Drug Abuse Among Youths in the US: A Comprehensive Overview

This essay examines the persistent challenge of drug abuse among youths in the United States, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach involving learning institutions, guardians, the government, and society. The study highlights the significant prevalence of drug abuse, particularly marijuana, among young people and underscores the importance of educating youths about the detrimental impacts of substance abuse. The essay identifies various emotional, physical, and behavioral consequences associated with drug use, including anxiety, brain damage, and increased negative behaviors, while also highlighting the role of peer influence, family issues, and socio-economic factors. It further advocates for collaborative efforts from parents, schools, and the government to mitigate drug abuse through monitoring, education, recreational activities, and legal measures. Ultimately, the essay stresses the necessity of addressing the root causes of drug abuse to safeguard the well-being and future of American youths.

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Student
Professor’s Name
Unit Code and Title
October 3, 2019
Drug Abuse amongst youths in the US
Drug abuse among youths poses a great challenge that has been persistent in every
generation. It is imperative to involve all the parties including the learning institutions,
guardians, the government and the general society, for this issue to be settled effectively. The
youths are an important component of the society which expects them to be the leaders and the
professionals in the foreseeable future. It is the high time the youths should understand that drug
abuse will just ruin their good lives as well as those of society members.
According to research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Marijuana is
the most abused drug among the youths and amounts to 35% of users. On average, 9% of youths
in the United States depend on drugs (McCarthy g7735-g7735). There is the essentiality of
educating youths on the impacts of drug abuse. According to the holy books, many people die
due to their insufficiency of knowledge. The negative impacts linked with the drug abuse
amongst the American youths should be identified and the possible reformations created. It is
worth noting that the abuse of drugs among the American youths as its requisites. First, drug
abuse among the American youths has been found to cause emotional brings which include
anxiety, mood swings, depression, addiction, lack of concentration, violence harming oneself and
others, confusion and hallucinations. Secondly, the abuse of drugs among the American youths
leads to physical issues such as brain damage, respiratory problems, stroke, seizures, damage of

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the liver, lung cancer, kidney infections, contraction of HIV/AIDS and heart problems (Stern
331-346). Additionally, drug abuse among American youths is associated with increased
negative behaviors inside and outside the school environments. It is paramount noting that
dependence and addiction to drugs is a serious issue that can result from drug abuse.
Drug abuse among youths has become rampant. The youths to be specific are abusing
drugs greatly. According to statistics, 1 out of 3 youths abuses drugs especially alcohol. The
youths in the US should be informed of the dangers of drug abuse (Des Jarlais 739-740). There is
reliable evidence showing that drug abuse affects the political and socio-economic life of an
individual. According to the American Nurses Association, about that 30.4% of children in the
grades, 8, 10, and 12 use illegal drugs. More than 80% of students in grade 12 believe that
marijuana is easy to access and that is why it is the commonly used drug among the youths (Des
Jarlais 739-740).
The parents, the schools and the government should join hands to ensure that drug use
among the youths is mitigated. The parents should monitor the behavior of their children as well
as their company (Mitka 124). Many youths use drugs as a result of peer influence and family
issues. The teachers and school administrators need to educate the students on the effects of drug
use which are damages their mental and physical processes. Additionally, schools should create
recreational activities and programs where learners can spend their free time. Teachers need to
precisely educate the learners about the impacts of drug abuse. The government should come up
with legal measures to curve drug abuse amongst adolescents. The government can, for instance,
impose heavy fines and punishments for those found selling drugs to adolescents (Mitka 124).
All the parties affected by the issue of drug abuse among the American youths need to unite for a

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common purpose. The society is losing very important people who could have influenced the
growth and the development of the US as a nation.
It is imperative noting that for every action, there must be a reason and a consequence.
The cause of drug abuse amongst American youths should be identified to resolve the issue
effectively. There must be a driving force that has led to the current massive increase in drug
usage among youths. The social-economic and political factors influencing the utilization of
drugs among teens should be identified and addressed effectively. Every member of society is
affected by the issue of drug abuse amongst American youths. Everyone must put more effort to
ensure that the youths become aware of the dangers involved in drug use. Drug dependence is
more of a chronic illness whose medicine is knowledge of its detrimental effects.

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Work Cited
Des Jarlais, Don. "Drug Use Data, Drug Use Theories And Drug Use Policies In The United
States: A Combinatorial Lack Of Connections." Addiction 110.5 (2018): 739-740. Web.
McCarthy, M. "Cigarette, Alcohol, And Illicit Drug Use Down Among US Teens But E-
Cigarette Use Common, Survey Finds." BMJ 349.dec18 12 (2018): g7735-g7735. Web.
Mitka, Mike. "CDC: Use Of Emerging Tobacco Products Increasing Among US Youths." JAMA
311.2 (2018): 124. Web.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Monitoring The Future Survey: High School And Youth
Trends." Drugabuse.gov. N.p., 2019. Web. 3 Oct. 2019.
Stern, Susannah R. "Messages From Teens On The Big Screen: Smoking, Drinking, And Drug
Use In Teen-Centered Films." Journal of Health Communication 10.4 (2018): 331-346.
Web.