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 

[3] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping#

[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 

[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37591/