Youth drug abuse is a serious problem nowadays in many cultures. Not only is illegal drug use on the rise, but children as young as 10 years old are experimenting with alcohol and tobacco. The reasons for this behaviour are unclear, but certain sociologists blame the examples set by their elders.
Parents who drink and smoke to excess are, in effect, telling their children that it is acceptable to abuse their bodies with drugs. Consequently, children may have a similar view towards illegal drugs, even if their parents are against their use. In addition, drug use shown on television and in films can only confuse children who are also taught at school that drug abuse is wrong.
The pressure on young people to perform well at school in order to compete for jobs is a possible cause of the problem. Many believe they cannot live up to their parents' expectations, and feel a sense of hopelessness. Also, the widespread availability of drugs means teenagers are faced with the temptation to experiment. Drugs are used as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with the pressures they face in society.
The effects of drug abuse are well known. Many young people's talents are wasted, and addiction to hard drugs can cost a user his or her life. Furthermore, those who drink and drive may be involved in fatal road accidents. The cost to society is great, and enormous amounts of money are spent on convicting drug dealers and on education programmes.
To conclude, I recommend that the only sensible way to solve this problem is to educate young people about the dangers of drug use, and to take steps to reduce the pressure of competition placed upon them.
Youth
drug
abuse
is a serious problem nowadays in
many
cultures. Not
only
is illegal
drug
use
on the rise,
but
children
as
young
as 10 years
old
are experimenting with alcohol and tobacco. The reasons for this
behaviour
are unclear,
but
certain sociologists blame the examples set by their elders.
Parents who drink and smoke to excess are, in effect, telling their
children
that it is acceptable to
abuse
their bodies with
drugs
.
Consequently
,
children
may have a similar view towards illegal
drugs
, even if their parents are against their
use
.
In addition
,
drug
use
shown on television and in films can
only
confuse
children
who are
also
taught at school that
drug
abuse
is
wrong
.
The pressure on
young
people
to perform well at school in order to compete for jobs is a possible cause of the problem.
Many
believe they cannot
live
up to their parents' expectations, and feel a sense of hopelessness.
Also
, the widespread availability of
drugs
means
teenagers
are faced
with the temptation to experiment.
Drugs
are
used
as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with the pressures they face in society.
The effects of
drug
abuse
are well known.
Many
young
people
's talents
are wasted
, and addiction to
hard
drugs
can cost a user
his or her
life.
Furthermore
, those who drink and drive may
be involved
in fatal road accidents. The cost to society is great, and enormous amounts of money
are spent
on convicting
drug
dealers and on education
programmes
.
To conclude
, I recommend that the
only
sensible way to solve this problem is to educate
young
people
about the
dangers
of
drug
use
, and to take steps to
reduce
the pressure of competition placed upon them.