Substance Abuse in the U.S.

In fact, studies have shown that to many, "if you were really down on what older people had done to the planet, [drugs] could elevate your mood. The main idea was to experience something; usually something other than the hopeless world created by those over thirty" (Tessler, 1980, p. 2).

During the past few years, however, the problem of increased drug and alcohol abuse within the school-age population has dramatically increased. Even though child and teenage substance abuse is an individual behavior, one must also remember that the behavior itself may very well be indicative of a deeper socio-cultural context that tends to determine these actions (Newcomb, 1989, p. 242). In that context, it is necessary to look at the following: an overview of the literature on the subject, analyze the alcohol abuse in the schools, turn to similar questions regarding drug abu

. . .
tion appears to be decreasing, although the amount and severity of alcohol abuse is rapidly climbing. In fact, "a significant number of adolescents engage in the excessive use of alcohol and, as a result, exhibit drinking related problems" (Mitic, et. al., 1987, pp. 51-52). These problems are clearly cultural in their basis, since surveyed adolescents believe that they must use alcohol not only to become part of the social groups they aspire to, but to handle the very nature of school and society. In this sense, they seem to be emulating their parents and the messages they receive from the media. Adolescents often take this attitude with them after high school, and being unable to deal with the pressures of college, may drink or engage in substance abuse all the more. In a very real sense, alcohol and drug abuse has a long-term effect on personality, relationships, family life, and on grades. In the same vein, use of substances often alienates the adolescent from the very peers he or she sought to emulate. Drug abuse is an even more serious variant, which is becoming almost equal in severity in some areas as is alcohol abuse. Within the school system, educators continually preach that drugs are not the answer, and indeed are quit
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Beck Summons, United Europe, , Winkelman Harbet, Schinke Gilcrest, Sheppard Mitchell, Haynes Rugg, Drug Education, substance abuse, Alcohol Abuses, Publishing Tobler, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, drug education, alcohol drug, et al, journal alcohol, alcohol drug education, journal alcohol drug, winkelman harbet 1985, school system, drugs alcohol, sheppard mitchell, plant et al, sheppard mitchell 1986,
Approximate Word count = 2178
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Substance Abuse in the U.S.