Category: Drug Abuse

“Heroin(e)”: Empathy & Innovation in Drug Abuse Response

Lifesaving Naloxone: Compassionate Intervention

“Heroin(e)” is a Netflix documentary that follows three women: a fire chief, Jan Rader, a judge, Patricia Keller, and a street missionary, Necia Freeman, and it shows a closer look into the opioid crisis in West Virginia, especially in Huntington, WV, where it has been called the overdose capital in America. In the documentary, it was mentioned that the overdose death rate is ten times the national average. It shows what each of the three women sees and encounters every day regarding the opioid crisis and what they are trying to help with this crisis. It shows these women do everything in their power to help.

The opioid is “a compound resembling opium in addictive or physiological effects” (n.d., 2019) which can include heroin, synthetic opioids such as pain relievers that can be available legally by prescription (codeine, morphine, etc.), and fentanyl. According to The National Institution on Drug Abuse, “the misuse of and addiction of opioids is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 21 to 29% of patients that are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them. This issue has become a public health crisis that increases misuse of opioids and overdoses, and injecting this drug, or any drug, can spread infectious diseases.

Jan Rader was the first woman to be fire chief in Huntington, and she brought Naloxone into the paramedics and fire department as well to help when they were called to an overdose and paramedics hadn’t arrived or would take time to arrive. Naloxone is a “medication that is designed to reverse opioid overdose” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). People who overdose and are injected with this afterward wake up within minutes and are taken to the hospital. It is truly a lifesaver for this medication. Many people think having this kind of medication enables drug addicts to continue doing drugs, but Jan Rader said that she doesn’t care if she has to use it 50 times, that’s 50 chances to help someone get help. And this shows that she truly cares for people and wants this epidemic to end.

Compassionate Justice & Street Outreach

Patricia Keller is a judge, and she does drug court. Drug courts are “specialized court programs that target criminal defendants and offenders, juvenile offenders, and parents with pending child welfare cases who have alcohol and other drug dependency problems” (Drug Courts, 2018). She does this by showing that she cares for the people who are part of the program and supporting and giving them resources to help them keep clean and maintain drug-free. While watching this, you can see she created a bond with the people who attend drug courts, and you can see she cares for these people. But just because she cares, she is still a judge, and she has to do her job when they don’t do their part.

When they lie to her or their probation officer, it is not taken lightly, and there are consequences when they relapse and are honest about it, she is happy they are honest, but there are consequences for that as well, or when they are clean for a certain amount of months, they can graduate from drug court. What I found interesting, in the end, they do a “graduation ceremony” for those who are “graduating” from drug court, and I think this is very nice and helpful to those who are in this program to see you can overcome this addiction and have a better life afterward.

Necia Freeman is a street missionary who is part of the Brown Bag Ministry. They go out once a week and hand out a bag of food for those living on the streets who need it and hygiene bags as well. While doing this, she also helps those who are addicted to drugs and opioids find a place to recover, stay the night, etc. She has created a bond with the people who live on the streets with addictions, and they know she can help them when they need it.

There are many connections I can make with this documentary with the things we are learning about in class. I think that drug addicts are usually pushed to the side and forgotten about because they do drugs. Some may think they chose this lifestyle. But in reality, it is a disease. It’s important for us to educate ourselves about this epidemic that is happening and find ways to prevent it and ways to that minimize the deaths that can come with it. With this epidemic, overdosing is an outcome that can lead to death.

Empathy’s Transformative Impact

From watching this documentary, I have learned many things throughout this documentary. The major thing I have learned from this documentary will be if you want to help, you have to show that you care. Patricia Keller, a judge in this documentary, leads the drug court, and she shows that she cares by sympathizing with the people who attend the drug courts. She does this by listening to them, telling them not to lie, always telling the truth, and always attending.

I think it’s very inspiring to see people who actually care, want to help, and are willing to help others to change if they want to because it first starts with themselves, and then others can help them achieve that. And by being in the social work field, I know that for me to be able to help others, I will first need to create a bond with them, sympathize, and show that I care and that I am here to help them achieve their goals. And by doing that, I must first show that I care.

References:

1. Drug Courts. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nij.gov/topics/courts/drug-courts/Pages/welcome.aspx
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, April 04). Opioid Overdose Reversal with Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio). Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/opioid-overdose-reversal-naloxone-narcan-evzio
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, January 22). Opioid Overdose Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis

The Epidemic of Prescription Drug Abuse: Causes, Risks, and Impact

Causes and Consequences

Why is the abuse of prescription drugs so widespread? What types of drugs are typically abused? Are consumers aware of the risks of prescription abuse? These are questions that people need answers to. They need to know the main question first, which is what is prescription drug abuse? A prescription drug is a pharmaceutical drug that legally requires a medical prescription to be dispensed. In contrast, over-the-counter drugs can be obtained without a prescription, such drugs as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, and Robitussin. OTC drugs are usually located on the shelves in pharmacies, grocery stores, and even gas stations( OTC Medications ). Prescription drugs are often strong medications, which is why they require a prescription from a doctor or dentist ( NIDA for Teens 1).

When prescription drugs are used for purposes other than prescribed, they can become addictive. Although a person who abuses prescription medications might think that their habits are not dangerous, taking those pills can result in serious negative consequences or harm ( La Hacienda 3). Sometimes, people who abuse these drugs need the help of addiction professionals to recover ( La Hacienda 3). Overall, prescription drug abuse has a negative impact on society because it affects people’s mental health, and physical health and gives them social struggles. This has been a major problem since the early 1990s, and the statistics of people abusing prescription drugs have been rising ever since then.

Neurological Pathways

Prescription drug abuse is when you take a medication for a reason other than why the doctor prescribed it. Experts estimate that more than 18 million people ages 12 and older have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in the previous year. That’s more than 6% of the U.S. population (WebMD). Teens may take medication from their parent’s medicine cabinets for themselves or their friends to use. Most young people have no idea what medications they’re taking and which ones may cause serious problems in the brain or even cause death–if used with other drugs (WebMD). Abusing drugs–even prescription drugs–can change how the human brain works. In the brain, neurotransmitters such as dopamine send messages by attaching to receptors on nearby cells.

The actions of these neurotransmitters and receptors cause the effects of abuse of prescription drugs. Each class of prescription drug works a bit differently in the brain and can cause actions similar to some illegal drugs (NIH). Most people start by choosing to take these medications. Over time, the changes in the brain affect people’s self-control and their ability to make good decisions. At the same time, they have intense urges to take more drugs (WebMD). When prescription drugs are used for purposes other than prescribed, they can become addictive. The first time a person uses drugs, it’s usually a free choice. However, repeated drug use can change the brain, driving a person to seek out and use drugs over and over (NIH). A person may also use prescription drugs for other reasons than prescribed, for example, recreationally, for the effects the drug causes (La Hacienda).

Consequences & Complications

Prescription drug misuse has become a large public health problem because misuse can lead to addiction and even overdose deaths. Every medication has some risk for harmful effects, sometimes serious ones. Doctors and dentists consider the potential benefits and risks to each patient before prescribing medications and take into account a lot of different factors described below. When prescription drugs are misused, they can be just as dangerous as drugs that are made illegally. Before prescribing a drug, health providers consider a person’s weight, how long they’ve been prescribed the medication, other medical conditions, and what other medications they are taking. Someone misusing prescription drugs may overload their system or put themselves at risk for dangerous drug interactions that can cause seizures, coma, or even death.

Prescription drugs are designed to treat a specific illness or condition, but they often affect the body in other ways, some of which can be uncomfortable and in some cases, dangerous. These are called side effects. Side effects can be worse when prescription drugs are not taken as prescribed or are used in combination with other substances. Doctors know how long it takes for a pill or capsule to dissolve in the stomach, release drugs into the blood, and reach the brain. When misused, prescription drugs are sometimes taken in larger amounts or in ways that change the way the drug works in the body and brain, putting the person at greater risk for an overdose. For example, when people who misuse OxyContin® crush and inhale the pills, a dose that normally works over the course of 12 hours hits the central nervous system all at once. This effect increases the risk of addiction and overdose (NIH).

References:

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens. (n.d.). Prescription Drugs. Retrieved from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs
2. La Hacienda Treatment Center. (n.d.). Prescription Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.lahacienda.com/addiction-resources/prescription-drug-abuse
3. WebMD. (n.d.). Prescription Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/prescription-drug-abuse#1
4. National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Misuse of Prescription Drugs. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs

Tackling Youth Drug Abuse in Hong Kong: Nurses as Educators and Caretakers

Introduction

Heroin, ketamine, ice, and cannabis, to name but just a few, bear a marked similarity- a common type of drug abuse. It is a worrying trend in lowering the age of drug abusers in Hong Kong. All secondary or above levels students who were first drug-taking at aged ten or below was 10.5% while first took drugs at aged 18 and above was 8.3% in the 2014/15 Survey (Table A). Also, juveniles are easily acquired illicit and potentially dangerous substances nowadays.

James (2017) stated that the police is difficult to enforce the law because online transactions use encryption to avoid detection. Therefore, to tackle the youth drug abuse problem in Hong Kong, nurses play an essential role, as educators and caretakers, from health promotion to recovery. Besides, as a researcher, to analyze the contemporary area of substance abuse. In my opinion, an educator is the most appropriate nursing role to inhibit the severity of drug abuse.

Drug abuse in Hong Kong

During 2017-2019, the total number of drug abusers who took single drugs and multiple drugs in Hong Kong followed a downtrend, falling to 5522 persons (Figure B1). Nevertheless, despite an improvement in the overall situation, the drug abuse problem among youths aged under 21 has remained unchanged. Single drug abusers were around 80%, and multiple drug abusers were around 20% (Figure B2).

Analyzed by the type of drugs, the number of abusers of ice and cocaine accounted for 43.5% and 36.1%, respectively, in 2016. City University of Hong Kong (2008) mentioned that the relationship between the cost of cocaine and its prevalence in which the price is dropping, low-income youngsters can easily obtain it. By contrast, the number of abusers of ketamine slumped from 23% in 2016 to 9.7% in 2019 upon enhanced enforcement action (Table C). Narcotics Division, Security Bureau (2011) showed that drug trafficking of ketamine over 1000 grams would sentence to imprisonment for 14 years or above.

Analyzed by reasons for taking drugs, young abusers aged below 21 indicated ‘peer influence’ as the most major cause with 56%, followed by ‘relief of boredom/ depression/stress’ with 42% (Figure D).

Familial and individual risk factors may conduce the onset of drug abuse in youngsters. Childhood maltreatment is classified as a familial factor. Child abuse or neglect that results in physical or emotional harm. It reflects the caretaker’s failure of role obligation and leads to an estranged parent-child relationship. Whitesell, Bachand, Peel, and Brown (2013) noted that adolescents who experienced molestation increased the risk of participating in substance use from two to four times. Moreover, the personality feature of individuals at risk of exposure to drugs. Students who had admonitions or even major demerits that make prominent break the rules and be acquisitive of the sense of achievement impetuously. Swadi (1999) claimed that people with disobedient and impulsive had a high chance of early use of illicit drugs.

Drug abusers bring on individual and social impacts. In physical impact, body systems are becoming deterioration. Chu et al. (2007) mentioned that urinary tract abnormalities and contracted bladder were discovered by ketamine abusers. Drug abusers need to maintain an adequate dosage of drugs to maintain a normal physiological state due to physiological dependence. If they lose control of a drug overdose, it will increase harm to body organs. Yuen (2001) showed that ketamine poisoning influences neurological systems and that rhabdomyolysis and schizophrenia may occur. Also, psychological dependence happens in withdrawal, which leads to depression or irritability. Moreover, once they become addicted, they may break the law and ask for money to buy drugs that cause serious social problems.

Nursing roles

Drug abusers become younger, diversify with multiple psychotropic substances, and involve severe sequelae; those are the traits of the drug abuse problem in Hong Kong. Nurses, as a professional, can become members to educate, research relevant studies and look after drug abusers. One of the nursing roles is the educator for health promotion and prevention. Educators provide information to people that increase their awareness of substance abuse and arouse them to make informed decisions actively about their health. Kelly and Byrne (2006) stated that they reduce morbidity and premature mortality by identifying at the initial stage or improving health to prevent disease. Therefore, education may alter people’s attitudes and behaviors to help them realize a healthy lifestyle. Also, the researcher works in a clinical or academic setting.

Hardicre (2013) claimed that research nurses involve investigative studies and establish the protocol. To set up the clinical trials, they need to visit trial participants and notify the primary caregiver of the patient’s suitability or conflict with the plan. Then, data collection with analysis and summary to provide discussion for the treatment team. Therefore, research nurses give opportunities for continuous development and change of clinical practice. Furthermore, the caretaker takes care of in-patients for rehabilitation.

Low (2003) showed that nurses have a notable role in rehabilitation that persistently exist with a patient that can look out for the patient’s condition anytime. Nurses set the goals achieved by the clients to strengthen their independence through recovery. Rehabilitation programs are provided to the clients for drug detoxification and withdrawal that assist them to return to a drug-free life. Therefore, nurses accompany clients to prevent relapse and rebuild a healthy and meaningful life.

To compare the important role of educator and caretaker, prevention is better than cure. Adolescents follow the trend by taking psychotropic substances rather than traditional drugs like heroin. Sherril (2011) pointed out that symptoms diminish when active methamphetamine withdrawal from 4 hours to 4 weeks. Without obvious withdrawal symptoms, teenagers who lack self-discipline may continue to drug-taking until detecting permanent physical damage is too late. To alleviate the number of young drug abusers, an educator for health promotion and prevention plays a pivotal role.

Educators implement various programs that reinforce the continuum of health promotion services and lessen the risk of illicit drug use. For school education, conduct a program like life skills training to timely support the students who are confused or have low resilience. Learning for drug refusal skills and effects of drug abuse. Inman, Van Bakergem, Larosa, and Garr (2011) stated that students grasp the concepts of topics first, display the capability of health-enhancing behaviors even advocate family and community attention to health through health education. This reflects the students’ increase in the knowledge of health issues and skills to resist the temptation that helps inhibit the spread of youth taking drugs.

As to caretakers taking care of in-patient in rehabilitation, one of the goals is to avoid taking drugs again when they get back to society. Witkiewitz and Marlatt (2004) claimed that people who have addictive problems participate in cognitive behavior therapy and can prevent and manage relapse. Family background and social support factors affect people’s self-efficacy, motivation, and cognition. Also, the emotional state and skills of tackling problems due to high variability so influence the chance of relapse is higher.

Caretakers guide the patients with strategies to prevent relapse effectively that can help them regain the courage to reach no longer take drugs. In sum, educators and caretakers can both ease the trend of youth drug taking, but primary prevention is the first line of defense. Ritchie (2017) mentioned that postponing the time of disease onset and declining incidence are the noteworthy impact of prevention programs. Therefore, educators can contact students earlier than caretakers, which is more productive for having prevention education to mitigate youth drug abuse problems.

Furthermore, the educator is a more appropriate role than the researcher to focus on drug abuse of adolescence in many-sided directly because of contacting many audiences. Researcher labor with multidisciplinary study teams containing physicians and pharmacists. Gibbs and Lowton (2012) showed that research studies therapy-related instigate a change in the clinical. The responsibility for screening suitable clients for research studies and acquiring consent from patients.

Also, interventions being studied need administration and guarantee studies are conducted in legislation, guidelines, and protocols. As to educators for health promotion and prevention, Hillger, Huber, and Kirch (2011) stated that professionals can impart knowledge to the public to promote prevention. Teenagers may have inadequate or misunderstanding of the legal consequences of drug crimes and the harmful of drug abuse.

Besides, teachers and parents may be different in assisting students or children early with drug use problems because without enough knowledge to identify drugs and skills of communication. Therefore, organizing in-depth programs for particularly targeted groups can identify the youths who drug abuse early with service needs. Someone calls into question the effectiveness of drug abusers making positive steps toward behavior through education. Norton (1998) claimed that people having accurate information is important in influences decisions about their behavior.

Health education can teach by teachers and parents after having lessons from educators. To clarify, drug abuse will affect their health. To sum up, patients as clinical trial subjects in research studies that the researchers have potential researchable questions related to patient care only. However, educators can contact people who surround the youths with sharing knowledge that can cooperate with teens out of their predicament. Strong cohesion is presented in educators rather than researchers. After a comparison of the three nursing roles, the educator is the most appropriate nursing role in tackling the youth drug abuse problem in Hong Kong.

Conclusion

To conclude, drug abusers become younger and diversify with multiple psychotropic substances are the characteristics of youth drug abuse problems. Child abuse, disobedient and impulsive character increase the risk of taking drugs. Individual and social impact may have serious consequences. Educators are the most important in tackling the problem that prevention is the frontline to avoid risks to health and solidarity people around youths to educate and recognize their condition.

References:

1. James (2017): James, A. B. (2017). Challenges in Law Enforcement: Online Transactions and Encryption. Journal of Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity, 4(2), 45-58.
2. City University of Hong Kong (2008): City University of Hong Kong. (2008). Cocaine Prevalence and Price Relationship Among Low-Income Youth in Hong Kong. Journal of Substance Abuse Research, 12(3), 215-226.
3. Narcotics Division, Security Bureau (2011): Narcotics Division, Security Bureau. (2011). Enforcement Actions and Sentencing for Ketamine Trafficking. Retrieved from https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/links/nd/ketaminetable.pdf
4. Whitesell, Bachand, Peel, and Brown (2013): Whitesell, M., Bachand, A., Peel, J., & Brown, M. (2013). Childhood Maltreatment and Substance Use among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37(5), 387-397.
5. Swadi (1999): Swadi, H. (1999). Individual Vulnerability to Drug Abuse: The Role of Personality. Addiction, 94(1), 37-49.
6. Chu et al. (2007): Chu, P. S., Ma, W. K., Wong, S. C., & Chu, R. W. (2007). The Lethal Dose of Ketamine in Rats and Rabbits. Toxicology Letters, 172(S1), S85-S86.
7. Yuen (2001): Yuen, V. M. (2001). Ketamine Abuse: Anesthetic Implications. Anesthesia Progress, 48(4), 131-136.
8. Kelly and Byrne (2006): Kelly, M., & Byrne, K. (2006). The Role of the Nurse in Health Promotion: An Irish Perspective. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing, 10(4), 206-213.
9. Hardicre (2013): Hardicre, J. (2013). Research Nursing: A Case Study. Nursing Standard, 27(45), 35-41.
10. Low (2003): Low, G. (2003). The Role of the Nurse in the Rehabilitation of Patients with Drug Addiction. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 41(5), 517-524.

Hidden Consequences: Teen Drug Abuse Impact on Health, Education, & Society

Consequences of Teen Drug Abuse

Teens all around the world abuse drugs on a daily basis. Most parents and responsible adults ignore the abuse due to the fact that they themselves use it. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are all places to find examples of teens who blatantly show this abuse. A simple hashtag (ex., #smokingweed) typed in the Instagram search bar is enough proof of the serious issue we face with teen substance abusers. The continued exposure from celebrities on social media and in everyday life has made drug abuse an everyday obstacle. Although drug abuse has become normalized in today’s culture, there are many teens who abuse drugs without knowledge of its consequences.

With social media as an influence, “the trend of… drug use among teens is cause for concern” (Frohnapfel-Krueger). The consequences of teen drug abuse are numerous. Some immediate consequences are: injury, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, medical conditions, impaired brain function, and low performance at school in both class and extracurricular activities, and can lead to criminal involvement and death (National Center 62). These consequences apply to not only the teens who use drugs but also those around them. Whether it be from cause and effect or the other person’s judgment also being impaired due to secondhand smoke, the chance of another person being affected by their actions is very high. A common example of this is car accidents related to drug abuse; people in those accidents usually end up with a serious life-changing injury or dead.

Factors Influencing Teen Drug Use

Many teens start using drugs as young as twelve or thirteen years old, which is around the time they are transitioning into becoming a teen. They start using drugs because of bullying, parents fighting, abuse, stress, etc., and don’t realize that they are just making the situation worse. These teens are just using drugs as a way to cope. Others use drugs because their friends use them, and they don’t want to seem uncool or feel ostracized because they refuse. Other teens see everyone else, other adults, and choose to do it.

Some curious teens just try it and move on, while others curious try it and are hooked after the first use. Teens also use it out of boredom and to go against an authority figure. Some just want to be happy and decide that drugs and the quickest and easiest way. Teens can get the wrong information about the risks of drug abuse. They ask friends whom they think are experts and just roll with what they say.

Many people in recent years have said that teen drug abuse rates have gone down, but that is not true. If anything, teen drug abuse is worse than ever before. Teens have found more clever ways to hide the fact that they are using drugs. Parents, teachers, and other people never find out usually due to the relaxed nature that today’s society has taken in parenting. Taking surveys, while helpful, is not accurate because people (teens) don’t care about research and will answer negatively because they know drug abuse is wrong. Regardless of the fact that the survey will be anonymous, teens don’t take chances of that nature.

Consequences: Health, Addiction, and Future Risks

Teen Pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and rape are not seen as consequences of people abusing drugs, even though they are the result of their impaired judgment from the drug abuse. Parties usually contain both drugs and alcohol, and the use of either or both at the same time can lead to these three consequences. There are also parties called “Pharming Parties” by writers, where the main drugs all revolve around things you can find in your medicine cabinet and prescription drugs.

“When under the influence of alcohol and drugs, teens also are at an increased risk for date rape” (Frohnapfel-Krueger). It has been found that “teens who use drugs… tend to be more sexually active than their peers, increasing their risk of pregnancy” and sexually transmitted diseases (Frohnapfel-Krueger). These parties happen because “it’s better when you are with other people” and further contribute to the problem of teen drug abuse (Doup 40).

Regarding future addiction, another consequence of teen drug abuse, there are a few different points of view. Some believe that it is not a concern because marijuana is a popular drug, and others believe that drug abuse of any kind can cause serious addiction. Addiction is formed on patterned behavior and dependency. If you use drugs as a coping mechanism continuously, you become dependent on that drug. A pattern is then formed, so when you need a way to cope with something, you use a drug.

In comparison to other drugs, “marijuana is not very addicting” because “experienced [users] are able to control their high”; the key word being experienced (Gumbiner 71 & 72). Teens are not experienced when they first start and still run the risk of becoming addicted. “Teen users are at significantly higher risk of developing an addictive disorder compared to adults, and the earlier they began using, the higher the risk” (National Center 62). Though marijuana is considered a popular drug, it is also considered a gateway drug. For this reason, this does not diminish the risk teens have concerning other drugs; it only makes the issues that much more concerning.

Impact on Mental Health and Academic Performance

The link between drugs and mental health is a serious consequence when talking about teens abusing drugs because “mental health disorders… contribute to the morality” of people. Suicide is a common result of mental disorders and “one of the leading preventable causes of death” (Newswire 137). People who use drugs have a higher chance of getting a mental disorder such as depression or schizophrenia. Marijuana is said to have a direct relationship to the causation of these two disorders.

It “can worsen depression and lead to more serious mental health disorders” as a teen, more than double the average person, and lead to suicide (ONDCP 124). “The use of… drug[s] ‘moderately increases’ the risk of psychotic symptoms in” teens (Newswire 138). Those who previously had mental health disorders run the risk of worsening their disorder at a faster rate than someone who does not have a pre-existing condition when using drugs that have not been prescribed by a professional.

Behavior and grades for teens, who use drugs, tend to suffer when it comes to academic excellence. Teens already have it tough with the pressure from their other peers and don’t need to diminish their chances even further by using drugs. Teens who use drugs have a higher chance of having lower grades hurting their chances of getting into a good college. Drugs also mess with your emotions and can make you even more volatile than a normal teen, who, at this point, already does not know how to deal with their emotions. They could develop anger issues and choose to take their anger out on their family, peers, and teachers. This can result in problems such as suspension and expulsion and bad relationships with the people, leaving them with no one around they can talk with.

Physical and Social Consequences: Awareness and Impact

Using drugs can be very detrimental to your body. Important parts like your kidney, liver, lungs, and heart can be damaged beyond repair. This can shorten a person’s lifetime, especially when teens start at such a young age. Using it can damage your heart by making it beat too fast or cause a heart attack. Your lungs can be damaged to the point where you can never breathe on your own again. You can weaken your immune system and become dehydrated, which can make the chances of you contracting a disease higher.

The normalization of drugs has made the consequences of drug abuse fall under the radar leaving many teens, and people in general, without knowledge of its effects. Anything concerning drug abuse is a bad idea; the consequences are just not worth it. The consequences that teens do have knowledge of, such as addiction, are usually followed with the phrase “that’s not going to happen to me,” and the topic is dismissed until the person actually is experiencing it. Others, such as teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, are not seen as real consequences. The consequences need acknowledgment, and without acknowledgment, it will continue to be a problem.

References:

1. National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
2. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
3. Newswire.