DRUG USE IN ADOLESCENTS: EFFECTS

THE EFFECTS OF DRUG USE IN ADOLESCENTS

Dependence

A prevailing fear among parents is that teenagers who begin to experiment with drugs end up developing a dependency. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that while many teens try drugs for a short period and then stop having them, some of them are at risk of developing a dependency. These are often children who are depressed or have low self-esteem, which are not popular or do not fit with their parents and those who have family members struggling with substance abuse.

Physical Effects

Drug use can cause serious health problems and can even be fatal.

• Amphetamines increase heart rate and cause blurred vision and headaches. If amphetamines are used for a long term, hallucinations may also occur.

• Cocaine increases heart rate and body temperature rises, and the use for the first time can be fatal. Sniffing cocaine can damage the lining of the nose. It is an addictive drug that can cause dependence after a single use.

• Even the counter substances such as medicines for cold can be dangerous if used to get high, causing seizures, brain damage and death.

 

Impaired judgment

The drugs cause users to make bad decisions. Many drugs offer users a feeling of invincibility, which can lead to dangerous behaviour. Drugs and alcohol also impair judgment, so that a person can drive recklessly, having unprotected sex or harm others. Drug addicts may steal or harm others to get money to buy drugs.

Education

Drug use also affects academic performance. Teens who use drugs often have trouble completing the work required. They also tend to have trouble concentrating in class and present a problem of truancy.