Humanity is always satisfying its weaknesses, as reflected in the development of an industry of products and goods that cause irreparable harm to health, but bring fleeting pleasure. There are many examples of these vices: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, toxic substances, and addictions of all kinds. It is especially worth paying attention to drug addiction, as the root of the problem of drug addiction among adults originates from youth. The phenomenon of teenage drug addiction is especially acute for modern society because drugs have become more accessible in recent years.
Adolescent drug addiction is a pathological dependence on narcotic drugs in teenagers, which develops, generally, as a result of a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors. Quantitative analysis of Pathak and Binod showed that the main factors of adolescent drug addiction development belong to the categories of family problems, academic failure, the cultural influence of TV and the Internet, as well as peer humiliation (44). Consequently, teenagers dependent on taking drugs become hostages of their addictions. It is essential to understand that for 15-30 dollars, a student can buy either a textbook or another dose of heroin (“The Cost of Addiction”). These are staggering numbers, as they demonstrate that the pocket money given by parents can often be enough for several portions of heavy synthetic drugs. The problem of teenage drug abuse is not abstract, and according to “Drug Use Among Youth,” 43% of all students in U.S. colleges use illegal substances. Moreover, this number is relatively constant, which causes even more significant concern about the origins and factors facilitating drug addiction (“10 Facts”). In addition, there is evidence that most young citizens use marijuana, which is dominant in its frequency of use even over tobacco (“Teen Drug Abuse”). Ultimately, all the factors described above lead to the conclusion that adolescent drug abuse is a severe problem that impedes the favorable development of a young man or girl. Accordingly, there is a need to develop measures to prevent and discourage schoolchildren and students from using illicit drugs.
Works Cited
“10 Facts About Teenage Drug Abuse.” Newport Academy, 2017.
“The Cost of Addiction.” RehabSpot, 2020.
“Drug Use Among Youth: Facts & Statistics.” NCDAS, 2020.
Pathak, Dhanush Chandra, and Binod Pokharel. “Causes of Drug Abuse in Youth: Case of Mid-Western Region of Nepal.” Journal of Advanced Academic Research, vol. 4, no. 2, 2017, pp. 44-54.
“Teen Drug Abuse Statistics, Facts, and Symptoms.” onHealth, 2016.