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Teenage Drug Use Research Paper

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Every town in the world, whether small or large, contains different problems that need attention. In the United States, some states experience the issue of teenage substance use, which leads to cities experiencing the problem as well. If teenage substance use does not receive the proper attention it could harm teenager’s health, families, friends, and possibly harm innocent people in the community. In my hometown of Hardinsburg, Kentucky teenagers who use different substances can damage their families, their friends, and innocent people. Luckily, people in my community strive to end teenage marijuana use. People like city and county police, social worker, principals, and our local coalition for change. Substance use among teenagers in Breckinridge …show more content…

While I attended high school, I saw many situations and learned to deal with those situations in my way. Some of my classmates would talk about trying to find drugs, so they could smoke it or drink it later that day. They talked about getting it from their parents or other family members. The people who received drugs from their parents would invite friends to their house to try drugs. In fear of losing a friend, most people would give in to the pressure and try it. Also, people would sell it at school and teenagers would sell it to other teenagers outside of school. The teenagers who used drugs did not come from a specific race. “Forty-three percent of the sample was female, 31% was African-American and 64% was Caucasian” (Ridenour 638). Teenage substance use affects grades and school attendance as well. According to a study based on substance use and school student attendance, they found that “During quarters of substance use, the median number of days of marijuana use was 20, whereas the median was 5 or fewer days for each other drug category. Of the many strong negative relationships between substance use and school attendance during the follow-up quarters, the sharp relationship of stimulant use to school attendance is notable; stimulant use is 59% more common among those not attending school” (Engberg 101). The number of people selling drugs to teenagers continues to grow because teenagers keep …show more content…

The Breckinridge County Coalition for Change makes pamphlets in local doctor offices and schools that show and describe the side effects of marijuana, smoking, drinking alcohol, and cocaine but most people do not look at the pamphlets. The members of this organization consist of the high school and middle school principals, the county sheriff and deputy sheriff, city police chief, judge-executive, social service workers, and other leaders in our community. This organization does not do what they need to do to lower or prevent teenage substance use. Students Against Destructive Decisions attempts to help high school students choose the right choices and stay away from drugs. I participated in this organization in high school, but we never did anything to help prevent teenage substance use. Our state Senator Mitch McConnell helped pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which “tackles substance abuse on multiple fronts, whether that is through enhanced prevention, education, treatment and recovery programs, or aid to law enforcement” (McConnell 11). The state of Kentucky received 6.125 million dollars from the federal government for local prevention programs. In an article released by Governor Steve Beshear’s Communications Office about Kentucky receiving 6.125 million dollars for drug prevention programs says “The program provides new grants of up to $625,000 over

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