The Issue of Drugs among Teenager - Essay Example

TEENAGE DRUG USE TEENAGE DRUG USE IN AMERICA TEENAGE DRUD USE 2 The use of drugs among children has become a dangerous problem in America. When we go through the surveys we could find out with shocking illustrations of what kind of kids are using the drugs and what are the reasons behind the kids who fall under the arms of drugs. Factors leading to the drug use revolve around the type of society in which they live. In fact American societies, particularly below aristocrats in majority are affected by this addiction. When the argument starts on drug addiction the focus will be on “marijuana”, a type of drug. It is found out that at least 80% of the young population in America would have tried this marijuana once. The age group of children who intake this type of drug begins from the age of 12 to teens. The after effects, seems to be very risky and precarious. In fact the amount of small children becoming pregnant, and pertaining to suicide attempts, rash driving after drug consumption, violent behavior have become relevant in the society. The reason that leads to the specific use of marijuana is that it is easily accessible and available in uncomplicated circumstances. Initially school children and teenage people are used to this drug addiction other than elderly persons. Physiological theories have pointed out that the environment in which the children grow plays a major part in determining the character of the child. If a child grows under the circumstances in which it has bad models of friends, family members, relatives, etc, the child is definitely at a high risk of addicting itself to drugs. In certain cases like this the child should not be blamed, because it is indirectly guided by its own people to involve in drug taking. TEENAGE DRUG USE 3 The kids who are involved in this drug taking are of the age group 12 to adolescents. There are both physiological reasons as well as sociological reasons pertaining to this addiction. From 1980 onwards sociological theories were brought out based on stage models with the aim of absolute prevention of drug use among the young or in others words the sociological theories concentrate youth in the stage of addiction. One of theories was forwarded by Kendal, she explained the three stages involved in drug use, such as “initiation”, “progression”, “regression”[ Sociological and Stage Models, Evolution Theory Models] Following her Werch and DiClement came with new ideas in sociological stage theories, which was centered on the “stage of models” . Yet another sociological theory was put forward by Hawkins and Weiss in 1985 and Kumpfer and Turner in 1991 to prevent drug usage, “The model proposes that effective prevention approaches should elements which will improve family and social climate, self-efficacy, school bonding and peer relations. This should be activated by establishing and maintaining clear rules and boundaries, strong support and rewards for positive behavior”[Social Ecology Model/Ecology –Environment Model]. The present situation has intensified the use of “marijuana “a powerful drug, the consumption of which will lead the users to try other types of drugs also. Dr. Andrew .L. Golub a leading authority of Gateway theories of preventing drug usage has to say the TEENAGE DRUG USE ` 4 Following in an interview with Dr. Hanson, though his theories had controversial arguments He seemed to have suggested a strong point regarding the high risk the teenagers are facin. He comments that “Personally, my preferred metaphor is one that is widely used in the psychology literature, the makers’ metaphor. I suggest that use of alchohol, tobacco, and marijuana serve as “markers” of those youths who are at high risk of hard drugs. Most importantly, there are many paths involving adolescent substance use leading to otherwise fine outcomes in young adulthood.”[Gateway and Stepping Stone Substances, An Interview with Dr. Andrew. L. Golub] Professor . David Hanson, Ph.D, is from Sociology Department, State University of New York, Potsdam, and Dr. Golub is a an important investigator at the National Development and Research Institute in New York city. His research was based on the analysis on the effect of public policies in terms of effective and cost-effective developments. Other factors giving way to drug use in small children and kids are the lack of intimacy in parent-child relationship, the negligence among the parents in monitoring their children, the child’s negative views on school and other educational centers, living in a society where drug usage has become common, and the most influencing factor being the members from the own family of the child involved in drug addiction. Children who live in these circumstances are without doubt at high risks of drug intake. The worst condition is that of girls at the earliest age of 12- 15 becoming pregnant, an effect of drug intake. The teenage TEENAGE DRUG USE 5 are under this habit are provoked by the substances in the drugs that they take. The survey taken by many psychologists and sociologists, regarding the children of age 12 to 20 has found out some more reasons for using marijuana. It is due to a kind of eagerness, and a thought to fit themselves into a legal group for general reasons [ if their society is already having drug usage as a common social behavior], youngsters who already in the habit of smoking, and their own family members standing as worst role models. These children are definitely at high risks in getting addicted to drug use and treatments that will be given to these children, will only have a least result. On the whole it becomes very clear that the childs’ environment plays a major role in determing the future of the child and friends circle also negatively contribute if they too are from the same social background. It is also found out that children who have been addicted to this marijuana have many chances to become violent and this is reflected in their harsh driving, frequent accidents, and sometimes force them to suicide attempts also. The prominent among the worst effect is that of involving in sexual relationships. This sexual behavior could be seen in those children who are sexually abused in the society they live. This could be avoided at least to some extent if the parents begin monitoring and taking interest in their child’s activities and must spend time with their children in discussing their daily happenings. American society is encountered with various problems of juvenile delinquency and child victims of drug addiction. This has been a long growing problem starting from many years ago. This could be seen in almost all the states of America. TEENAGE DRUG USE 7 A Juvenile justice system is one which holds various disciplines of the society under its view. Those disciplines include administration of justice, sociology, public administration, psychology, history and the law. The juvenile justice policy involves in multi-disciplinary process. But the condition of the present society reflects the fact that the juvenile justice policy seems to be failure. The argument is, in what ways the juvenile justice policy is helpful in preventing drug use among children. Peter. J. Benekos and Alida Merlo have given a the history and the process of the juvenile justice policy in their “Controversies in Juveniel Justice and Delinquency”. They also explain a phsycological and biological factor which leads to delinquent behavior The juvenile offences as well as the punishments are in such a way that there will be fewer chances for the young drug victims to come back to their normal life. The book is a fine edition of other topics by other writers such as Richard Lawrence, Frank Williams, etc. The over all view on the juvenile justice policy is that it has been facing certain controversies in terms of imbalanced punishments to the extent of capital punishment, resulting in increased violence in the young people. There seems to be no factor in favor of preventing drug use. The problem of racial discrimination has also been added to this. The quality of punishments varies according to the community to which the people belong. The final suggestion would be the justice for juvenile offenders should abolish the sale of drugs, especially marijuana, which seems to be available for small children in easy ways TEENAGE DRUG USE 8 and the punishments should be given in such a way that the whole society must get involved in forming a drug free environment. REFERENCES Hawkins & Weiss, Kumpfer & Turner, “Socio Ecology Model/ Ecological-environmental Model”. Online. www.emcdda.eu.int Gateway and Steppingstones Substances, An Interview with Dr. Andrew. L. Golub. Online. http://www2.potsam.edu/handsondj/InTheirOwnWords/Golubinterview.html Kandel, “Evolution Theory Models”. Sociological and Stage Models. Online. www.emcdda.eu.int Read More