Drug Use Among Teenagers :: essays research papers

Drug Use Among TeenagersWhile I was conducting my research, I located the actual survey results anddecided to include them with this essay. (I include them at the end of myessay). The three main medicates that are used among teenagers are Marijuana, LSD, and avariety of inhalants. The use of these doses seem to be of an astronomicalamount fit in to the survey conducted by the University of Michigan.Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers andleaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa). You may hear marijuana called by channel names such as pot, herb, weed, boom, Mary Jane, gangster, or chronic.There are more than 200 slang terms for marijuana.Sinsemilla (sin-seh-me-yah its a Spanish word), haschischish("hash" for short), and hash oil are stronger forms ofmarijuana.All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. This means they change how the brainworks. They all contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydro undersurfacenabinol), the main active chemical in marij uana. But there are also 400 other chemicals in the marijuanaplant.LSDLSD is very potent the effective window pane is measured in micrograms (ug) --however, the lethal demigod is literally thousands of times that, making thedrug essentially non-toxic. LSD can be administered a number of ways,the virtually common orally through paper, sugar cubes, on a piece of gelatin,or by pill intravenously or intramuscularly. A standard dose withnoticeable hallucinogenic effects is about 100-200 ug. The intensity of thetrip is proportional to the size of the dose -- it is interesting to note,though, that the duration of the trip seems to stay the same at higher doses(Freedman, 1984). The initial effects begin 20-40 minutes with a sense ofeuphoria and dizziness. Hallucinations then begin to occur, with the trippeaking for 4-5 hours after about an hour since the drug is taken.InhalantsPeople use certain inhalants to obtain a "high." These inhalants could beanything from glue to certain f umes. Inhalation of dangerous and toxicsubstance is extremely dangerous and can cause serious health problems or death.The Reasons for Drug Use To Climb Among TeenagersStupidity is one reason There are many reasons why drug use continues to climb.The laws are not strict enough for teenage offenders. When a teenager, or anyother person, is caught possessing Marijuana they receive a "slap on the wrist."They receive a fine or some sort of community service punishment and that is it.Another reason would be the idea that, "everyone else does it and nothing openhandedhappens to them, I might as well do it too" Teenagers see other people using