Drugs and Alcohol among Teenagers

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It is the party of the year and you are super pumped and excited for tonight. You are talking to your friends and they bring up the question have you tried the new drug that everyone is talking about at school? You pretend you did since everyone seems to be doing it and it seems like the school thing to do but deep down you hope they do not ask you again or offer you in person. You walk into the party and all the cool kids have alcoholic beverages and are smoking. What should you say or do, you do not want to be an outcast and not fit in. You grab a drink and your friends start taking colorful pills you skip the pills but when the cigarette goes around you have to smoke it since you know your friends will call you names if you don't. A couple hours later most of the party-goers are passed out, some throwing up, others hallucinating, and many wanting more. This is not the life you want to have and you most definitely do not want to disappoint your parents.

You are not alone according to hhs.gov in the past month, 39 percent of high school seniors reported drinking some alcohol, almost 23 percent reported using marijuana, and 16 percent reported smoking cigarettes. These teens are like any other teens may seem upbeat, popular an intriguing but deep down they all struggle with alcohol, and drug abuse. Many of these teens at the beginning see it as a game or something fun they can do but with time it turns into an addiction and a problem where many can not seem to stop. Symptoms that a person has such addiction involves anxiety to obtain such drug or alcohol, anger towards those trying to stop them, shakiness, the lost of weight, gain of dark circles, and the need to experiment other drugs and alcohol for a better feel.

Do not be afraid to ask for help for yourself or for others. Getting help may avoid an overdose or a crime done while under the influence. Keep your head up there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if you are feeling overwhelm sit down take a break and reach out to someone. Just because you may feel it is only happening to you it is not there is others that need help as well.