Answer:
Drug abuse
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of and abuse of illegal and prescription drugs are a health, social, and law enforcement problem that is affecting Americans across the country. Drug abuse is destroying the lives of many teens and adults and is also destroying families in the United States. The use of drugs is a major problem in the United States among all Americans, but drug addiction is the main cause for America 's troubled teens today. Exactly what is a drug? A drug is any chemical that produces a therapeutic or non-therapeutic effect in the body. Millions of people are abusing many different types of drugs today that are affecting the way the body functions. There are abused substances, which are prescription and over-the-counter medicines that prevent and…show more content…
During the ages of 12 and 18 it is common to experiment with drugs and alcohol, but most teens do not realize what experimenting with drugs and alcohol can lead to in the future. There are some teens that will experiment with drugs and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without major problems. Others will become addicted and move on to more dangerous drugs, which will then cause to other social problems. Teens use drugs today for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. There is no definite way to tell who will be able to stop using drugs and who may develop serious problems and become an abuser, but there is some factors to consider in who is at risk. Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those with a family history of substance abuse, who are depressed, who have low self-esteem, and who feel like they do not fit in or are "outcasts". In America, drug use is most common among the young people age sixteen to seventeen (19.2 percent) and eighteen to twenty (17.3 percent). This is a serious problem and if the parents and families do not reach out to these teens the percentage of drug abuse and crime will only increase