Social Health 1
Last updated
Last updated
Make a poster on prevention of drug abuse/ make a speech of 5 minutes on anti-Drug abuse/write an essay of about 200 words on anti-drug abuse/write a poem of about 4 verses on anti-drug abuse/ do a short sketch or drama on anti-drug abuse. Do one of them
Risk of drug use increases greatly during times of transition. For an adult, a divorce or loss of a job may increase the risk of drug use. For a teenager, risky times include moving, family divorce, or changing schools. When children advance from elementary through middle school, they face new and challenging social, family, and academic situations. Often during this period, children are exposed to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol for the first time. When they enter high school, teens may encounter greater availability of drugs, drug use by older teens, and social activities where drugs are used. When individuals leave high school and live more independently, either in college or as an employed adult, they may find themselves exposed to drug use while separated from the protective structure provided by family and school.
A certain amount of risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development. The desire to try new things and become more independent is healthy, but it may also increase teens’ tendencies to experiment with drugs. The parts of the brain that control judgment and decision-making do not fully develop until people are in their early or mid-20s. This limits a teen’s ability to accurately assess the risks of drug experimentation and makes young people more vulnerable to peer pressure.
Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control.
Avoidance is Addiction’s Best Friend
Common risk factors for teen drug abuse include:
A family history of substance abuse
A mental or behavioral health condition, such as depression, anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Impulsive or risk-taking behavior
A history of traumatic events, such as experiencing a car accident or being a victim of abuse
Low self-esteem or feelings of social rejection
Negative consequences of teen drug abuse might include:
Drug dependence. Teens who misuse drugs are at increased risk of serious drug use later in life.
Poor judgment. Teenage drug use is associated with poor judgment in social and personal interactions.
Sexual activity. Drug use is associated with high-risk sexual activity, unsafe sex and unplanned pregnancy.
Mental health disorders. Drug use can complicate or increase the risk of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Impaired driving. Driving under the influence of any drug can impair a driver's motor skills, putting the driver, passengers and others on the road at risk.
Changes in school performance. Substance use can result in a decline in academic performance.
Drug use can result in drug addiction, serious impairment, illness and death. Health risks of commonly used drugs include the following:
Cocaine — Risk of heart attack, stroke and seizures
Ecstasy — Risk of liver failure and heart failure
Inhalants — Risk of damage to heart, lungs, liver and kidneys from long-term use
Marijuana — Risk of impairment in memory, learning, problem solving and concentration; risk of psychosis — such as schizophrenia, hallucination or paranoia — later in life associated with early and frequent use
Methamphetamine — Risk of psychotic behaviors from long-term use or high doses
Opioids — Risk of respiratory distress or death from overdose
Electronic cigarettes (vaping) — Exposure to harmful substances similar to exposure from cigarette smoking; risk of nicotine dependence
Steps if you have a friend or a relative seeking for drugs:
Talk to him or her. You can never intervene too early. Casual drug use can turn into excessive use or addiction and cause accidents, legal trouble and health problems.
Encourage honesty. Speak calmly and express that you are coming from a place of concern. Share specific details to back up your suspicion. Verify any claims he or she makes.
Focus on the behavior, not the person. Emphasize that drug use is dangerous but that doesn't mean your friend/relative is a bad person.
Get professional help. If you think your friend/relative is involved in significant drug use, contact a doctor, counselor or other health care provider for help.
