There are so many different drugs available that it’s easy to figure that one could be less dangerous than another. Unfortunately, seemingly harmless drugs can be lethal, but many teens don’t realize this until it’s too late. This article will take a look at the different drugs out there and what they do to your body when you take them. It’s good to be informed and know what you’re up against.
Cocaine: 8% of high school seniors have tried cocaine in one of its several forms. Everyone knows that cocaine is a hard drug, but you’ve probably also heard that it’s an amazing high. Coke works as a stimulant to the nervous system and stops the dopamine (pleasure hormone) from being absorbed normally in the body. Cocaine is extremely addictive because the euphoria tends to wear off quickly and even irregular use can cause strokes and heart attacks, since it constricts the blood vessels.
Ecstasy: This common party drug might seem harmless, but 43% of users are actually addicted to it and 34% are considered to be abusing ecstasy. In addition, this drug, which acts as both a psychedelic and a stimulant, can have serious effects on the brain and body. It tends to raise blood pressure, which can cause strokes or heart problems, even in young people, and also makes it so the body can’t cool itself, often resulting in organ failure and death. Repeated use can also build up toxic levels in the body.
Heroin: Another hard drug, heroin is probably not something many people expect to find in a high school, but 1.5% of 8th graders have tried it. Heroin has one of the highest rates of overdose deaths and is extremely difficult to quit. The body rapidly builds a tolerance to this drug, resulting in higher doses each time. Repeated abuse causes infections in the heart and lung problems.
Inhalants: Some of the most popular drugs for teens aren’t drugs at all, but common household items. Gasoline, glue, spray paint, and cleaning products are often used as drugs. However, the ingredients in inhalants tend to cause permanent effects like deafness, jerking hands and legs, and brain damage. It’s not uncommon for users to die after a single session.
LSD: This is a hallucinogen, a drug that makes you experience things that feel completely real, but are really all in your mind. A bad trip can cause the user to commit suicide or do something very stupid that results in injury or death. 9.7% of American teens have tried LSD at least once.
Marijuana: This is considered to be a pretty mild drug and many teens see nothing wrong with smoking pot as a recreational drug. It does have some nasty effects though, and is the third most common drug that lands teens in the hospital (after cocaine and alcohol). After just one hour of smoking marijuana, the risk of having a heart attack rises 400% and it can also cause serious brain damage.
According to a 2008 NIDA survey, the percentage of teens who used marijuana at least once within the last year was 10.9% for 8th graders, 23.9% for 10th graders, and 32.4% for 12th graders.
Methamphetamine: Meth is a stimulant that is extremely addicting, drastically changes the brain, and causes irreversible brain damage. Chronic abusers tend to have emotional and memory problems, as well. In 2004, it was one of the more popular drugs among high school students with over 6% of seniors using it in their lifetime. Rates of use for seniors, however, have declined every year since, with a 2.8% use rate for seniors in 2008.
Even drugs that seem relatively harmless or “soft” can be dangerous. It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you make the decision to try a drug. Is it really worth the risk?
