Drugs and alcohol in the united states
Abdella albadani
Nicole Castle-Kelly
ENG 131
9 December 2014
Drug and Alcohol Abuse In The United States
One of the most common problems that the youth face today in America is drug and alcohol abuse. In todays world drinking and smoking is not viewed as harmful or dangerous anymore, matter of fact its viewed as being cool and is a good thing. With newer drugs coming in, more people getting addicted, and more new youngsters staring them, it has become one of the biggest problems in America. Truth is that drugs and alcohol use is spreading rapidly in the united states and more and more people are effected by it everyday.
One of the most common places drugs and alcohol are used is at public schools and universities. Drug and alcohol abuse are important problems that affect school-age youth at earlier ages than in the past. Young people frequently begin to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during the middle school years, with a smaller number starting during elementary school. By the time students are in high school, rates of substance use are remarkably high. According to national survey data, about one in three twelfth graders reports being drunk or binge drinking (i.e., five or more drinks in a row) in the past thirty days; furthermore, almost half of high school students report ever using marijuana and more than one-fourth report using marijuana in the past thirty days. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among high school students. However, use of the drug ecstasy (MDMA) has seen a sharp increase among American teenagers at the end of the twentieth century, from 6 percent in 1996 up to 11 percent reporting having tried ecstasy in 2000. Indeed, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, ecstasy was used by more American teenagers than cocaine.
Drugs and alcohol has become increasingly easy to obtain, its abuse has proportionally plagued American youth time and time
Nicole Castle-Kelly
ENG 131
9 December 2014
Drug and Alcohol Abuse In The United States
One of the most common problems that the youth face today in America is drug and alcohol abuse. In todays world drinking and smoking is not viewed as harmful or dangerous anymore, matter of fact its viewed as being cool and is a good thing. With newer drugs coming in, more people getting addicted, and more new youngsters staring them, it has become one of the biggest problems in America. Truth is that drugs and alcohol use is spreading rapidly in the united states and more and more people are effected by it everyday.
One of the most common places drugs and alcohol are used is at public schools and universities. Drug and alcohol abuse are important problems that affect school-age youth at earlier ages than in the past. Young people frequently begin to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during the middle school years, with a smaller number starting during elementary school. By the time students are in high school, rates of substance use are remarkably high. According to national survey data, about one in three twelfth graders reports being drunk or binge drinking (i.e., five or more drinks in a row) in the past thirty days; furthermore, almost half of high school students report ever using marijuana and more than one-fourth report using marijuana in the past thirty days. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among high school students. However, use of the drug ecstasy (MDMA) has seen a sharp increase among American teenagers at the end of the twentieth century, from 6 percent in 1996 up to 11 percent reporting having tried ecstasy in 2000. Indeed, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, ecstasy was used by more American teenagers than cocaine.
Drugs and alcohol has become increasingly easy to obtain, its abuse has proportionally plagued American youth time and time