This article discusses the increase in illicit drug use by adolescents between the ages of 12 - 17. The topics discussed range form the types of drugs which are increasingly being abused (methamphetemine, heroin, cocaine and LSD) to the trends in the increased use of the more widely abused drugs (marijuana, alcohol and tobacco).

Starting with a comparison between Plano, Texas (population 180,000; median family income, $54,000) just north of Dallas, to Fairfax County, Virginia (population 900,000; median household income, $70,000) where parents equally wonder "How could this happen to our children?" The evidence reporting that the statistics are rising everywhere, no matter the population or the family income. The article then moves in to the discussion of how the most used substances are showing alarming increases ion abuse, especially by younger adolescents. The percentage of 8th graders using marijuana in 1997 had incre

ased three times over the 1991 rate. Although marijuana is certainly less toxic than many other drugs, there is a popular notion that it is harmless. This information is false, marijuana has a direct effect on short-term memory and other cognitive functions. Trends, or the growth in use of harder, more illicit drugs has been noticed, with the number of heroin abusers rising from 68,000 in 1993 to 216,000 in 1996, a staggering increase. Also jolting is the increase in adolescent use of heroin, which has doubled since 1991. Twenty percent of 8th graders report that heroin is readily available to them. These numbers are even more startling when you couple them with the increase in the purity of the drug, which has gone from less than 5% to between 80% - 90% in the last 25 years. Methamphetamine have become the drug of choice for teens wanting a stimulant, especially for all night parties (raves). Inhalants, as well, have also increased in abuse among teens, because of their availability.

I think this what interested me about this article was how informative an full of

Some common words found in the essay are:
County Virginia, ONDCP ONDCP, United Drugs, Association August, Plano Texas, substance abuse, adolescent substance, health care, adolescent substance abusers, article discusses, substance abusers, family income, adolescents illicit, illicit drug, drug prevention, helping professional,
Approximate Word count = 722
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)