By the time many teenagers reach high school, they have been exposed to drugs. According to Family First Aid, 30 percent of 12th graders have used marijuana, 66 percent of 12th graders have used alcohol and on average 2,500 teens are abusing a prescription drug daily. The effects of teenage drug use can be devastating.
Violence
The leading cause of death in young people ages 10 to 24 is homicide, according to Family First Aid. Teens involved with drugs are at risk for violence, and males are more likely than females to be involved in a violent altercation. Angry teens using alcohol or other drugs feel free to be aggressive and demonstrate their anger. Of teens involved in violent acts, 94 percent of them had been using alcohol, 85 percent had been smoking marijuana and 55 percent noted the use of other drugs, according to Safe Youth. Teenagers who are involved in violence may be acting out emotional issues through aggressive, disruptive behavior or seeking money for drugs. Anti-social and delinquent behaviors are part of the lifestyle for teens involved with drug abuse. Teens using drugs engage in violent behavior more often than those who do not use drugs.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
According to Family First, 19 million new sexually transmitted diseases occur yearly, and 50 percent of those are in teens ages 15 to 24. Half of all new HIV infections occur in the same age group. There appears to be a re-emergence of syphilis and gonorrhea in this age group. Teens using drugs are less likely to protect themselves during sex and are more likely to have multiple sexual partners. Teenagers addicted to drugs will prostitute themselves for money or drugs. Teenage girls using drugs are at risk for unintended pregnancies and subsequent abortions.
Truancy
The rate of truancy for teenage drug abusers is higher than in their non-drug using counterparts. The more often they are truant, the more likely they are to use drugs. Teens who have too much time on their hands, remain unsupervised and spend time with peers who use drugs are more likely to join in the use of drugs also. Truant teens were more likely to be involved with the use of inhalants and illegal drugs and showed more problematic behavior then their non-truant counterparts. Teens who skipped school also appear to be less informed about HIV disease and had more anti-social and disruptive behavior.
