| It must be said from the start, it's a lot better to | | | | 3. Independence- It's a method of rebellion (As |
| prevent than to have to go through what will | | | | they grow older, children want to me more |
| surely be a painful drug treatment. Does anyone | | | | independent from their parents and often involves |
| want to have pale skin, bags underneath their | | | | behavior or habits that parents dislike) |
| eyes, be poor in their academics, and forget | | | | 4. Curiosity- To find out what it's like (When |
| about having fun? I think the most common | | | | wondering who they are or what they want to |
| answer to this question among kids would be "Of | | | | become, teens tend to explore things normally |
| course not." | | | | that have strict warnings) |
| Well if you don't want to be found with these | | | | These are some pretty stupid reasons for trying |
| "attractive" features, I would suggest KEEPING | | | | out drugs, right? We, as teenagers, can fix all |
| OFF OF DRUGS! Personally, I think that drugs are | | | | these facts and statistics to make them sound |
| the number 1 issue right now in the United States | | | | good. We can produce an extremely large drop in |
| concerning parents with teens besides driving. | | | | the percentage of drug use by teaching this |
| Out of all the teenagers in the U.S. about 67% | | | | generation and the future generations the wrongs |
| have tried illegal drugs and about 33% are | | | | of doing drugs. |
| recreational users. I don't even see the need for | | | | While overall drug use in America has fallen by half |
| anyone, an adult or especially a teen, to be | | | | in the last 15 years, drug users continue to be at |
| hooked on drugs. | | | | unacceptably high levels. If people have to do |
| Through a little time and research one can easily | | | | drugs, alcohol, or harm themselves in anyway to |
| be able to locate information that may prevent | | | | be popular or to fit in with a group, they are too |
| some students from trying drugs. From the | | | | good for that group of people. |
| "Partnership for a Drug-Free America," there are | | | | True friends are people you can trust, have a |
| 4 main reasons as to why teens get hooked on | | | | good time with, and have faith in to do the right |
| drugs: | | | | thing; they are the people that wouldn't want to |
| 1. Respect-To feel more like an adult (If children | | | | see you hurt yourself. Think about the entire |
| are given the wrong messages, they might feel | | | | harm you can do to yourself, your family, your |
| that using drugs is a way of being "more adult") | | | | education, and most importantly - the rest of |
| 2. Social Acceptance- To fit in (As part of a | | | | your life. Drug abuse kills over 14,000 Americans |
| teenager's struggle for popularity and accepted | | | | each year; do you want to be one of those |
| into the social class, they are always looking for | | | | 14,000? Do you want to go through a painful drug |
| ways to fit in) | | | | treatment? |