Dianne Hales says in the textbook "An Invitation to Health" that, while drug abuse among teenagers has declined, it continues to be a major problem. Teen alcohol abuse has also declined because the average age of first use has increased and teen traffic deaths have declined. The drugs that are abused most often include alcohol, amphetamines, anti-anxiety drugs, club drugs, cocaine, hallucinogens such as LSD, inhalants such as cleaning fluids and glue, marijuana, methadone and PCP, the textbook reports.
Drug Abuse
American teens' use and approval of recreational drugs has declined in recent years, but methadone is a growing problem, according to the U.S. government's "Healthy People 2010" report. From 1998 to 2007, the percentage of eighth- through 12th-graders who disapprove of trying marijuana or hashish rose from 59 to 67 percent and the percentage of 12- to 17-year-olds who used marijuana declined 18 percent.
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol is American teens' "drug of choice;" 10.8 million 12- to 20-year-olds, or 28.2 percent, drink and 7.2 million binge drink, according to a 2010 U.S. Surgeon General's report. However, the problem is declining, the "Healthy People 2010" report says. From 1998 to 2007, the percentage of high school seniors who had never had a drink rose from 19 to 29 percent, the percentage who had binged declined from 32 to 26 percent, and the percentage who disapproved of both drinking and riding with someone who drank rose.
College Students
Half of American college students are teens, according to the American College Health Association's Fall 2009 survey. About 30.4 of students have used marijuana, 73.1 percent have had alcohol, and 31.4 percent have used "other drugs," which excludes tobacco but includes amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, sedatives and other illegal drugs. About 3.4 percent of college students drove after binge drinking, which is at least five glasses of alcohol, and 25.2 percent drove after drinking any alcohol.
Effects
Teens are more susceptible to requests to drink alcohol and use drugs because they have more anxiety and confidence problems, according to "Understanding Psychology," a textbook for college students. Alcohol and barbiturates both reduce anxiety, but they also increase impulsiveness, mood swings and bizarre and suicidal thoughts. Amphetamines and cocaine increase confidence, but they also increase appetite and sleep problems, anxiety and irritability. Heroin and morphine reduce anxiety and pain, but harm concentration, physical activity and speech.
Interactions
Teens often don't understand the true dangers of drug and alcohol abuse because they don't understand that the combination of drugs and/or alcohol can produce an effect greater than that experienced when only one substance is consumed, notes "An Invitation to Health." Taking alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs increases depression, decreases alertness and impairs judgment. Taking alcohol and anti-depressants could cause a sudden increase in blood pressure and increases depression.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse
- "An Invitation to Health"; Dianne Hales; 2003
- American College Health Association: National College Health Assessment
- "Understanding Psychology"; Robert S. Feldman; 2002
- Office of the Surgeon General: Federal Underage Drinking Prevention Programs
