Drug Usage In Todays Youth Essay -- Essays Papers

Drug Usage In Today's Youth Today's teenagers cry out incessantly for their personal freedom but have thrown their responsibilities as well as their right to these personal freedoms out the window with their increasing turn towards drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 1997, nearly fifty percent of high school seniors have used marijuana. i This is a shocking statistic. However, it not as shocking as the fact that this percentage has been on a steady increase since 1992 and has shown no sign of leveling out any time soon. The youth of today have not only started to use illicit drugs in more frequently, but drugs are reaching a greater number of adolescents and teenagers each year. One big problem with today's youth is that the majority does not fear the consequences of drugs. In addition, they are increasingly using illicit drugs and almost regard drugs as the popular thing to do. There are countless movies out where today's youth is portrayed as drug users. Even if it is not a drug based movie, there is at least one comment on, reference to, or portrayal of the use of drugs by all types of people. The worst part about it is that it is not only the stereotype drug user in these movies that is using the drugs. In fact, in several of the pop culture movies that have been released in the past few years it is the most popular kids in school that are using the drugs. For instance in the movie "Clueless," at a party, Cher and the other popular kids smoke marijuana and make it sound like it is all right to do. This portrayal of not only the slackers, but also the cool kids in today's society using drugs is a big influence on today's youth that using drugs is ok. Using drugs is irresponsible, unh... ... and added personal freedom, this is hindered by the addition of drugs to this natural cycle. If a user is to irresponsible to not see the disadvantages of drugs why should any freedom be gained. The problem with today's society is that they always want the quick fix to everything. This is upheld with the youth of today's society wanting personal freedom, but no responsibility. i High School Youth and Trends. NIDA Infofax. Database on-line. Available from http://www.nida,nih.gov/Infofax/HSYouthtrends.html ii Hamilton, Linda. "Recreational Drugs: An Alluring Threat to Your Body Chemistry." Dance Magazine, January 1996 iii Same as ii. iv Brook, Judith S., Balka, Elinor B., Whiteman, Martin. "The Risks for Late Adolescence of Early Adolescent Marijuana Use." American Journal of Public Health, October 1999 v Same as iv.