Darian Stephenson July 20, 2013 English 12-2 Critical Analysis Essay

Outline: 1: opening Thesis statement 2: those at risk with a family history of substance abuse. who are depressed who have low self-esteem who feel like they don't fit in or are out of the mainstream 3: types of addictions teens can get Alcohol Tobacco Prescribed medications Inhalants Over-the-counter cough, cold, sleep, and diet medications Marijuana Stimulants Depressants Heroin Steroids LSD 4. warning signs Family: starting arguments negative attitude breaking rules withdrawing from family secretiveness physical: fatigue repeated health complaints red and glazed eyes lasting cough

emotional:
personality change sudden mood changes irritability irresponsible behavior low self-esteem poor judgment depression general lack of interest school: decreased interest negative attitude drop in grades many absences truancy discipline problems social: new friends who make poor decisions and are not interested in school or family activities problems with the law changes to less conventional styles in dress and music 5. treatment options Early substance abuse education

Rough Draft:

Teenager Drug Addiction

Teen addiction is a problem that America as well as many other countries have been dealing with for many years now. More recently it has gotten worse, but it has been around for multiple decades. Many different things can put a teenager at risk for an addiction to drugs, there are many differemnt tupes of addictions, and there are endless treatment options. There are many things that can put a teenager at risk for picking u p a drug addiction can vary, it can be due to the fact that that teenager has been raised in an environment where their families have a drug or substance abuse problem. A teen dealing with depression is likely to pick up an addiction. Having a low self-esteem can cause a teen to start using. Another thing that can put a teemn at high risk for an addiction is if that person feels left out or that they dont fit in with the main stream crowd. Teenagers become addicted to many drugs, some of which are legal and others that are illegal. Some become addicted to alcohol. Tobacco is a legal substance many teens get addicted to. Teenagers who use alcohol are more likely to use other drugs rather than a non-smoker. They are three times more likely to abuse alcohol, eight times more like to use marijuana, and twentytwo times more likely to use crack/cocaine. Not only can tobacco lead to other drug/substance addictions, but it makes them more likely to get into fights and engage in unprotected sex. Teenagers can become addicted to prescribed medications, such as pain relievers. Inhalents are

also another drug that teens can become addicted to. These not only damagae their brain cells, but it can leave many first time users with respritory problems. Inhalents take thousands of childrens lives each year. Marijuana is probably the most widely used addictive drug, today many teens use and are addcicted to marijuana. Many athletes use steroids as a way to help them train better for their sport. Stimulants have many possible long-term effects can include becoming deprendant or tolerant to the drug. Violence and aggression can occur, as well as malnutrition. Malntrition can arise due to the fact these types of drugs cause a lack of appetite. Crack, the smokable form of cocaine is the most common and a very powerful stimulant. There are many signs that can lead someone to believe their teen has an addiction problem. The physical signs include fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and a lasting cough. There are many emotional signs as well as physical signs, which include; personality change, sudden mood change, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgement, depression, and general lack of interest. Family signs include; starting arguments, having a negative attitude towards others, breaking rules set by parents or at school, withdrawing from their families, or if they seem to be keeping many secrets. Social problems include; the teenager has new friends that are not interested in school or family activites, they begin to experience problems with the law, or lastly they change to less conventional dress or music styles. Lastly, the school problems are they have multiple absences/ truancy, decreased interest, their grades drop, or diciplne problems. There are many different forms of treatment for teenage drug addictions. Some people believe medications are effective in being involved in alcohol, opioid, and nicotine addiction. These medications Methadone, levo-alpha acetyl methadol (LAAM) and buprenorphine hydrochlorine are non-sedating, non-intoxicating opiates. Typically for teenager family

interventions such as multidimensional family therapy (MDFT), group therapy, and multifamily educational intervention (MFE) are of the most effective in helping them. Of those MDFT seems to work the best.

Final copy:

Teenager Drug Addiction

Teen addiction is a problem that America as well as many other countries have been dealing with for many years now. More recently it has gotten worse, but it has been around for multiple decades. Many different things can put a teenager at risk for an addiction to drugs, there are many different types of addictions, and there are endless treatment options. There are many things that can put a teenager at risk for picking u p a drug addiction can vary, it can be due to the fact that that teenager has been raised in an environment where their families have a drug or substance abuse problem. A teen dealing with depression is likely to pick up an addiction. Having a low self-esteem can cause a teen to start using. Another thing that can put a teen at high risk for an addiction is if that person feels left out or that they dont fit in with the main stream crowd. Teenagers become addicted to many drugs, some of which are legal and others that are illegal. Some become addicted to alcohol. Tobacco is a legal substance many teens get addicted to. Teenagers who use alcohol are more likely to use other drugs rather than a non-smoker. They are three times more likely to abuse alcohol, eight times more like to use marijuana, and twentytwo times more likely to use crack/cocaine. Not only can tobacco lead to other drug/substance addictions, but it makes them more likely to get into fights and engage in unprotected sex. Teenagers can become addicted to prescribed medications, such as pain relievers. Inhalants are also another drug that teens can become addicted to. These not only damage their brain cells, but it can leave many first time users with respiratory problems. Inhalants take thousands of

childrens lives each year. Marijuana is probably the most widely used addictive drug, today many teens use and are addicted to marijuana. Many athletes use steroids as a way to help them train better for their sport. Stimulants have many possible long-term effects can include becoming dependent or tolerant to the drug. Violence and aggression can occur, as well as malnutrition. Malnutrition can arise due to the fact these types of drugs cause a lack of appetite. Crack, the smokable form of cocaine is the most common and a very powerful stimulant. There are many signs that can lead someone to believe their teen has an addiction problem. The physical signs include fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and a lasting cough. There are many emotional signs as well as physical signs, which include; personality change, sudden mood change, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression, and general lack of interest. Family signs include; starting arguments, having a negative attitude towards others, breaking rules set by parents or at school, withdrawing from their families, or if they seem to be keeping many secrets. Social problems include; the teenager has new friends that are not interested in school or family activities, they begin to experience problems with the law, or lastly they change to less conventional dress or music styles. Lastly, the school problems are they have multiple absences/ truancy, decreased interest, their grades drop, or discipline problems. There are many different forms of treatment for teenage drug addictions. Some people believe medications are effective in being involved in alcohol, opioid, and nicotine addiction. These medications Methadone, levo-alpha acetyl methadol (LAAM) and buprenorphine hydrochlorine are non-sedating, non-intoxicating opiates. Typically for teenager family interventions such as multidimensional family therapy (MDFT), group therapy, and multifamily

educational intervention (MFE) are of the most effective in helping them. Of those MDFT seems to work the best.

WORKS CITED PAGE: http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/addiction-and-teenagers/ http://www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts http://www.newportacademy.com/teen-drug-abuse/lsd/

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/parents/drug-abuse-treatment http://www.medicinenet.com/teen_drug_abuse/page7.htm#what_are_treatments_for_drug_addiction

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