Parents may not be fully aware of the severity of teen alcohol and drug consumption or teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. As we allow our children to experience the freedom our parents denied us at their ages, we should ensure that our teens are knowledgeable of the responsibility that comes with freedom, and the high price of irresponsibility. Drugs and alcohol are mind alter agents that encourages us to become less inhibited and boosts our self confidence. These substances also cause our judgments and reflexes to become slower or cause us to lose control all together. Teen’s drugs of choice include marijuana, cocaine, acid/LSD and prescription medication like oxycontin, and ecstasy. Considering the immaturity of teen-agers, when they indulge in drugs, sex and alcohol they become their own worst enemies. As parents one must wonder what would cause their teenage sons and or daughters to become sexually active or indulge in drugs and alcohol. According to Fazil, (2004), “Several researchers believe that teens turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with their sexual behavior and society’s negative view of that behavior”. It is possible, though, that teens use drugs and alcohol to boost or encourage their thrill seeking behavior. Perhaps teens who indulge in sexual behavior use drugs and alcohol to provide courage to do what they wish to do anyway.
Teens usually discuss their future intentions or plans and past behaviors while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. According to P R Newswire (2007), “The study found that messages about alcohol, hooking up, and having sex when drinking were the top behaviors discussed by teens”. While many teens cannot remember their actions when they were drunk, very few of them were sorrowful about their behavior while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. “While few teens expressed regret over things they did while drunk, others chalked it up to “fun”, “being wasted”, and “having a good time” (P R Newswire, 2007). Teens confess to engaging in destructive behavior while high or drunk admitted to pre-game (getting drunk before parties), and also stated that parties were more fun when they were drunk or when alcohol was served at the party. While under the influence of drugs or alcohol some teens become victims of sexual assaults, rape, and unwanted sex. “Most of those teens having unwanted sex said they had it because they were too drunk to prevent it” (Gardner, 2006). Unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted disease, confusion about consent, and multiple sex partners can all be connected to teenage drinking and drug use.
Teens that stay home are not without involvement in sex, drugs, and alcohol. Most teen social sites allow teens to discuss drugs, alcohol, and sex with parental knowledge. These social sites are where teens that are shy or are uncomfortable in social settings hyper-text or hyper-network about sex drugs and alcohol. According to Derek, (2010), “New research suggests if your teen is hyper-texting or hyper-networking chances are greater they are also doing other stuff you are worried about, such as sex and drugs”. Recent studies show that teens that hyper-text are more likely to engage in alcohol, become binge drinkers, and have four or more sexual partners. While teenagers that hyper-network are more likely than those that hyper-text to engage in the same behavior.
With ample access to and opportunities for sex, drugs, and alcohol, and considering the immaturity of teens, are we surprised that they have become drug addicted, promiscuous alcoholics. Or is this characterization too harsh? We are right in our worries and concerns about today’s teenager’s freedom and opportunities. It seems that self confidence comes now in the form of pills, weeds, and liquids. This artificial confidence is leading our youth to make decisions that they are not fully informed of and create situations that can and will be hard to face once sober. Not all teenagers indulge in behavior that is destructive to themselves and others but given the opportunity, most will experiment with drugs, sex, and alcohol.
Even though a vast majority of the teens in society today indulge in the acts that do not promise them a successful future, there are some teens that actually keeps there distance from the quote end quote bad things. There are some teens that take their lives very seriously and would not jeopardize their futures for anyone or anything. Those teens are focused on succeeding in life because it is important that they follow very closely in their parent’s footsteps, improve their family’s financial situation, or they can just see and smell success in their futures and will not stop until they achieve that greatness in which they are seeking. Aside from those reasons that teens shy away from using drugs, alcohol, and having sex, some teens do not engage in those acts because they for whatever reason do not have the opportunities, fear of having a child earlier than planned or even catching a sexually transmitted disease, and not wanting to follow in the footsteps of their parents who have showed to have a history of drug, alcohol, or sexual abuse.
Abma, D., (2010). Hyper-texting, Hyper-networking Teens Indulge in Sex, Drugs, Alcohol. The Gazette, pp. A.16. Retrieved January 12, 2006 from ProQuest http://search.proquest.com/docview/765002098?accountid=35812
Mihlar, F., (2004). Why Do Teens Turn To Sex, Booze and Drugs? The Vancouver Sun, pp. A.6-A6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/242390185?accountid=35812
Gardiner, K., (2006). Drunk Teens Sink into World of Sex and Drug, The Gold Coast Bulletin, pp. 68-68. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/376124668?accountid=35812
N. A., (2007), Sex, Drugs and Alcohol Popular With Some Teens on Online Message Boards; Study Uncovers Teens Posting Tips on Using Illicit Drugs and Hooking Up While Drunk, PR Newswire, pp. n/a-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/453406893?accountid=35812
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