The illegal use of drugs is an important issue in our society - Essay Example

There had been major dependable downward decline over the last three years from 11.5% in 1997 to 10% in 1998 and 9% in 1999 in drug related crime. As per the above survey , there is variation in drug usage pattern among various states starting from as low as 4.8% to as high as 10.8% on the whole population and it varied from 8% to 18.4 % for adolescents in the age group among 12 to 17. The use of marijuana among the youths also showed a declining trend from 12 to 17 age group since 1997. It was 8.

4% in 1997, 8.4% in 1998 and 7% in 1999. The cigarette consumption by the adolescent showed a notable decline from 20% in 1997 to 15.9% in 1999. In the exclusive research study carried over by U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that the number of admission in the emergency room for drug related diseases had declined considerably and it was 11 % in the year 1999 for the adolescent aged among 12 to 17. National trend data collection research which was organized by the National Household Survey revealed that the present usage pattern of drugs was remained stable among the adolescent in the age group among 12 to 17 and the consumption pattern of smokeless tobacco declined notably from 3.

2 % in 1998 to 2.1 % in 1999. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, as per their recent research study, it was evident that American youth are of the view that drugs are hazardous and hence there was considerable decline in the usage of drugs in the USA in recent years. According to Drug Enforcement Administration, Barbiturates was most dangerous drug and it was considered as the most serious drug by the US law enforcement agencies. ( Henn & DeEugenio , 2007 , p5). Barbiturates fall under depressant class of substance.

The depressants are a greater variety of substances that include most significantly ethyl alcohol. When consumed in heavy doses, it generates signs of vitiated coordination and