Sample Research Paper
Words 3,120
This is a research paper on substance abuse by adolescent boys. The past decade has seen a number of changes in adolescent substance use. Abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana remains high among teenagers specifically boys.
Introduction
The past decade has seen a number of changes in adolescent substance use. Abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana remains high among teenagers specifically boys. However, many young people now more commonly use cocaine and heroin.
Inhalants continue to be the drugs of choice among adolescents. As more adolescents abuse and become reliant upon highly addictive drugs, an increasing numbers of youths enter treatment. Escalating facts, points both to the benefits of treatment for young boys and to the difficulties of sustain positive outcomes.
Demographics
Adolescence is difficult to define. Generally, it is understood that adolescence to span from 11 through 21 years of age. However, a 12-year-old adolescent may have more in common with a 10-year-old child than with a 19-year-old adolescent who may be facing the same concern and tasks that a 23-year-old adult might face.
In fact, there is no formal strategy for diagnosing substance dependence in adolescents, which many professionals think is different from the diagnostic guidelines used for adults. For the purpose of this report, substance abuse and dependence will be used in their traditional description. Abuse occurs when the use of a psychoactive substance increases the user’s potential for experiencing damaging consequences.
However, the transition from a child’s way of thinking to an adult’s takes a long time to coagulate. It is frustrating, but not unusual, for an adult to have a rational conversation with an adolescent and a short time later talk to the same teenager who no longer seems to make any sagacity. This shifting back and forth from child to adult is why adolescents often do not understand rational messages about the hazard of drugs and other risky behaviors.
A 1998 national survey found that noteworthy changes in drug use and attitudes occur between ages 12 and 13 (Luntz Research Companies 1998). During this critical time, adolescents have much greater contact to marijuana and other illegal drugs. Thirteen-year olds are three times more likely than 12-year olds to be familiar with someone who sells or uses drugs. The largest increase in adolescent use of addictive substances occurs between the ages of 12 to 15 years.
Kindly order custom made Essays, Term Papers, Research Papers, Thesis, Dissertation, Assignment, Book Reports, Reviews, Presentations, Projects, Case Studies, Coursework, Homework, Creative Writing, Critical Thinking, on the topic by clicking on the order page.