What Is Juvenile Drug Abuse?

Juvenile drug abuse is a problem among America's youth. While the use of illegal drugs by juveniles has decreased in by 19 percent since 2001, substance abuse still remains a very serious problem in this country.

Facts

• Almost 50 percent of 12th graders admit to have used illegal drugs. Marijuana seems to be the illegal drug that is most often used.

Types

• Juvenile drug abuse includes illegal drugs and legal drugs used in a manner not intended by a physician. According to drugfree.org, one in five teens has abused a prescription medications and one in 10 have abused cough medicine.

Identifying

• Identifying drug abuse is important, because studies show that the earlier a juvenile uses an illegal drug, the more likely he will become addicted to that drug. Watching for warning signs, such as changes in sleeping, mood and communication patterns are important ways to identify potential drug abuse in a juvenile.

Effects

• The negative effects of drug abuse among juveniles are far-reaching. It can cause psychological and behavioral problems, as well as strain among family relationships.

Prevention

• A lot can be done to prevent juvenile drug abuse, including parental monitoring of friends, keeping a line of communication open and education on the dangers of drug abuse.