Drugs and Alcohol

                  

The District of Columbia is a place where drugs and alcohol is a major trend in the youth community. There are many different outcomes of teen drug/alcohol use, and there are different reasons why teens fall into the use of drugs and alcohol.

Teens try alcohol and drugs for different reasons. Reasons may be because of peer pressure, stress, and media. Depending on a teen’s background, these reasons may occur. Peer pressure can come from teens wanting to fit in with their friends or the other people around them. For instance, when teens attend parties, they feel as though they need to fit in and by that they make poor decisions to smoke marijuana or drink alcohol. Stress can also be a major reason why teens use drugs and alcohol. Being abused at home, school, or in the neighborhood can cause a teen to be easily influenced by other drug and alcohol users. Media plays a big part of teens using drugs and alcohol. Teens watch so much television and listen to rap to the point where they think it’s a “positive” thing to smoke and drink. They hear older people, both around them and on television, talk about the “benefits” of smoking and drinking, and how it can help you. Most teens fall into the influences of media and its drug/alcohol users.

                     Once teenagers start using drugs and alcoholthey, most times, become addicted and immune to the drug/alcohol.  Their addiction can lead to youth violence, incarceration, and/or domestic violence within relationships. Some teens find themselves in critical situations due to their misuses of drugs and alcohol. Other teens drop out of high school or become pregnant. Other outcomes may be disrespecting parents, bad hygiene, laziness, low academic levels and short term memory. 

                      Overall teens should become leaders and not be easily influenced to drink alcohol or use drugs because the results can affect their lives in negative ways. Because the future depends on what the teens of our generation do today, it is our responsibility to do what’s best for our future and make the District of Columbia a Drug and Alcohol free environment.


YAC member 16