Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

Claudia Proctor
Criminal Justice 310-D02
Professor Godwin
Liberty University Online
April 14, 2012

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

Abstract
In this paper, I will discuss the effects that Drugs have on our youth in today society. We
may say no not my child, but drug addiction does not have a face nor does it make a difference of
your race or gender. In addition, you will discovered a clear understand why in the New
Millennium our youth would do anything to be cool or just for that respect.

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

I.

Introduction
a. Background history on Drugs
1. Type of Drugs in question

2. Drug abuse signs to look out for

II.
III.
IV.
V.

b. What are the negative effects of Drug use

1. Health, family, school and other personal problems
2. Society
Juvenile Drug Courts
a. What Drug programs do courts has for abusers and how do it work
b. Whats the goals of Drug Juvenile Courts
The Consequences of Youth Drug Addiction
a. Drug addiction can cause criminal activities
b. Incarceration
Conclusion
References

When juveniles engage in drug use every one around them suffers. The juvenile Justice
system also suffers because they have to discipline another youth and that is more funds that the
state has to pay out to house another inmate. Since 1990s, there have been an excessive amount
of illegal drugs being abuse by juveniles. Definition of drug abuser is a drug of any kind is a
substance that takes control of the body and mind. In today society juveniles are becoming
addicted to many drugs, the drugs would be marijuana, cocaine, prescriptions drugs, heroin are

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

common drugs that juveniles consume. Juvenile drug abuses contribute to United States
problems of crime. When Juveniles become addicted to drugs, it affect everyone in their lives
and plus the victim. It is important to watch for significant changes in your youth; personality,
attitude, person appearance and behavior. Different drugs has different symptoms but all drugs
can include sunken eyes, marks on the skin, needle marks on the arms and legs and dental
problems.; marijuana signs would be; excessive eating, red eyes with glassiness to it, being loud
and flamboyant, silly and sleepiness will occur, below I will provide physical and behavioral
signs.
Physical Signs
Loss of appetite, increase in appetite, any changes in eating habits, unexplained weight loss, or
gain, Inability to sleep, awake at unusual times, unusual laziness, Red, watery eyes; pupils larger
or smaller than usual, cold, sweaty palms; shaking hands, Smell of substance on breath, body, or
clothes, Extreme hyperactivity; excessive talkativeness.

Needle marks on lower arm, leg, or bottom of feet, Nausea, vomiting or excessive sweating,
Tremors or shakes of hands, feet, or head.
Behavioral Signs
Change in overall attitude/personality with no other identifiable cause, Changes in friends; new
hangouts; sudden avoidance of old crowd; does not want to talk about new friends; friends are

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

known drug users, Drop in grades at school or performance at work; skips school or is late for
school, Change in habits at home; loss of interest in family and family activities, Difficulty in
paying attention; forgetfulness, General lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem, "I don't care"
attitude, Sudden oversensitivity, temper tantrums, or resentful behavior, Moodiness, irritability,
or nervousness, Silliness or giddiness, Paranoia, Chronic dishonesty, Unexplained need for
money, stealing money or items, Change in personal grooming habits.(www.acde.org)
2) Heroin, sweating, twitching, loss of appetite; weight loss and sleeping 24/7. Normally your
juvenile would miss days from school, disappearing frequently on mysterious errands
(www.acde.org)
According to the Monitoring the Future study (previously called the High School Senior Survey),
which has measured the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by the Nation's youth since
1975, drug use among 12th graders peaked in 1981, with slightly more than 65 percent of seniors
having reported past use of an illicit drug. This figure dropped to a low of 40.7 percent by 1992.
In 1993, however, this downward trend began to reverse. By 1996, 50.8 percent of high school

seniors reported having used illicit drugs (Monitoring the Future Study, University of Michigan,
1996). Young people are using mood-altering substances at increasingly younger ages. The
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (Gfroerer, 1996) shows an overall decline in the
average age of first use of alcohol, from 17.2 years in 1975 to 15.9 years in 1993; daily cigarette
use, from 18.6 years in 1975 to 16.8 years in 1994; and, especially, marijuana use, from 18.9
years in 1975 to 16.3 years in 1994. Studies of drug use among youth involved in the juvenile

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

justice system indicate high levels of abuse. Since 1990, the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF)
program conducted by the National Institute of Justice has measured substance abuse among
male detainees/arrestees in 12 jurisdictions across the country. The DUF data show increases in
illegal drug use by youth in nearly all sites between 1993 and 1995. In 1995, youth testing
positive for at least one drug ranged from 25, to 58 percent in Washington, D.C. DUF data,
which do not include information on alcohol use by juveniles, showed in 1995 that the illicit
drug most frequently used by delinquent youth was marijuana and prescription drugs (National
Institute of Justice, 1994 and 1995) (www.ncjrs.gov).
It has been knew that juveniles get involve with drugs for numerous reasons; 1) family
problems and life 2)dealing with violent parent 3) environment 4) absent parent 5) poverty 6)
peer pressure 7) social disorganization 8) and self-esteem. What do juveniles and drugs and
juveniles have in common? That is they both can cause major problems in families and the
individual life and they both been around for many years. Most juveniles seek friends that is
familiar with their problem that causes there addiction also they chose someone that is
experience similar problems for their comfort, understand and there approval. Drug addictions
effects juveniles by mental consequence- Most drugs can affect the brain by interfering with
neurotransmitters or chemical messengers, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Drug use can overflow the brain with dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved with emotion,
movement, and pleasurable effects. The addiction of drugs can affect different areas of the brain
that affect behavior, judgment, learning, and memory. The reasoning and thought processing
abilities of the drug abuser become severely damaged (http://www.livestrong.com)

They are many consequence for the actions of juvenile drug addiction for example;

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

personal consequence which means you can start having problems within your family, arguments
with your parents and becoming disrespectful, robbing your parents, missing countless days in
school which could lead to drop out. In addition, since the drug is all you want you
abandonment all your household tasks, school tasks and responsibilities to all things that once
made a difference in their life. The society suffers since the juvenile needs to support their habits
so they rob stores, family, and friends and then taking things to pawnshops for money to buy
there drugs.

When juvenile gets involve with drugs the effect could cost them there freedom. When
get caught abusing drugs they could go to rehab and sometimes jail.
The purpose for Juvenile Drug court is to focus on Juvenile delinquency addiction on
substance abuse which leads to crimes. The goal of Juvenile Drug Court is to reduce returning
offenders, enroll juveniles in drug treatment programs, to educate parents on drug addiction and
make parents aware that there juvenile cant do it alone, they need their parents, to provide

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles

counseling to juvenile and parents to resolve family problems that cause the juvenile addiction
and bring treatment center, schools together to achieve drug court goal which is for the best
interest for the juvenile.
Finally, the outcome in some cases can be incarceration which sometimes depends on the
nature of the addiction, crime and the juvenile. So its important to love our youth and be a
positive role in theres lives to prevent drug addiction, crimes and incararation.

Reference
https://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/jjbul9712-1/substan.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/254271-negative-effects-from-drugabuse/http://www.acde.org/common/symptom.htm
http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html

Drug use and Effect in Juveniles