Juvenile Drug Abuse

Juvenile Drug Abuse

Juvenile drug abuse is a serious social and public health problem. Drug abuse by people under age eighteen often correlates with poor academic achievement, difficulties with peer and family relationships, emotional problems, and damage to physical health. Drugs can impair reaction times and distort the thinking process, making teens vulnerable to risky behaviors such as driving while intoxicated or engaging in unprotected sex.
According to FBI statistics, more than 1.9 million juveniles were arrested for drug abuse violations between 1994 and 2003, accounting for 12.4 percent of all drug violation arrests during this period. The greatest number of juvenile arrests occurred in 1997, when almost 209,000 juveniles were arrested either for the sale and manufacture or for possession of illegal drugs.

Marijuana

Marijuana is the most used drug in the world, studies show of 2008 shows that 14.6 percent of eighth graders have used marijuana at least once, compared to 29.9 percent of tenth graders and 42.6 percent of twelfth graders.

Heroin

In 2008 approximately 3.8 million Americans aged twelve and older reported having tried heroin at least once. Among eighth grade students, 1.4 percent reported having tried heroin, compared to 1.2 percent of tenth graders and 1.3 percent of twelfth graders.

Cocaine

2008 some 3 percent of eighth graders reported having used cocaine at least once. This number rose to 4.5 percent of tenth graders and 7.2 percent of twelfth graders.