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Teenage use of drugs and peer pressure
Peer pressure is said to be on the major factors in drug abuse
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In society adolescents face a number of problems. Teens face many different problems wherever they are, but the problem that seems to cause the most problems today for teens are drugs. With drugs come many different problems. Why do adolescents take drugs? There are several factors that can contribute to teens using drugs: peer pressure, family factors, they choose to do them, genetics and stress. One of the biggest factors for teens using drugs is peer pressure. The definition of peer pressure is “social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.” The desire to fit in ensures that there is always new teens that may later become addicted. This is an important factor when it comes to drug use. According to Reachout.com, there are two ways peer pressure affects teens. Those ways are directly and indirectly. For direct pressure it is having …show more content…
This could be due to that they might have had an unpleasant upbringing and being neglected by their parents. Children learn by observing the environment around them. If they see someone do something, they will attempt to emulate that behavior. By watching their parents or other family members in the act of drug use, the likeliness of them doing the same thing increases. Siegel, L. J., & Welsh, B. (2014) states: Social psychologists suggest that drug abuse patterns may also result from observation of parental drug use. Youths who learn that drugs provide pleasurable sensations may be most likely to experiment with illegal substances; a habit may develop if the use experiences lower anxiety and fear. (p. 279) Furthermore genetics can help push a young teen into drugs. If their parents abused drugs then it is likely that trait will also be passed down through to them in their genes. It could also show what type of drugs that they would be susceptible to. Alcoholrehab.com
Of the various possible causes for drug abuse, peer pressure is one of the main reasons young people indulge in recreational drugs. In fact, according to David Sheff,
Young people are using mood-changing substances at an increasingly younger age. Persistent substance abuse among youth is often accompanied by a plethora of problems, including school related hardships, health-related problems, poor family relationships, mental health issues, and run-ins with the justice system. There are also significant consequences involving the community, and society in general. Studies show drug use at a young age increases the desire to abuse as you get older. Society looks at drugs as being a taboo, which is the norm for our country. However other countries see drug use as a way of connection with oneself and others in another realm. Now whether drug use is harmless or harmful is a matter of your personal preference.
There are many factors that may cause a teen to drink or use drugs. Factors may be social, mental, or hereditary. Many reason teens choose to use drugs and alcohol are social factors. Teens may want to fit in with their friends or a certain group. They may also feel mature and grow up while using substances. If teens have mental issues, they may be more likely to use drugs or alcohol. Teens who feel like they are not emotionally connected or loved by their parents are more susceptible to drug use. Teens who have poor self-esteem or emotional or mental health problems, such as depression are also at increased risk for drug use (Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse). Teens who have alcohol and drug addictions in their family history ...
Teens who use drugs and alcohol have declining grades, miss more school, and are more likely to drop out of school. When teens are in highschool and middle school it is important to stay in school and pay attention to get good grades. If teens end up using substances it could affect their academic ability. Teens are using drugs and other substances more and more now, causing bad grades, family issues and many other problems. If parents and school would keep better eyes on the teens and let them know more about the consequences of using substances it could help decrease the number of teens who use drugs and alcohol.
As reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, our nation spends 700 billion dollars annually in relation to substance abuse. Substance abuse doesn’t just affect the individual involved, but as well as their family, and the society they live in. There is no single reason why a person chooses to abuse drugs and other substances. A person’s environment, like their socioeconomic status, and family can influence their abuse. Some factors in their environment include peer pressure, stress, sexual abuse, and parental involvement, which can all determine if someone is inclined to abuse any type of harmful substance.
Peer Pressure is defined as, “social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.” (Dictionary, 2016) Many teens struggle with peer pressure throughout their day to day lives. Peer pressure comes in many forms whether it may be peer pressure to do drugs, have sex, drink alcohol, steal, etc., there is a positive and negative side to peer pressure. Peer pressure can influence an adolescent in a positive way by motivating them into doing something good, such as doing their homework or completing all of their chores. Peer pressure can influence them in a negative way by persuading them to do negative actions such as, not completing homework, cutting class,
Today’s youth has been peer pressured to do many things, drugs being one of them. The peer pressure to young people is way easier to succeed then with older people because young people are always with their friends, wanting to be
Teenagers have the sources to get drugs, but not all teens use drugs. The ones that do use drugs start around the age of twelve. The survey was given to about 67,500 people aged 12 and older. An estimated 8% of the people surveyed used an illicit drug in 2007, within the past month of when the survey was taken. An illicit drug is an illegal drug that is also sold illegally. Those who use drugs may have family issues and/or bullying problems, which bring us back to them trying to fit in with society. The drugs that people use have to come from somebody, but whom? The drugs usually come from a person selling them on the street. Those dealers get it from a higher source and that hig...
According to one source, “Teens who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to fifty percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t” (11 facts). This matters because when teenagers are more aware of the risk, they are less likely to use drugs, knowing what the causes are. Teenagers are known to put a great deal of energy into things they enjoy. According to a well-known source, “Research shows that teens put a great deal of energy into concealing drug and alcohol use” (Look for signs). This means, if the teenager enjoys using drugs, they are going to put as much energy as it takes to get these drugs.
Adolescences in particular can be easily influenced to abusing a drug or multiple drugs. I believe this happens because teens often lack education, live in an environment where drugs are readily available, are peer-pressured and the lack of proper growth of the frontal lobe. Many factors contribute to adolescences experimenting with drugs. As side from being a child, the adolescence stage is of great importance. Healthy habits and activities are supposed to be instilled within this stage of life. The adolescence stage can be very perplexing and what is made into a habit then is easily carried on into adulthood. Our genes act together with our environment to contribute to the addictive behaviors we are motivated to develop. If addiction is left untreated it can ultimately lead to de...
Using drugs at such a young age can lead to the people of our future committing crimes. To combat the use of drugs, we must find the reason why juveniles are taking them in the first place. Juveniles have been using drugs for as long as they’ve been available. High school drug use was the highest between 1975 and 1980 (2). A study by Lee Robins states that alcohol drinking levels and marijuana usage can be indicators to how likely juveniles are at risk for more serious drug usage (3).
It happens every single day around the United States, even in my community; another teen succumbs to the temptations all young people face while in high school. Drug and alcohol usage has become an epidemic, primarily due to peer pressure. More than fifty percent of teenagers from ages twelve through twenty have experienced with alcohol at least once in their lives, statistics indicate that adolescences that drink or utilize drugs are more likely to behave in a violent manner. They are more likely to attempted suicide and/or develop problems such as depression and addiction later in life. Peer pressure is unrecognized as one of the leading contributors to this phenomenon.
All teenagers have their own reasons for taking drugs. Research shows that people take drugs mainly: to fit in a community or group, to escape or relax, to feel older than their friends, to have fun, to rebel and not have fear, and to experiment. A lot of people who have taken drugs say that they saw it as a solution to a problem. But later admitted that they ended up with bigger problems. Everyone has issues in life, because no one is perfect. Some advantages that people think drugs have are: having a group of friends, doing something exciting, coping with stress, and helping with problems like shyness, sleep ...
Peer pressure is when a person or group influence one’s decision. Normally occurs when the child feels the need to fit in, the person will sometimes do something against their belief . Peer pressure affects teens more often than other age group, especially those with low self esteem. Peer pressure can spread very fast, Peer pressure can lead to drugs , illegal activities , and other non-socially acceptable activities. As well as negative peer pressure there is also positive peer pressure, which has an equal amount of effects on adolescents. Peer pressure is a very influential source , negatively and positively, on the teenagers.
Peer pressure can be both a positive and negative influence and will challenge us do things whether they are right or wrong. This is left for you to determine. Peer pressure can influence several areas in your life like; academic performance, who you choose for friends, it can influence who you mat choose for a boyfriend or girlfriend, it can influence decisions about sex, it may change your feelings about alcohol and drug use, and it can even determine your fashion choice.