Teen Substance Abuse

Dana Hohman
Amanda Coffey
Writing 123
June 10, 2009
Now What?
Lessons To Be Learned From History About Youth Substance Abuse
My topic in this research paper will talk about adolescent substance abuse in America. I chose this topic because I have a personal involvement and I desire to gain more insight on prevention and intervention. Dick Shaefer, a chaplain working with chemically dependent youth, points out that every parent today worries about substance abuse.   Every teacher knows that some of his or her students are experimenting with drugs and/or alcohol. The good news is that we all can do something (1). In today’s economy, substance abuse may be on the rise. I believe though, if education and interventions begin early, our students can identify and resist pressures to understand the social, emotional, and physical consequences of using harmful substances.
I think readers of this paper would be interested to know the statistics, trends, and lifestyles in depicting the onset of substance abuse in adolescents. Bruce Bower’s article, Parenting Shapes Genetic Risk for Drug Use, argues the reasons surrounding why one would begin abusing and people may have different ideas suggesting possible biological or genetic reasoning.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the obstacles adolescents’ today face in dealing with causes of their substance use. We will also examine the history of substance abuse and how our nation got to where it is now. I will tidy it all up by discussing how we, as a society, can meet the needs of our nation’s most vulnerable youth that fall victim to the economic and social hardships of today.
As a parent and new grandparent, it is hard for me to imagine that a child I love could end up using drugs. Chances are, though, most children will be faced with, “should I, or shouldn’t I?” Instead of, “I shouldn’t, and I won’t.” We all know adolescence is a time of transition and change. It is a time when youth work toward educational and... [continues]

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