are not detained…

Words 556 - Pages 3

Essay on Drug Abuse

Krause 1 Drug Abuse People have been using drugs and “home remedies” to cure or lessen the effects of certain things. But then people realized that you have a different feeling when they take them. This leads to addictions and drug abuse. Today there are many drugs that are for the most part easy to get their hands on in this country. One popular drug in the US is marijuana. With some of the states legalizing the use of it, Mary Jane has been put into the national spotlight. The most common way to…

Words 487 - Pages 2

Drug Abuse Essay

Drug abuse in the U.S. has been a reoccurring issue dating back all the way from the 1930’s when marijuana, although not yet perceived as a danger, was still considered a gateway drug for heroin users. In today’s society, marijuana is still considered a social problem due to its increasing popularity, specifically ranging from high school to college students. Needless to say, marijuana is only one of the few narcotics affecting today’s youth. Students today are found abusing not only illegal but…

Words 2036 - Pages 9

Prescription Drug Abuse

average age for first time drug use is 13 ½ years old,” according to an article in the Boston Globe, “Parents Clueless About Kid’s Prescription Drug Abuse, State Survey Finds”.(2011) This is a shocking statistic. Children are often educated through schools, parents and media on the risks of drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamines and other popularized substances. However, prescription drugs are commonly left unnoticed. “Parents are often providing prescription drugs to their kids in an improper…

Words 707 - Pages 3

Prescription Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse Drug overdoses have killed over 112,000 Americans from May 2022 to May 2023. Addiction is a condition where people have a strong need for a substance, this could be alcohol, or drugs. Addiction is considered a disability or disease. Addiction came around in the early 20th century. Adolescence is a sensitive period for substance use. The use of drugs by adolescents has been associated with overestimating normal standards of drug use, specific motivations for drug use, and negative life…

Words 1038 - Pages 5

Drug Abuse Essay

the causes and effects of drug abuse? Many haven’t and the lack of knowledge has ruined many lives. Every year drug abuse has impacted millions of American families worldwide. Drug abuse is simply the over usage of drugs. People who typically abuse drugs are those who are addicted. Well, how does addiction link with drug abuse? The addiction of a drug can become so strategic that it takes over ones life, causing them to use everyday. With this over abundance of drug use the body get comfortable…

Words 311 - Pages 2

Adderall Drug Abuse

Abuse of cognitive enhancers proves rampant amongst teenagers and young-adults looking to gain an academic edge over their peers. High Adderall and Ritalin in colleges and high schools use demonstrates social pressures to use the amphetamines, and changes the way some students value their work. Students abuse these amphetamines in order to achieve a heightened state of focus. Increased regulation of neuro-enhancing drugs prevails as the only realistic solution to stifling this epidemic. The negative…

Words 1153 - Pages 5