One of the largest problems in society today is teenage drug abuse. After a dramatic drop in the use of illicit drugs among teens throughout the 80s, once again teen drug use is on the rise at a dangerous rate and shows no signs of slowing down. In 1979 more than 16 percent of children between the ages of 12-17, used drugs according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Under the banner of the Just Say No slogan, Presidents Reagan and Bush helped drive this number down to a low of 5.3 percent in 1992, but it has crept back up to 10 percent today (Drug Use Back Up for Youth, 1). From 1991 to 1994 eighth graders who said they had used marijuana in the previous year doubled to 13 percent. In the same time region, marijuana use increased 66 percent among 10th graders as well as a 44 percent increase among 12th graders.
Marijuana has by far, been the most popular drug used by teens as well as all Americans in the past decade. However, there is a new generation of drugs that is just beginning to effect the nations youth. Ecstasy, or MDMA, belongs to a family of drugs called entactogens, which literally means touching within. It creates a sense of euphoria for the user and enhances feelings of empathy, emotional warmth, and self acceptance. Besides extreme liver and brain damage, the effects of ecstasy are yet to be discovered since the drug is so new. Recently, a new mock ecstasy pill has been circulating which creates the same euphoric feelings of real MDMA but is much cheaper to manufacture. These pills have been found to contain PMA, speed, DXM, and PCP. Deaths have already been reported from heatstroke as a result of taking this mock pill (What Is Ecstasy, 2). Among other drugs that are currently on the rise are cocaine, inhalants, ciggerettes, and alcohol.
The teenagers of our nation are our future. If this generation of teens continue growing up in an environment where drugs are everywhere and they are not receiving the proper drug education they will accept drug use as a proper way of life which will result in horrible consequences. We must do what we can to get the message across that drug use will greatly harm your body and mind. On an even scarier note, scientists and doctors have yet to discover the harmful effects that certain drugs have on an individual. In 20 years, doctors may announce that those who have used ecstasy in the past, are guaranteed to develop brain tumors. This is a worst case scenario, but it is surely a reality.
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Drug use is a direct violation of the societal goals of good health, personal safety, and economic opportunity. Its is imperative that this issue be addressed as soon as possible before younger children are effected. By ignoring the huge problem that is staring this nation right in the face we are putting todays children, our childrens children and so forth at risk.
There are several causes for the increased number of teenage drug users in the country. The Clinton Administration shares some of the blame for increased abuse. By slashing drug enforcement positions, reducing drug persecutions, reducing international anti-drug programs and laughing when he told an MTV audience that he didnt inhale he was not sending out a very positive message to the nations youth (Bauer, 2). The fact that many parents have difficulty approaching their children about drugs does not help either especially since most of todays parents, children from the 60s and 70s, have admitted to drug use themselves.
The biggest problem seems to be the lack of efficiency in Americas drug education program. My proposed policy is to issue a mandatory drug education course for all students in 8th through 12th grade which will be run by profit free drug education organizations (for example, Teen Outreach, Students for a Drug Free America, PRIDE, etc.) taught by young adults who were once teenage drug users themselves. This course will also require a trip to a drug rehabilitation center once a year where students can see the true damage that drug abuse can have on ones life. The idea that this course will be taught by real people and not police officers will enhance the idea that drug addiction can happen to anyone and will prevent students from feeling inadequate. This will ensure the updated education of teenagers at a time in their life where they are most confronted with drugs.
The problem of teenage drug abuse is becoming a more important issue every day. Studies have shown that there has been a 78 percent increase from 1992-1998 in drug abuse among teenagers aged 12-17, including the drugs LSD and other hallucinogens, cocaine, and marijuana (Plohetski,1). Increasing numbers of teens as well as children are dying as a result of inhaling gasses from aerosol cans or huffing, to get high (Hayes, 1). According to the 9th annual PRIDE survey, student use of most drugs has reached its highest level in 9 years (Policy.com,2). All research is pointing towards the same direction. Teenage drug abuse is at an all time high and effecting young America in a drastic way.
Drug use among youths had shown signs of decline between the mid 1970s and 1990, but such use appears to have increased during the 1990s. Among high school seniors, self reported marijuana use in the past month declined from about one out of three students in 1980 to 12 percent in 1992. However, in 1995 about 21 percent reported using marijuana in the past month. Approximately 1 in 20 high school seniors reported daily marijuana use (Drug and Alcohol Use, 48).
Inhalant use has been on the rise among young teenagers as well. Inhalant abuse is a serious problem. Surveys show that nearly one in five children will likely experiment with inhalants before they graduate from high school. This number totals to nearly a half million each month (Hayes, 1). Inhalants are highly toxic and highly unpredictable. They are also cheap, legal and easy for most children to obtain. Most doctors believe that inhalants should be getting the same respect of marijuana and alcohol. This is a message most kids are not getting.
A huge problem associated with teenagers and drugs today is the gaining popularity of ecstasy. Ecstasy is very similar to the love drug of the 1970s MDA. However, the major difference between the MDA from the 70s and ecstasy from the 90s is that ecstasy is not pure. Almost all manufacturers of this pill combine MDMA with other drugs. By the time it reaches the consumer it may or may not have been laced with other illicit material. By mixing several of these drugs together sensations may be enhanced, but one is putting themselves at risk for heatstroke, heat failure, severe brain and liver damage, or death. Ecstasy, or E, is almost always swallowed as a tablet or capsule.
A normal dose is around 100-125 mg. Black market ecstasy is extremely dangerous. These E tablets vary in strength and often contain other drugs. MDMA, the primary drug in Ecstasy releases the brain chemical serotonin, elevating ones mood and acting as a short-term antidepressant. Most teenagers are not educated on the danger of taking this drug. It is very popular among the club and rave community. Several deaths have been linked to taking this drug, usually from heatstroke because users dance for long periods of time in hot clubs without replenishing lost body fluids (What is Ecstasy?, 1). This drug is one of the most dangerous drugs facing our generation today and because of the improper drug education of American teenagers, more deaths will be related to it in the future.
There are many factors that contribute to teenage drug abuse. National surveys have found that teenagers whose baby-boom parents smoked marijuana regularly a generation ago are more likely to use drugs than other teenagers. The study commissioned by the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, found that 58% of parents who once smoked marijuana regularly would consider it a crisis if their young teenager used the drug, compared with 83% of parents who never tried marijuana. The study says that teenagers are more at risk of using drugs in general if their parents think that marijuana is relatively harmless. I agree with Joseph A. Califano Jr., the president of the center when he said, The ambivalence of the baby boomers about marijuana is clearly a key factor in adolescent drug use. (Trip,1).
By law, every K-12 school in the country receiving Federal money must have a drug prevention program starting in Kindergarten. All 50 states and over half of the nations school districts use the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (DARE) which uses uniformed police officers that teach mainly 5th and 6th graders how to say no to drugs.
However, this program has had an extreme minimal impact on drug use. Social psychologist William B. Hansen has been studying drug prevention programs for 20 years and has concluded that, They dont have any evidence to back that up- that it works. (Glazer, 653). He explains that one of the main problems with DARE is the fact that, 5th graders are bouncy and cuddly. They are not suspicious when you walk in wearing a uniform. By junior high the same children are searching for independence from adults and are more influenced by their peers than a man in a uniform. When the DARE program was used in the 7th grade, it was obvious the motivation had worn off (Glazer, 663). When combining the poor drug education programs with the fact that many adults do not know how to talk to their children about drugs, this is contributing greatly to the increasing drug use among teens.
During the 1960s, drug use was glamorized by many. A revival of similar interests in the present time have helped increase the acceptability of drug use. During a time period where bell bottoms and vintage clothes as well as the popularity of the Grateful Dead and designer cigarette lighters featuring marijuana leaves were largely popular, history has certainly repeated itself. LSD art pieces has become collectors items and the revival of hemp is extremely prominent. The marijuana leaf emblem has become a fashion statements and designer bongs and pipes are popular items to sell. The idea of Hollywood glamorizing drug use is still quite prevalent.
The phrase sex, drugs, and rock and roll has certainly described the lives of many famous musicians. Lyrics that many famous rappers sing are encrusted with references to blunts and 40s (keep in mind many elementary school kids look up to these singers). Numerous stars have been arrested for possession of drugs and many movies have been based around uncontrolled substances. It seems no matter where a young teenager will go, they are faced with the issue of drugs one way or another. This will greatly affect their decision on whether or not to experiment with them.
One proposed policy on the issue of teenage drug abuse is the zero tolerance law. This is very similar to Rudy Gulianis successful approach to eradicating the crime in New York City. Examples of zero-tolerance laws currently in place for youth include significantly increased penalties for selling drugs near schools, and expulsion as the mandatory punishment for student possession of drugs. There is even a new federal statute withholding federal college financial aid from those convicted of a drug crime. It has been noted that where zero tolerance laws are in effect, there has been a much greater success rate in dealing with the problem and stemming addiction (Drug use Back Up for Youth, 1).
Another proposed policy issued by President Clinton was appointing General Barry R.McCaffrey as the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Gen. McCaffrey, who has been named the Drug Czar of the Presidents Cabinet, is authorized to develop and coordinate the policies, goals, and objectives of the Nations drug control program (Policy.com, 3). His main focus has been to decrease the amount of illegal drugs entering the United States and promote more drug awareness among teenagers.
A third proposed policy is one I have created. Based on my research I have discovered that the major problem associated with the rise of teenage drug abuse is an extreme lack of drug education. Schools today are practicing a policy that has proved to produce poor results. Keeping the previously mentioned school problems with D.A.R.E. in mind, one can see that if this is the policy that will be implemented in years to come, the current situation will not get better. I propose that students in 8th through 12th grade have a mandatory drug education class as part of their weekly schedule.
These classes should be run in association with profit free organizations and directed by young adults who were once teenage drug abusers. This will not make the students feel inadequate as they might feel this way with a uniformed officer in front of them. This will also reiterate the idea that drug abuse is a serious problem that can happen to anyone. By having students hear real life stories from real people they will be more influenced then, for example, watching a movie. As part of this mandatory drug education class, students will also be required to visit a drug rehabilitation center once a year where they can truly see the effects drug abuse can have on your mind and body. By implementing this policy, teenagers will see true lives before them that were largely effected by drug abuse. This may effect their decision on whether or not to try drugs and/or use them.
My proposed policy is realistic, however, if implemented, it would take a long time to go into effect. The most important benefits of this policy are that students will be able to get a close look at a real life experience of a drug addict and see the problems that can come from trying drugs. This may greatly effect a young persons decision on whether or not to try drugs in a positive way, which can eventually lead to saving a life from being a victim of drug abuse. It will also continue the drug education of students after 5th and 6th grade which is the most important and influential time in a young persons life. If this policy were to go into effect, Im sure the program would be very successful.
Since our system of government is so complex, the duration between the time the policy is proposed and the time it will go into effect is large. This policy would need immediate approval from Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the drug Czar in President Clintons cabinet. However, with the recent President Elect, George W. Bush, coming into office within the next few weeks a new drug Czar will most likely be appointed making Gen. McCaffreys say-so irrelevant. He would then propose the policy to President Clinton or the current President. If he approves it, it will then spend many hours being passed through the system of checks and balances where Congress, the Senate, and the House of Representatives will decide whether or not they approve it.
If approved, the next step would be financing the project. Since this course is taking effect in public schools the source of money for this project will most likely come from school taxes. Financing this program would be included in the school budget which is what parents vote on every year. It does seem logical that if school taxes were to be raised for any apparent reason, one as important as strengthening a childs drug awareness and education is a reasonable one. School taxes might even not be greatly effected by this program because it would shift the money being spent on the current drug education program to the new one.
If implemented, my proposed policy would indeed be a drastic change in the current school cirriculum, but it will surely be for the best. If schools keep functioning at this rate, they will be openly ignoring a major problem facing their students. They will willingly send students out into the world with a misperception of the dangers of drug use. This is something that is essential life knowledge and is more important than learning geometry proofs and chemical formulas. Many events in our history have required drastic change which has made the world a better place. If people were too afraid to give women the right to vote or grant African Americans Civil rights our world may have faced a disaster. These drastic changes were necessary. Teenage drug abuse is rapidly becoming a larger problem every day. If a drastic change is not made soon, more innocent lives will fall victim to the severe problems of addition.
