TEENAGERS AND DRUGS

Written by Sabrina Syahirah

A very good morning I bid to Madam Nadia Mirana and my fellow friends. Today, I would like
to present a speech entitled Teenagers and Drugs. First and foremost, I would like to define
the word teenager and also the word drugs. Teenager is defined as a person aged
between 13 and 19 years. Drug is a medicine or other substance which has a physiological
effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.
We, are also included as teenagers. Being a teenager is often a confusing, the most
challenging time, which can make teens vulnerable to fall into a destructive pattern of drug
use. There are negative effects as the result of this use of alcohol or other drugs but still,
teens probably see their drug use as a casual way to have fun. Even if adolescent drug use
does not necessary lead to drug abuse, there are still risks and consequences of adolescent
drug use. The negative effects usually include a drop in academic performance or interest
and also strained the relationships with family or friends.
Adolescent substance abuse can greatly alter behaviour. A new preoccupation with
drugs can crowd out activities that were previously important. Drug use can also change
friendships as the teenagers begin to associate ore with fellow drug users, who encourage
and support one anothers drug use. For adolescents, these changes as a result of
substance abuse signal a problem in the teenagers environment. This should be seen as a
call to action for parents, teachers or friends to seek help for their loved one.
There are some types of drugs that are frequently used by teenagers. For example,
Marijuana, Ecstasy, Cocaine, Heroin, LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), Speed, Morphine,
Nicotine and Tobacco. There are the most known drugs that teenagers use which are
Marijuana and Ecstasy. Some of the teens are influenced to do drugs because of their
parents do it, friends, they see ads on the television and magazines and also they see their
favourite celebrities doing it.
Some teens look at their favourite star and wanted to be like them. If the teenagers
see their idols smoke or drink, they may want to do the same thing. It is not only cigarettes to
smoke. There are also some types of drugs to smoke such as Marijuana, LSD and weed.
Laboratory and clinical researched that cigarette smoke contain around 4000 chemicals,
some of them are highly toxic. Nicotine is the major ingredient of tobacco smoke and is
highly addictive.

Smoking also increases the risk of lung cancer, laryngeal cancer which is actually a
cancer at the voice box, oral cavity, oesophagus problems, kidney problems and pancreas
problems. As well as the risk of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and stroke. About 70 percent
of the public started smoking as a teenager.
Marijuana or Mary Jane is one of the well-known and the most used drugs by teens.
Marijuana is a dried leaf, stem and flower, smoked in the form of cigarette. Marijuana can be
a very harmful drug. Marijuana was once used as a medicine to cure cancer. Dr. Peter
McCormick of the University of East Anglia (UEA)s School of Pharmacy explained the
findings to Medical News Today which is the source for health news since 2003.
THC, the major active component of Marijuana, has anti-cancer properties. This
compound is known to act through a specific family cell receptors called Cannabiniod
receptors.
The study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, showed that injecting
THC into mice with implanted tumours caused the cells to kill themselves which the process
is called autophagy. It also slowed the growth of tumours in breast and brain cancer cell
lines. Somehow, cancer patients should not use cannabis (a type of marijuana) to selfmedicate. A 2013 study by a team at St. Georges, University of London identified six
different compounds in cannabis with anti-tumour properties including cannabidiol (CBD),
cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabigevarin (CBGV).
Marijuana was used as a medicine but now it is now used extensively as a drug. The
immediate effects of taking Marijuana include rapid heartbeat, disorientation, Lack of
physical coordination, often followed by depression or sleepiness. Some users suffer panic
attacks or anxiety. The drug can affect more than your physical health. Studies in Australia in
2008 linked years of heavy Marijuana use to brain abnormalities. This is backed up by earlier
research on the long-term effects of Marijuana, which indicate the changes in brain similar to
those that caused by long-term abuse of other major drugs.
Marijuana also changes the structure of sperm cells which is deforming them. Even a
small amounts of Marijuana can cause temporary sterility in men. Marijuana use can upset a
womens menstrual cycle. Other than that, studies shows that the mental functions of people
who have smoked a lot of Marijuana tend to be diminished. THC in cannabis disrupts nerve
cells in the brain affecting memory. Cannabis causes abnormal cell division which leads to
severe hereditary defects.

There are many bad effects of drugs use compared to the good effects. It is not
impossible to prevent drug use in teenagers. No parenting skills or behaviours can
guarantee a young person will never touch drugs. However, parents and guardians can
reduce the possibility of a young person experiencing drug problems in some ways.
First, parents or guardians should foster a close and trusting relationship with their
child from an early age, support them and encourage them to positive behaviour. Be the
model for appropriate behaviour such as drinking moderately, not smoking and not using
illicit drugs. Parents and guardians should establish agreements and guidelines about what
is acceptable behaviour around alcohol and drugs.
Moreover, parents and guardians should encourage a healthy approach to life
including good foods, do regular exercise and sports. Teenagers should be encouraged to
have more than one group of friends. Next, teenagers should be allowed to practice
responsibility and develop good decision-making skills from an early age.
Parents and guardians should keep themselves informed about drugs and educate
their child on the dangers of drug use. The teenager should not be educate exaggeratedly or
make information up. The most important thing for parents and guardians to remember is
they should have open and honest discussions about drugs with the teenagers.