Substance Abuse
Substance abuse plagues teenage social groups around America. Here are the stats on tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and vapes.
Warning: participating in any of the listed activities is STRONGLY inadvisable and often illegal. This is information is meant for educational purposes, not a diagnosis; please see a medical professional if needed.
28 of every 100
high school students have tried a tobacco product
Consequences:
cancer
chances of developing lung cancer include tenfold
chances of developing other cancers, such as oral cancer increase
heart disease
leading cause of death in Americans
lung disease
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): umbrella of diseases that restrict airflow and proper breathing
brain damage
destroys grey matter (responsible for memory, learning)
stroke
diabetes
eye diseases
weakened immune system
can develop autoimmune disorders later in life, such as hyperthyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis
premature wrinkling of the skin
irritation and inflammation of stomach, intestines
23 of every 50
middle and high school students have abused drugs at least once
Consequences:
Certain drugs have different health consequences. Below are the most common effects of consuming drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, and marijuana.
addiction
addiction will make it very difficult to return back to your normal life
withdrawal symptoms
brain damage
anxiety, confusion, paranoia, aggression, mood swings
loss of memory, decreased cognitive function
constipation and other digestive issues
insomnia
depression
incurable diseases
HIV
Hepatitis C
coma
death
1 of every 2
high school students have illegally consumed alcohol
Consequences:
increased risk of suicide and homicide
physical violence
sexual abuse
brain damage
permanent memory loss
change in brain development
anxiety, depression, mood swings, loss of control of self
alcohol poisoning
disrupted growth patterns
hangovers, addiction, withdrawal symptoms
vandalism
1 of every 10
middle and high school students have vaped
Consequences:
lung disease and cancer
heart disease
increased blood pressure
narrowed arteries (increases risk of hypertension, heart attacks, stroke)
brain damage
impaired brain development
decreased impulse control
mood disorders
changes in synapse formation of the hypothalamus (controls learning, memory)
addiction (especially when containing nicotine)
Written By: Siena
Sources:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/index.htm#
[2] https://apnews.com/article/teen-vaping-smoking-cdc-survey-d1f44bd3d8df6960215a14454f5e2e6e
[4] https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm#
[6] https://summitbhc.com/drug-addiction-consequences/
[7] https://www.samhsa.gov/adult-drug-use
[8] https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping/impact-of-e-cigarettes-on-lung
[9] https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm