[Mitzidupree]

Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in today's society/schools/universities. Most drug users begin in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. During these years adolescents are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addictions among adolescents in turn lead to depression and suicide.

One of the most important reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure. Peer pressure represents social influences that effect adolescents, it can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on person's social group and one can follow one path of the other. People are greatly influenced by the people around them. In today's schools/universities drugs are very common, peer pressure usually is the reason for their usage. If the people in your social group use drugs there will be pressure a direct or indirect pressure from them. A person may be offered to try drugs, which is direct pressure. Indirect pressure is when someone sees everyone around him using drugs and he might think that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. Person might try drugs just to fit in the social norms, even if a person had no intentions of using drugs one might do it just to be considered "cool" by his friends. Today drugs are considered to be an acceptable social phenomenon by many teenagers. Some people (teenagers mostly) may use drugs starting only on weekends, at parties. Then they start using drugs 'recreationally' and therefore they think they have no addiction problem. They may use drugs like nicotine, marijuana, ecstasy, etc. thinking they may be happy or to have fun. They’ll need drugs and they keep using drugs; they may use drugs like marijuana to fit socially. Having problems in their life, that only drugs only seem to solve. Drugs only make problems worse, which lead to depression and suicide.

In today's schools/universities the availability and variety of drugs is widespread. There is a demand for drugs and the supply is plentiful. Since drugs are so easy accessible, a natural interest in them may develop. A person may hear about drugs experiences, on reactions of drug usage, such as “Hey the weed that the dude sold us was cool, I got stoned maaaaan". This response will create a sense of curiosity and may convince the person to try drugs themselves. Many teenagers today believe that the first use of drugs is safe. However even though there is no instant addiction with the first try, youngsters tend to experiment further. Soon a person could actively seek the euphoric effects of drugs. Drug addiction is the result of intense preoccupation with the dicer to experience the mental and bodily changes with drug use. The final and the most disastrous stage are when a person needs drugs in order to function adequately. Therefore availability, curiosity and experimentation could result in drug addiction among teenagers.

One of the most devastating side effects of drug addiction and abuse is depression. Depression is the result of chemical imbalance, environmental influence, or a combination of both. Using heavy and very highly addictive drugs as heroin, cocaine, opium and many others will cause sudden mood changes, deterioration of the immune system, nervous breakdowns, unusual flares of temper and many other side effects. Besides physical side effects, drug addiction can create problems in a person's social circles. The person may run into many conflicts with his family and friends, resulting in desire for isolation. This in turn will create more problems since the person will have no social support (especially in Lebanon). Furthermore, drug addiction is a financial strain especially for teenagers. When a person is addicted to drugs he will do anything (such as committing murder, stealing/robbing) to obtain money to fulfill his needs.

Teenagers may think of their problems as inescapable, interminable and intolerable, which cause to drug addiction. Life may seem bleak and miserable. Seeing no way out feeling lonely and no prospects for improvement leads to depression. This can further lead to attempted suicide (It’s obvious that drugs are a contributing factor to suicide). Using drugs may reduce inhibitions and impair judgment, suicide is a possibility.

Drugs such as, weed, speed, acid, or ecstasy have always been a problem among the younger folks, the problems gets even more serious if it involves additive substances such as cocaine.

The most common seen illegal drug around teens is the Ecstasy (plenty in Monot). Ecstasies are usually involved in parties; people take ecstasy and dance overnight. The academic name for ecstasy is hallucinogenic stimulant, it generally affects the concentration of the brain, and it can change one's mood, sleep, sexual behavior, body temperature and appetite. The sensation sight, sound and touch are enhanced, that's why it's usually used at discos and parties. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to "get high" and about three to four hours to wear off. Side effects include heart and blood pressure problems, blurred vision, chills and sweating. The tablet changes every week and counterfeits are always around, it is not addictive. It is illegal to buy, sell, produce or posses any amount of ecstasy.

The other most popular thing is marijuana, or weed. It's usually imported from Africa, South America… The most common effects are talkativeness, cheerfulness, relaxation and greater appreciation of sound and color. It's been said that smoking weed improves performance of creative works such as arts or writing, it also makes skin, hearing and sight very sensitive. Some immediate physical effects of weed use include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and dry throat. The drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time and reduce the ability to do things that require concentration, quick reactions and effective co-ordination. A common bad reaction to marijuana is an acute anxiety attack. People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," which causes panic. Hopfully people will not get involved with drugs, since it will cost them a great loss both physically and emotionally.

The problems of teenage drug users, depression and suicide are evident in our society. These are very real and threatening issues that have to be dealt with. Being into the 21st century we have to face the problems of the future generations. There are many non-profitable organizations that help teenagers to cope with drug use. There are help lines, community services that offer information about drugs, and individual counseling is available for/in schools... There is help available to those who seek it. But would we ever be able to live in a drug free environment? Could we ever educate our future generations so those drug problems would be non-existent? Hopefully the answer is Yes.