DRUG USE AND ADOLESCENT SUICIDE

While fewer teenagers are consuming alcohol and other illegal narcotics in the mid-1990s than was the case five years earlier, the proportion of problem drug users among contemporary teenagers is greater than among earlier generations (Wood, Cochran, Pfefferbaum, & Arneklev, 1995, pp. 173-193). Various surveys indicate that the proportion of regular users of alcohol and illegal narcotics among American teenagers is in the range of 24 percent to 60 percent, while from 12 percent to 43 percent of teenagers participate in heavy drug consumption in binges. Approximately 20 percent of American teenagers are considered to be problem drug

. . .
wson, and Sherick (pp. 504-510). Major differences existed between the two sets of findings, however, in two areas. First, when depressive measures were controlled, Asarnow, Carlson, and Guthrie (pp. 361-366) found that the correlation between hopelessness measures and suicide attempts and suicide ideation was no longer significant. This finding led the researchers to conclude that was the combined effects of hopelessness and depression led children to suicidal behavior, as opposed to either of the two factors acting alone. This finding did not challenge the link between drug use and suicide, but the finding did alter the interactive functions. Second, Asarnow, Carlson, and Guthrie (pp. 361-366) found that the strongest predictor of suicidal behavior in teenagers was perceived family environment. The researchers found that teenagers prone to suicidal behavior were likely "to perceive their family as unsupportive and stressful, with poor control, high conflict, and a lack of cohesiveness" (Asarnow, Carlson, & Guthrie, p. 365). Drug use was a frequent coping strategy for such subjects. A major outcome of dysfunctional family environments is the development of depressive symptoms by the children of such households. Depressio
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Pfefferbaum Arneklev, Carlson Guthrie, Research Strong, Esveldt-Dawson Sherick, SUICIDE Introduction, Lester Gatto, Connell Mayer, Winter Alcohol, Murray Lester, Siegel Alloy, suicidal behavior, adolescent children, hopelessness depression, suicide attempts, asarnow carlson, asarnow carlson guthrie, suicide ideation, carlson guthrie, prone suicidal behavior, loss self-esteem, prone suicidal, 1991 pp, suicide attempts suicide, attempts suicide ideation, unis esveldt-dawson sherick,
Approximate Word count = 1630
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

More Essays on DRUG USE AND ADOLESCENT SUICIDE