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Review of related literature the good and bad effects of peer pressure on teenager
Effects of peer pressure on teenagers
Drug abuse and crime
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Issue: “Substance abuse among teenagers consequently increases the crime rate”.
1.0Chosen aspect
My theme is about abuse. “Substance abuse among teenagers consequently increases the
crime rate” is my chosen issue. I chose this issue is because I saw an online news shows that the
substance abuse among teenagers had increase rapidly. In the “Youth substance abuse problem
tackled by Staten Island at all day summits” news showed that a lot of teenagers had died due to
the overdose of drugs in the island.
2.0Critical evaluation of findings
Substance abuse teenagers involved in criminal activities due to peer pressure. Peer
pressure is the main reason that teenagers start to drink and taking drugs. A lot of teenagers
want to feel included and liked by their teenage peers, so they start to drink and even in drug
use in order to be accepted by them (The partnership at drugfree.org nd).Many teenagers will
just follow their friends even they know is something illegal or wrong and some teenagers take
advantage on their popularity and ask other teenagers to steal drugs or alcohol (Teenzeen
2014).Teenagers should avoid negative peer pressure because these friends may influence you to
involve in illegal activities and even in crime which will destroy your future. Teenagers should
choose friends carefully because good friends will always help you but bad friends will lead you
to a wrong path.
Treatments and programs for substance abuse teenagers should be held continuously and in
a more effective way. Long term treatment and programs can totally prevent teenagers to involve
in substance abuse again. Drug education should be taught in early stage and the content and
learning process must be design according to their age(Watkins 2009).A program for teenagers
that involved in substance abuse should organize in difference places like The Adolescent
Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) program which held in many areas and promote
a healthy lifestyle. (National Institute of Justice nd).These programs should be held around the
country to increase the awareness of teenagers toward substance abuse which indirectly will
decrease the crime rate.
3.0Process
3.1Sources
I had used one book and three articles for this report. The title of two main sources are
“Teens at Risk” book by Christine Watkins and “Teens and Peer Pressure” article by Teenzeen.
The D.A.R.E program offers great information, but it also costs a significant amount of money to run the program each year. The children receiving this anti-drug information, are at a young age and do not understand how severe drugs are and how it can impair a person’s judgment. At age 10, children may obtain a basic understanding of drugs and alcohol at the end of this program, but by the time they reach high school, they will not be able apply what they have learned from the D.A.R.E program.
According to "Peer Pressure Statistics & Facts," the statistic for the number of young adults who consumed alcohol due to peer pressure was more than 75%. Drinking is a social activity, therefore adolescents will most likely never drink on their own (Gibbons et al., 2003; Pomery et al., 2009). One's years as an adolescent are highly stressful, and there's a lot of pressure on them to fit in with their peers. Teens begin to highly value their relationships with their peers during this time period and the importance of the opinions and attention of others are highly increased (Burnett et al., 2011; Nelson et al., 2005; Steinberg, 2008). An article on "Psychology Today" adds that "…brain imaging studies have shown that several areas of the brain make adolescents more sensitive to the rewards of peer relationships than adults" (Albert, Chein, & Steinberg, 2013). They crave social acceptance so they will turn to their peer norms to see how much they should be drinking, how they should behave when they are drinking, and so on. Another quote says that "Indeed, several studies showed that peer norms are predictive of adolescents' willingness to drink (Blanton et al., 1997; Gibbons et al., 2004; Ouellette et al., 1999). With that said, it is clear that there is a strong connection between the influence of others and the teen's willingness to drink. An article on "Drug Rehab Services" talks about how around 40% of Canadian tenth grade student had a consumed alcohol in the past year, show by a survey in 2001. Of those teens, many of them drank at an even younger age which was shown to be some form of peer pressure including from friends, or movie, and music industry influences. It is much easier said than done
Parents must discover ways to help teens learn to make decisions that minimize the potential harm to themselves and others, and parents must also gradually relinquish control and place increasing amounts of personal responsibility onto teens so that they become self-regulating.
Insecurity is another incentive to why students binge drink. Drinking alcohol has been a large part of society for many years. People find that it is easier to meet people when they have been drinking. Drinking has also been used as a way to get close to some one. There are also many social events drinking has created. There are cozy bars “where every body knows your name,” cocktail parties, and the high school favorite, house party.
...ision are contributions to juvenile substance abuse. As you say in class “the brain isn’t fully developed until the age 25”, therefore making dumb decisions are bound to happen. Having a immature mind allows room for error and persuasion to try something from friends may seem to be “in or cool”. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that stress, boredom, and extra money were extreme factors in adolescents’ drug abuse.
Most teenagers always wants to be in the popular group at school or anywhere possible. They will do anything to achieve the goal. Weather it be hanging with the wrong crowd and ditching their true friends. They don't realize of all the people they are hurting because teenagers only think about what they want at that given point. Teens will do anything they're told by other people to fit in and that's not the best way to be.
“Drugs and Alcohol abuse”, are phrases we hear commonly on the radio, television or in discussions of social problems. People believe it is the user’s personal choice however; it is not only a personal problem that dramatically affects individuals’ life but is a major social problem that affects society as whole. It has become one of the biggest problems in United States today. Alcohol or Drug abuse nearly automatically is linked with criminal acts. The statistical association between alcohol or drug abuse with crime seems to be convincing when examined at the first glance; however, it is not possible to make a conclusion concerning a distinct cause and effect association between the two aspects. Accordingly, this paper will examine the relation between Alcohol or drug abuse and Crime.
All teens have their own reasons for drinking illegally. Whether it’s friends, family, or otherwise, underage drinking is never a good thing. There are several reasons as to why this unhealthy habit may occur. One of these reasons is peer pressure and friends. Some teens have friends who they hang out with that have used alcohol. A kid may feel out of place or maybe thinks he or s...
Olson, Jeremy. "Teen Suicide Is Not on the Rise." Mental Illness. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "No Surge in Teen Suicides, but Many Myths." StarTribune.com. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.
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.
There are a number of reasons why teenagers feel the urge to drink. Social environment, peer influence, stresses, and even factors such as media influence contribute to underage drinking. Peer pressure is as well known use among teens. Americans have a burning desire to be accepted and liked by their peers. Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging. Many adolescents feel that they need to drink alcohol to gain this acceptance by the others around them. Stress is also another reason why teens may feel apt to drink alcohol. Stress causes teenagers to look for a quick escape from the problems, which they face, in their day-to-day lives. This quick escape can be found in the shape of a bottle. In the eyes of an underage drinker, alcohol is the cure to all problems, a way to forget all of stress and pressures that are facing them. They feel that it will numb their pain and continuing to use alcohol will result in maybe another problem, substance abuse.
Why do teenagers do this? One reason is that many teenagers believe that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs, such as, marijuana or cocaine.
After interviewing my teenage cousin whom has been in several altercations at home and school, enlightened me on the ways that teenagers in her age group gets involved in drug use. Kids start as young as ten years of age using, selling, and experimenting with drugs. My teenage cousin was expelled from public schools when she started experimenting with drugs. She was surrounded by many challenges when she enrolled in the alternative behavioral school. Many students, whom attend the alternative behavioral school use drugs, sell drugs, are on probation, have been arrested, engage in sexual activity and drink alcohol.
62) Millions of American teenagers drink alcohol. Young people drink for many reasons; whether it?s to escape the daily stress of school or family life, or to fit in with their friends. But sadly enough, many teenagers discover too late that drinking cannot solve any of their problems. Teenage drinking is now one of the most serious problems that young people face. (Landau, intro) In 1977, Senator Frank J.
Teens have more pressure to be cool, and to be accepted that's what makes them rebel of do what mom or dad had always told them not to do. They may know that it is wrong but it is all about looking cool for that second, or being safe and listen to your parents. Actually, when you are faced with a situation that you know is wrong you don't think about what your parents will think until you have already completed it and there is no turning back. Then there comes the punishment. That makes the teen rebel more and do more things to be "cool" and doesn't care.