Cause and Effects of Teenage Drinking and Drug Use Essay

As a former offender of teenage substance abuse and driving while under the influence, I know full well how hard this topic hits home and my wallet. I have tried almost everything except needles; I drew the line there. The biggest factor that I faced as a pre/teen at home, middle, Jr. high, high school was peer pressure. During these years, it was like riding a rollercoaster with my drinking, drugging, and emotional problems it equaled one messed up kid. I was placed in rehab five times, until my last close call. I went to a party in 1988 with a few friends, with the intentions’ of getting drunk and high. I got into a truck and crashed it, and was in the hospital for two weeks. This is when I told myself, enough is enough and I checked into a rehab. I was there almost six and a half months attending meetings and addressing other problems that I was having. One of my assignments while in rehab was a reflection paper: The melting summer night, from hell August 10, 1988 I left my house to, party with friends; After stopping to pick up a few cases of beer and three bottles of Jack, we rolled up to a bonfire; The huge fire lit up the pine trees all around me; With a beer in hand, I took a few hits of a joint that someone past around; With the loud music in the back ground, the embers from the fire seemed to dance in the cool dark sky; Look at the bats fly through the fluttering lights of the fire; A girl that I go to school with, walked over to me and told me to open my mouth; She put a pill in then told me to swallow it and said: â€Å"Have a good time†; I started to sweat and feel dizzy so I sat down on a log that was behind me; Daphne walked over and kissed me, and asked: â€Å"How are you doing†; Look at the fireflies, flying all around; All I could hear was: Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh and voices started s—l—u—r—r—i—n—g around me; The music became hollow; Colors started leaking out of the dark; The trees around me, started bleeding green; The mosquitoes with their huge fangs, were trying to bite me; I heard a heavy pulsing noise through m head, telling me to run; Rain falls on me; I step in puddles of blue, black, green, red, and purple; People are coming to get me; Lights all around; I’m lying on the ground; Something is in my eyes, it’s wet; I feel like I’m floating; Someone, screams aloud; I try to put my hand up to my head, but I can’t; A clap of thunder rips out of the silent darkness, and screams ring out once again; I manage to roll to my side and throw up; I can hear someone from the darkness call my name: Bobby—Bobby; All I can smell is, hot oil and gas; I open my eyes and see nothing at all; I feel wet and cold but my skin burns so bad; What’s this light shining on me; I can see someone talking but, I can’t understand what they are saying; What the fuck, was that! I panicked as their, eyes fall out; I opened my eyes and saw my dad standing near, yelling at me; I tried to say something but, nothing came out; My throat hurts; I tried to pull away but, I could not; Why are my arms and le gs tied down; My eyes are so heavy; I wake up in an unfamiliar room; Meetings and groups all the time; I can remember that melting summers night from hell, and getting one last chance. Given my past experiences with alcohol and drugs I’ve come up with six questions for someone in a similar situation: I. Who, is affected by teenage drinking and drug use? In 1988. I did not care who I affected as long as I had my alcohol. Today, I know that my actions affected everyone around me and caused undue pain. II. What are the hidden dangers and unseen costs that teens face while drinking and using illegal drugs? Teens don’t realize the consequences of their actions. Hidden dangers, alcohol and drugs can take a toll on the body from killing brain cells to liver or kidney failure. The unseen costs come from many different sources like death, DUI’s and legal fees, and your freedom. â€Å"Drunk Driving: In 2011, 9,878 people were killed and approximately 350,000 were injured. Each crash, each death, each injury impacts not only the person in the crash, but family, friends, classmates, coworkers and more. Even those who have not been directly touched help pa y the $132 billion yearly price tag of drunk driving. But together we can eliminate drunk driving (â€Å"Mothers Against Drunk Driving,† 2012).† (â€Å"Mothers Against Drunk Driving,† 2012).† III. When, should teens seek an intervention? To tell you the truth, teens never seek out interventions. It’s usually too late, and something has already happened to them, and let’s just face it the truth hurts. IV. Where, can they turn to receive help? When they hit rock bottom and think no one cares, this is the time to let them know people do willing to help no matter how long it takes. (â€Å"Alcoholics Anonymous,† 2013), Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) – San Antonio or a similar programs. Why PDAP? Simply put, PDAP works!! 89% of our chemically-dependent participants who remain active in PDAP for 90 days achieve at least 30 days of sobriety! We understand that relapse is a part of the recovery process. Our environment of love and understanding does not ostracize those who relapse, but rather encourages them to get honest with their use and become accountable not only to themselves and their family, but also to the group of their recovering peers. Those that stay active in PDAP†¦work the steps, attend meetings, come to activities and stay honestâ₠¬ ¦can and do stay sober. (â€Å"PDAP,† 2011,) V. Why, is it important to get clean? Most kids that abuse alcohol and drugs don’t realize the importance to be clean. It affects all aspects of their life like: â€Å"Their health, education, legal-standing, and future employment.† â€Å"Why Should You Care? Growing up is risky business. That’s why, as a parent, you’re always working to keep your child safe from danger. From their first baby steps to the first car keys, you are there for them—teaching life skills and setting limits so your son or daughter will succeed and thrive. Parenting gets more challenging when kids reach adolescence. Teens naturally push their limits, test boundaries, and make choices that baffle and worry parents. They begin to look more mature and grown-up, so it’s easy to be fooled into thinking that they will behave like adults. But they don’t, especially when it comes to alcohol. Of all the dangers your teen faces, underage drinking is among the worst. Whether teens are experimenting with beer, wine, or other liquor, alcohol presents a serious—and potentially deadly—threat. Compared with non-drinking classmates, teens who drink are more likely to: Die in a car crash: Motor vehicle crashes while driving under the influence of alcohol is the leading cause of death in youths ranging from 15 to 20 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On average, eight teenagers die each day due to alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes. Read more: How Many Teenagers Die From Drugs & Alcohol? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5661242_many-teenagers-die-drugs-alcohol_.html#ixzz2KmbQbrd8, (Robinson, 1988).(Bempechat, Janine – And Others, 1989-00-00) (â€Å"Mothers Against Drunk Driving,† 2012) How, can a teen take the first steps to admit they have a problem? First, we must understand the interworking of a teen. They think that no one cares or understands them, well their wrong. There has been a whole industry created towards the study that encompasses â€Å"teenagers v. alcohol/drug abuse.† The main thing that parents need to know is, always keep a communication channel open and eventually they will come to you and talk about their problems. Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) has posted videos on YouTube, and is very informative. Closing I was a former offender of substance abuse and believe me; I had my fair share of education/legal problems. I know full well how much of an impact that this problem had on my family and friends. I have tried almost everything under the sun. My friends at school were my biggest issue that I faced every day, as a pre/teen was: â€Å"peer pressures.† I drew the line after hitting rock bottom and ran away; this is when I first asked for helped and got the treatment I needed. It has taken years to regain control of my life, after one felled marriage; I now have a great understanding wife and two beautiful sons. References Bempechat, Janine – And Others. (1989-00-00). Teenage Pregnancy and Drug Abuse: Sources of Problem Behaviors. ERIC/CUE Digest No. 58. Retrieved from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9214/drug.htm MADD. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.madd.org/ Palmer Drug Abuse Program. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.pdap.com/sahome.htm Underage Driving. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.madd.org/statistics/ Welcome to Alcoholics Anonymous,. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.aa.org/?Media=PlayFlash