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Teen Drug Abuse
Teen drug abuse is mostly viewed by parents, teenagers, other
adults and members of the community as a social problem for the morally
weak, those pre-disposed to drug-use or those with criminal
tendencies. It is also true that the majority general ascribe to the
misguided belief that drug addicts and abusers should be able to stop
the substance abuse if they are truely willing to change their
behaviour - in reality, it is not that simplistic and stereotyping,
myths and misconceptions like these sometimes undermines the scientific
voice and evidence that teen drug abuse and addiction is a
chronic, relapsing and treatable disease – a true public health problem.
One more myth to dispel right away about teen drug abuse is the fact that drug addiction does begin with a willful choice to consciously do drugs BUT drug addiction is not just a lot of drug use – it is an illness, a co-dependency, a compulsive drug craving and usage from which the addict can not quit by themselves. Current teen drug abuse statistics emphasizes that it is still a recurring and continued problem, a real threat creeping ever closer to the traditional, conservative home in the suburbs and not limited exclusively to troubled or inner-city teens. Teen drug abuse statistics are over-quoted, contradicting at times flooding the printed media, on-line sources and most academic research in this field is on-going and adding to the body of knowledge almost daily. Relevant and insightful, practical and interesting metrics on the attitudinal indicators regarding drug use and abuse enlighten us on three key aspects: (i) perceived risk of harm in taking a drug, (ii) disapproval of others who take drugs, and (iii) perceived availability of drugs. The latest data are online at www.drugabuse.gov. For more details on these and other National Institute on Drug Abuse 2004 Monitoring The Future Survey(s), 49,474 students in a nationally representative sample of 406 public and private schools were surveyed about lifetime, annual, 30-day, and daily use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. A listing of the most commonly used /abused teen drugs is provided: (i) cannabinoids: swallowed or smoked: hashish and marijuana with an intoxicating effect of euphoria, slowed thinking and reaction time, confusion, impaired balance and coordination; (ii) depressants: including barbiturates, benzodiazepines, flunitrazepam, GHB, and methaqualone, leading to reduced anxiety; feeling of well-being; lowered inhibitions; slowed pulse and breathing; lowered blood pressure; poor concentration and in the case of the so-called “rape-drugs” like GHB sedation, drowsiness, loss of inhibition, motor control and memory (iii) Dissociative Anesthetics: ketamine, PCP and analogs: delirium, panic, decrease in blood pressure and heart rate (iv) Hallucinogens: LSD, Mescaline, psilocybin: altered states of perception and feeling, paranoia, nervousness (v) Opioids and Morphine Derivatives: codeine, Fentanyl, heroin, morphine, opium, oxycodone HCL, hydrocodone bitartrate, acetaminophen pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness (vi) Stimulants: amphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, methylphenidate (safe and effective for treatment of ADHD), nicotine increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness (vii) Other compounds: anabolic steroids, inhalants stimulation, loss of inhibition. |
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