Essay Consequences of Substance Abuse at a Young Age

Young people are using mood-changing substances at an increasingly younger age. Persistent substance abuse among youth is often accompanied by a plethora of problems, including school related hardships, health-related problems, poor family relationships, mental health issues, and run-ins with the justice system. There are also significant consequences involving the community, and society in general. Studies show drug use at a young age increases the desire to abuse as you get older. Society looks at drugs as being a taboo, which is the norm for our country. However other countries see drug use as a way of connection with oneself and others in another realm. Now whether drug use is harmless or harmful is a matter of your personal†¦show more content†¦Heroin is an opioid drug that is derives from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asian opium poppy plant. In 2011, 4.2 million Americans aged 12 and older had used heroin at least once in their lives. This is hard to fathom because where would children at that age attain such a drug? The answer is quite simple. Drugs are everywhere you look! You can find drugs at school, your community, or by someone you know. Heroin can be injected by using needles, the carelessness of addicts results in the sharing of said needles. When sharing needles there is a huge risk of contracting HIV infection and hepatitis C. Cocaine is probably the most addictive drug known to man! Some call it the â€Å"caviar of street drugs†. Cocain can be transformed into a rock form called crack which can be snorted, smoked, or injected. Snorting this drug can cause complete destruction to ones septum. Many addicts describe the high of Cocaine to include an increase of energy, being more alert, an extremely elevated mood, and a feeling of invincibleness. On the other hand, some people describe other feelings along with the high: irritability and agitation, being paranoid, restlessness, and anxiety. The use of Cocaine causes the heart to go into cardiac arrest if used improperly therefore can cause death. Many people may not know this but some ingredients foundShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse And Its Effects On Society1285 Words   |  6 PagesSubstance abuse has existed since the start of civilization and it is an ever present entity in the modern era as well. Distilled beverages were the main drinking source in many cases even safer to drink than water in early civilizations, for instance during the Middle Ages. Many substances were also used in medicine derived from certain plants for anesthetics such as opioids from poppy seeds. 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