In the past when smoking first came out many people smoked, but what about now? Many teens in the U.S. smoke, some that are teens that are underage get asked to smoke by older peers. Approximately 440,000 Americans die each year from smoking related diseases. Ninety percent of those Americans that die each year have started smoking as teens. That is 396,000 teen smokers. It is not just cigarettes that are being smoked now-a-days.
Studies by the National Institute of Drug Abuse shows approximately fifty percent teens in this country try marijuana before they graduate. Many parents have experimented with marijuana in their college years. But they are hypocritical to talk to their teens about it.
Meth, crystal meth, speed, crank, glass, ice… many methamphetamine related drugs are more familiar as ‘speed’. As it has many names it can also be taken into a teens your body in many ways. Users of methamphetamine related drugs can be referred as ‘tweakers’. Meth speeds up the Central Nervous System, making one more alert and full of energy. Speed produces an extended high, making it extremely tempting to the young and foolish.
There are many countless common household and classroom products used as inhalant drugs. This form of drug abuse is known as ‘huffing’. This form of abuse is increasing in teens at alarming rates. The products that are being used for huffing are so common that you possibly would not be alarmed if your teen were buying them.
Along with cardiac arrest (the most common cause of death form inhalants) huffing can quickly kill in a number of different ways. Huffing can kill the very first time a teen experiments with it. (Human Toxicology, 1989: 261-269) Which is also called “Sudden Sniffing Death”.
Huffing is the third most abused substance by teens and it is an increasing problem in today’s society. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH/NHSDA), "inhalants had the youngest average age at first use (16.0 years)" and "75% of recent initiates were under 18 when they first used". Many teens are abusing drugs and slowly dieing from the effects. Look again take a look at what your smoking, huffing or popping is it worth losing minutes and days of your life?