The Types of Drugs Teenagers Use

Teens turn to drug use for a number of reasons, including a desire to fit in with their peers or cope with other stressful areas of their lives. While illegal drugs continue to be a concern, teens are also abusing more readily available products that you may have in your own home. Drug abuse can lead to serious physical damage to a teenager's growing body and emotional damage to teens and their loved ones. Because education is a key factor in preventing teen drug abuse, it is helpful to understand the types of drugs teenagers commonly abuse.

Illegal

• Use of illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD, continues to be a concern among teenagers. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug, according to TheAnti-Drug.com. Illegal drug use can result in addiction as well as serious physical and emotional symptoms, including damage to the brain and lungs, learning difficulties and engaging in dangerous behaviors.

Prescription

• Prescription drug abuse among teenagers occurs when a teen takes a medication that has not been prescribed to him, either for the medication's intended purpose or to get high, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for teens. TheAnti-Drug.com explains that painkillers; depressants, such as sleeping medications or tranquilizers; and stimulants, including medications to treat attention deficit disorder and respiratory disorders, are commonly abused by teens. Abuse of prescription drugs can lead to addiction, as well as serious health concerns such as difficulty breathing and heart damage, according to TheAnti-Drug.com.

Over the Counter

• Over-the-counter drugs are those available without a prescription. These drugs tend to be inexpensive and easy for teens to purchase or find at home. One of the most commonly abused OTC drugs is dextromethorphan, or DXM, a cough suppressant found in many over the counter cough and cold medications, reports TheAnti-Drug.com. Other commonly abused OTC drugs include alertness aids, diet pills and laxatives. A major problem with OTC drug abuse is that teens believe that because they are legal, OTC drugs are a safe way to get high, but when combined with alcohol or other drugs they can cause serious health problems or even death.

Inhalants

• The abuse of common household products is also gaining popularity among teenagers. "Huffing," or inhaling products such as compressed air, room deodorizer, aerosol deodorant, lighter fuel and spray paint, gives teens a feeling of intoxication by slowing down bodily functions and reducing inhibitions, according to TheAnti-Drug.com. Huffing can lead to serious short and long-term effects ranging from nausea, dizziness and hallucinations to suffocation, cardiac arrest or damage to the brain, nerves, kidneys or liver.