Introduciton to DRUG USE
Drug Use refers to substances such as tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs.
Adolescence is a time when young people may experiment with these such substances. The use of drugs particularly at a young age poses a risk to the health of the individual, including immediate and long-term health problems.
Once used, drugs can become addictive and become central to the individual’s life. Especially in a teenager, drugs can affect personal relationships with friends and family; the ability to study and work; mental health; and the quality of life.
Below are the current trends of teenage drug use including of tobacco use, drinking and illicit drugs; taken by the 2007 National drug strategy household survey
Smoking
National drug strategy household survey found that in 2007
§ 7% of 14–19 year olds had smoked daily
§ 1.3 % smoking weekly
§ 1.2 % smoking less than weekly
Trends over the recent years show a decline in smoking within teenagers, resulting in a decline in long-term health in the future
Drinking
2007 National drug strategy household survey found that:
§ the proportion of teenagers drinking at least weekly was around 21 per cent, with half of the teenagers in the survey reported that at least once a month drank at levels that put them at risk of short-term, alcohol-related harm - according to Australian alcohol guidelines (at least four drinks a day for females and at least six drinks a day for males)
§ 28 % of females reporting they drank at a level considered risky under the guidelines compared to 24 % of males.
Illicit Drugs
§ 24%of those aged between 14 and 19 years had used an illicit drug at some time in their lives
§ 5.2% reporting they had used an illicit drug in the previous week
§ Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit drug,
13%of teenagers reporting they had used cannabis in the last 12 months
Bibliography
§ "YouTube - DRUG Awareness AD - "ICE" Realeased in Australia." Drug Awareness Ad. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSXrTrhx6Us&feature=related>.
§ "YouTube - Australian Goverment Drinking Ad for Under 18's." Don't Turn A Night Out Into A Nightmare. Australian Government. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkScHtrowM8&NR=1>.
§ "YouTube - 'Lost Dreams' Drugs Ad." Lost Dreams. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLlwNq1cKb8&NR=1>.
§ "Drug Use." Drugs Campaign - Homepage. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.drugs.health.gov.au>.
§ "DrinkingNightmare - About the Campaign." Department of Health and Ageing - Welcome to the Department of Health and Ageing. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.health.gov.au/internet/drinkingnightmare/publishing.nsf/Content/about-the-campaign>.
§ Teens, Mexican-American. "Teens and Drugs - Teens and Substance Abuse - Underage Drinking." Alcoholism - The Alcoholism Home Page. Web. 19 Mar. 2011. <http://alcoholism.about.com/od/teens/Teens_and_Substance_Abuse.htm>.
§ Ruskin, Ron, and Kim Harper. Outcomes 1: PDHPE. 3rd ed. Jacaranda, 2010. Print.
§ Webnobe. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.webnode.com/>.
§ "Drug Aware - What Are Drugs? Why Are They Used? What Are the Effects?" Drug Aware - Western Australia - Information about the Dangers of Drugs. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.drugaware.com.au/Drug Information.aspx>.
§ Images from: Google, Microsoft Word 2010 Art, [Smart Art]