Marijuana Abuse By Teens Essay, Research Paper

An effective solution for marijuana abuse by teens must be found! “Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in America today (Nation 5).” “Marijuana refers to the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant. Marijuana is usually smoked on form of loosely rolled cigarettes called joints or hollowed out commercial cigars called blunts (Nation 5).” Marijuana is put into these forms because they look like ordinary cigarettes or cigars. It’s like a disguise. The street names for marijuana are pot, grass, weed, Mary Jane, Acapulco gold and reefer. According to some interviews, many teens smoke marijuana to “Get away from it all (interviews).” For many teens, marijuana is a solution to there problems. It’s a high that takes them to another level. Other teens smoke pot because they are curious or because of peer pressure.

The drug use in America is not decreasing. “Between 1992 and 1995 the marijuana usage among 12-17 year olds doubled. Sixty percent of kids who use marijuana before the age of fifteen go on to use cocaine. The average age to begin experimenting with illegal substances like marijuana, is thirteen (about.com).”

“There was a survey in 1995 which stated that 19.9% of eighth graders used marijuana, 34.1% of tenth graders used it and 47.7% of twelfth graders used it (DEA).” By the senior year almost half of American seniors will have already used or tried marijuana once.

Marijuana has also lead to using other illegal drugs. Cocaine, crystal meth and LSD are some of the most popular drugs, which are used also. “Columbia University has found that kids that smoke marijuana are 85 times more likely to use cocaine than non marijuana smoking peers (Newsweek 2).”

“If drugs did not exist then our governors would have intended them, to make the population more vulnerable to arrest and imprisonment (Vanity Fair 4).” Marijuana use has many problems that range from short term to long effects. Either way marijuana use will effect and damage your body throughout your lifetime. Those who smoke a larger amount will most definitely be affected more than those who do not smoke so much.

The short-term effects of marijuana vary from one extreme to the other. Short-term effects include impairments in learning, memory, perception, judgement and complex motor skills. “Marijuana can cause difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving and forming concepts. Judgement of speed and time are impaired by this substance also making driving hard and more hazardous (parentingteens.com).” In one study more than 1,000 accident victims at a shock trauma unit were tested. Thirty five percent were found to have detectable levels of marijuana in their blood. The regular use of marijuana with or with out other illicit drugs is correlated with higher levels of fighting, delinquency, arrests and written above health problems.

There are also physiological effects of this substance. These include and alteration of the heart rate. It can also result in intense anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia. The daily use of one to three joints appears to produce the same lung diseases and potential cancer risk as smoking five times as many cigarettes.

The long-term effects are slow and confused thinking, memory impairment, risk of chronic bronchitis, lack of motivation, cancer, problems in the respiratory system problems in the immune system as well as problems in the reproductive system. “There are 205,825 new users of marijuana since January 1, 2000 (N I of Health 4).” Someone who is high on marijuana seems to be dizzy, has trouble walking and becomes silly and giggly for no apparent reason. They may also have bloodshot eyes and have the munchies (gorges on food). People that are high also have a hard time remembering things that just happened and get very sleepy after a couple of hours.

Marijuana abuse by teens has been looked into for many solutions for many years. “It’s possible to stop most drug problems in the US, with in a very short time. Simply make each drug with a precise description of what effect good or bad the drug will have on the taker (Vanity Fair 3).”

No one factor can determine who will use drugs and who will not. We say that we are in a “War on drugs (Vanity Fair 5).” This war has been going on for many years but primarily began in the late sixties and early seventies.

The average cost of rehabilitation is $20,000 to $30,000 a month with few medical insurers paying anything on such a claim.

There has also been programs such as D.A.R.E. (Drug abuse resistance education) witch have been taught in both public and private schools. Warnings and effects are seen in the media, on newspapers, magazines, journals and on Television.

Three alternative solutions for this problem can be considered. Teens can help teens their same age. There can also be much more help towards rural and sub urban areas. More law enforcement would greatly help. Each solution must obviously be critically evaluated.

For most teens, they are at stages in which they go through. Some try to fit in while others are trying to create their own individual personality. Teens spend more time at school then at home; therefore, they see more of what goes on at school than at hoe. Many teens don’t like to be told what to do. Parents tell their children the differences between right from wrong that’s what parents are for. Parents have that responsibility. Unfortunately, teens take it the wrong way sometimes. When it comes to drugs parents and teen either truly agree or definitely disagree.

Teens that help other teens in need or that are on the wrong path, can definitely be a solution to this “War on Drugs.” With a hotline or a club meeting every so often

Teens will be able to to express the real reasons for why they smoke pot, or any drug for that matter. A teen counselor (same age or around same age) will make them feel more comfortable to talk to. “Programs such as D.A.R.E. are important. I agree, but there has to be someone children can talk and listen to. They would not be able to talk to a police officer (D.A.R.E. instructors) about their marijuana addiction (interview).”

Teen counselors can advise them how maybe they’ve been addicted and have now stopped. Teens helping teens is a solution that might help solve this drug problem in America.

There should also be more help towards rural and sub urban areas. The illegal drug use among adolescents in small towns and rural America is reaching alarming proportions. According to a private study that urged the government to spend a lot of money fighting drugs in non-metropolitan areas as it does in foreign battlegrounds in Columbia. “Eighth graders are 34% likelier to smoke marijuana than eighth graders in urban areas. Regardless of the way towns are classified, teens are thinking it’s no big deal to use drugs. Rural and small town areas need to begin shaping up (marijuana.com).”

This is sliding by as no big deal, which is part of today’s ignorance. There should also be more law enforcement. It’s no crime to have random drug tests at schools or at the work place. Officers can create their own special unit for drugs and drug testing. That would cost a fortune, but isn’t the future of our country worth that much?

More laws can be created to help solve the drug problem. Many ideas for laws have come up, but sometimes many these proposed laws won’t be passed according to Congress.

“I believe that there are solutions to every problem. Marijuana abuse by teens seems to have many answers. Answers are not always correct. If we stick to a few solutions at once instead of all together and then giving up, we just might see some positive outcomes (interview).”

Armas, Genaro C. Rural Teens, Drug Use Grows

Marijuana.com (26 January 2000): 1-2

Bergman, Carol A. “The Road To Reform.”

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Bustamante, Antonio. Peer Minister. Interview

(30, January 2000).

Cataneda, Jorge G. “How We Fight A Losing War.”

Newsweek (6 September 1999): 1-3

Parenting of Adolescents. “Effects of Marijuana.”

http://parentingteens.about.com (January 1998)

PDT90. “Drug Testing Teens.”

Psychemedics Corporation, 1990

U.S. Department of Justice. “Drugs of Abuse.”

DEA-Publication, 1996

U.S. Police Canine Association. “National Institute on Drug Abuse.”

National Institutes of Health (December 1994)

Vidal, Gore. “The War At Home.”

Vanity Fair (November 1998)