How Drugs Effect Teenagers

How Drugs Effect Teenagers

A drug is any chemical that produces a therapeutic or non-therapeutic effect within a body. Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Sometimes, experimentation with drugs during adolescence can be common. However, teenagers generally do not see links between their actions of the present and their consequences of the future. Teens also tend to feel invincible and immune to the problems that others around them experience.

Using alcohol, marijuana and tobacco at young ages will increase the potential of using other drugs like heroin, cocaine or speed later down the road. Some teens might experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others develop a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.

When teenagers use drugs, they will tend to have symptoms or signs of something being wrong. For example, as far as physical appearance goes, the teen might have a sense of fatigue, red and glazed eyes and/or a lasting cough. On an emotional level, the teenagers might have general mood swings, or irresponsible behavior, possible low self-esteem, general lack of interest in anything or could be generally depressed. In a family environment, a teen drug abuser can often be argumentative, or they become very secretive in movements. In school, a teenager could decline participation, drop in grades, skip certain classes, or generally accumulate a myriad amount of tardiness. These are some of the reasons why it is important to keep kids safe and pay more attention to all that they need. They (teenagers) are always in need of something one way or another.

To Teach At an Adolescent Treatment Center

To teach at an adolescent treatment center has been such a gift to me. I have recognized my own weaknesses and strengths. The residents’ struggles remind me of my own when I was their age. Their strengths remind me to strive higher than I ever thought possible for myself and others. The adolescent years are very crucial in forming their perception towards who they are and who they choose to be. It is the time that they can recognize that they have a choice. It is their crossroad.

The lists of drugs that are available today are much more extensive than when I was in high school. During my time, it was marijuana and alcohol. Now, the kids have been introduced to a variety of pain killers, more harmful drugs such as heroin, meth, cocaine and more. I feel for these kids. They have a difficult battle to fight. I have to say, they surprise me more often than I thought with their progression towards recovery than their regression towards using.

Solange Petrosspour

Drug Dealers Target Teen Crowd

Drug dealers have begun to put a new spin on Crystal Methamphetamine in hopes to appeal to a younger crowd. They are targeting teenagers with a new form of meth called “Strawberry Quick.” Strawberry Quick is crystal meth mixed with a powdered strawberry drink to give it a more appealing color and a sweet taste which makes the drug easier and less harsh to ingest. By changing the color and taste of meth and giving it a less intimidating name, drug dealers are hoping to continue to attract a younger population. Police have also noticed meth being mixed with a variety of candy, flavored soda and chocolate flavors.
Crystal meth is a powerful drug and can become very addicting whether it’s flavored or colored, or not. This is especially true among younger users.
Dealers have also come up with a new heroine to target younger users. “Cheese” heroin is a combination of black tar heroine and Tylenol pm. This drug is most popular among adolescents in Dallas. It has been linked to a number of overdose deaths among teens. It is said that “Strawberry Quick” and “Cheese” are perfect examples of how drug dealers are attempting to attract a younger client base. By changing the name, the color, or the flavor of crystal meth and heroine, they hope to make drugs seem less harmful.