Causes Of Teenage Drug Abuse - What Are The Causes Of Teenage Drug Abuse?

Keeping our child away from drugs and alcohol is challenging. Half of all 12th graders have used illicit drugs, according to a survey released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2006. Our best weapon is to arm our selves is with education. Drug abuse starts when our teen makes a cognizant decision to take drugs. Used too often, drugs may cause our child to crave the substance. That's because physical changes in the brain takes place. Neurons, or brain cells, use chemical messengers called neurotransmitters to "talk" to each other.

Drugs hinder with this process by making both temporary and structural changes in brain cells. Mood, memory, thinking and even motor skills such as walking may be affected. When this happens, drug abuse turns into addiction. People who are addicted have a compulsive craving and cannot quit by themselves. Not everyone becomes addicted. But any drug abuse is dangerous.

Teenagers are in a phase of life in which their brains and bodies are still developing. Mostly they're in a fix about what to do and what not to. Most of the cases they're guided by heart rather than brains. New research suggests that alcohol may harm a developing teen's brain. Drug abuse and addiction hinder with their sense of who they are and how they learn and mature. These problems can harm a teen's prospect - physically, emotionally and behaviorally, even leading to depression and anxiety. Drugs can weaken the ability to concentrate and store information. Being under the influence of drugs can also harm judgment, leading to perilous decisions about sex or about getting into a car with someone who is also under the influence.

Substances that can lead to drug abuse and addiction include alcohol, steroids, over-the-counter medications, prescription medications and illegal drugs (e.g., cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin). Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among teens. This drug looks like a green, brown or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers. Marijuana is usually smoked as a hand-rolled cigarette, in a pipe or in a glass tube called a bong.

Though there is no singular known cause of teen drug abuse, some of these factors may push the teen to abuse drugs. Insufficient parental supervision and monitoring may put the parents in dark on teen drug abuse. Often parents neglect their children and they end up with drugs. Even lack of communication and interaction between parents and kids can cause the child to take up drug as a remedy. Family conflict is seen as a big reason why most children get into drugs. Often lack of family support, lack of love, affection can cause children in getting into bad habits. It is very important to take control of the family and protect children from falling into wrong doings and habits.

Even friends often influence their peer groups and force others into such hideous crime. Parents should be aware of their children's activities and peer groups and get involved with them so that they do not become a victim of drug abuse.

• Emma Bullock
• 28/03/2009, 4:59 PM
• 0 Comments