Effects of Drug Abuse on the Youth

Drug and substance abuse is the backbone of the challenges youths are facing today. It has become frustrating how even the elders have failed to curb such a problem. In the research conducted by various researchers, it is evident that drug and substance abuse is inflicting more pain. Nawi et al. (2021) argue that 5.6% of the world population between the ages of 15-64 years abused drugs at least daily in the 2016 review. The authors also state that the number of teen drug abusers was higher than the number of aged drug abusers. This problem has also affected young children between the ages of 13-15 years at an alarming rate, where 14% and 18% of the total population of boys and girls, respectively, are drug abusers (Dykes & Casker 2021). As much as some users might not see the effect it has brought to them day by day, their mental health is being affected; others are producing low grades, and others even succumb to death.

Mental health disorders are common problems affecting drug addicts today. About 20% of the teens abusing drugs are falling into depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders day by day. Among the 20% of teens, girls are reported to have a relatively higher number (Richert et al., 2020). Nawi et al. (2021) also argue that most of the teens with rebellious behaviors were mostly abusers of drugs like marijuana, and the consumption of such drugs even increased the risk. Their research found that these youths would struggle to control their emotions. Finally, the government can outlaw harmful drugs and impose heavy penalties on drug abusers.

Most drug abusers find themselves committing suicide and others killed by dangerous diseases caused by drug abuse. Alcohol alone, as one of the most misused drugs, has been named a cause of death in at least 90 deaths and diseases a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 stated that the tally of drug abusers of 255 million and an average of 2.5 million people lost their lives due to drug and substance abuse. Rizk et al. (2019) also argue that suicide cases have risen by 35% in the US, misuse of alcohol is behind the great number of cases, and the risk of having more and more suicidal thoughts keeps on rising as far as alcohol misuse is concerned. Thus, we need to raise at least a mass media campaign on the dangers of drug abuse before we lose more and more great people.

In summary, the world should come up with a way to end drug and substance abuse. Some people argue that drugs like marijuana cure some diseases, but however good they are, they bring more harm than benefit. Psychological torture is not a myth, and a good percentage of the youths are battling a prolonged one, leading to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. The question remains: Where did the guidance and counselling team go? If we utilize our counsellors, it is a guarantee that the risk will have paralyzed the pandemic.