Have you ever walked into a class or anywhere, possibly like a store, while shopping, and you come to pass a person with bloodshot eyes that match their flushed-out skin, hands jittering, their mind is somewhere else, and they cannot focus? They are most likely high on drugs. Sadly, they are not prescribed by a doctor. Teenage Substance abuse is a rising effect in high schools in America. The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics says, “2.08 million or 8.33% of 12- to 17-year-olds nationwide report using drugs in the last month.” The rise of any drug is unsafe, especially with COVID-19. The isolation created young adults to worsen in mental health, resulting in the event of an overdose. Many may say it was the chance to try something new or only experience it like it’s shown in movies or shows. The idea of trying something new or experiencing it just for what the individual has watched is based on influence.
Social media, parents, friends, and peers are all clear examples of who influences these substances on our population today. Social media exports more information in a matter of minutes to catch the eye of anyone. Parents are the number one influence as they are our models, and friends or peers are the ones who develop peer pressure. When this happens, just one kid’s life is thrown away toward their future. They have a greater risk of developing addiction in adulthood and develop the demeanor to hide/lie for their own sake. The stages of adolescence it is a time of making irrational and impulsive decisions. These decisions could develop on the edge of wanting to fit in, feeling good, wanting attention, or lacking education. However, all these feelings can be prevented to cause the risk of abusing pure bodies that do not need to be harmed. Talking to comfortable individuals, making the right decisions, and treating the body with care must happen. In summary, teenage substance abuse today is a maximum effect, especially after the start of the coronavirus when teens were bored and sat at home. These problems start from what influences us most.