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We've all seen the scenes in movies where teens party hardy and have fun all thanks to drugs and alcohol. If the movie portrayals are to be believed, drugs and alcohol add to the life of the party and turn everyone into best friends. It is a rosy picture and many teens see it as an ideal. But there is a darker side, a side less explored by Hollywood. Movies like "Drugstore Cowboy" and "28 Days" attempt to show a different side of drug and alcohol abuse, but they are still glamorous in nature. It is important to look at these portrayals with a skeptic's eye. After all, movies are about entertainment, and there is nothing entertaining about the reality of drug and alcohol abuse. Illicit drugs and alcohol are addictive. They are both illegal for teens - illicit drugs being totally illegal and alcohol being illegal depending on age. Statistics show that the younger you are when you experiment with illicit drugs or alcohol the more likely you are to become an addict in later life. Addiction runs in families. You don't choose addiction - addiction chooses you. It is a gamble when you do illicit drugs or alcohol. You gamble with your life, with your personality, with your future and with addiction. It is not only illicit drugs and alcohol that are problems. There are other ways of getting high that don't technically fall into either category. Legal substances used in illegal ways. When misused, prescription drugs can be just as addictive and just as destructive as illicit drugs. Inhalants are becoming a big problem. Inhalants are otherwise legal substances used in a manner that causes them to get you high. Some substances used in this fashion include; aerosol cleaners, gasoline, cleaning fluids, butane, and acetone. These things are not illegal to sell or buy, they are not controlled substances and they are relatively cheap when compared with drugs or alcohol. Just what is addiction? Addiction is a physiological dependence on something. It is both physical and psychological in nature. When you are addicted you literally need whatever it is that feeds that addiction. Addiction is not limited to drugs or alcohol. Addiction sneaks up on you. People who are addicted often don't see that they have a problem. They think everyone else is the problem. Addiction differs from abuse. You can abuse drugs and not be addicted. The two most important factors in determining addiction are tolerence and physical dependency. Addiction is terribly destructive. It hurts you and those who care about you. It is not easy to overcome but once you have accepted it as a problem in your life you can get help. There is pending research that forced rehabilitation can work in certain people. Addiction is not fun or trendy. Being an addict is hell on earth.
A true story that tells just how ugly drug and alcohol use can be: "I was 14 and at a party with my steady boyfriend. He was 2 years older and many of his friends were seniors in high school. To my young eyes, their parties seemed wild and exciting. In hindsight I know that they were out of control and not all that exciting. But I learned that the hard way. I learned that by watching somebody die from doing drugs. His name was Gordon and I didn't know him that well. I knew he was always smiling. I knew people seemed to gravitate toward him. I knew that he was popular and good-looking. I also knew he did drugs. In fact, at least half of my boyfriend's group did..."READ THE REST OF THIS STORY
To see if you or a friend may be struggling with an addiction visit:
Signs of Addiction
Are drugs and alcohol a problem for you? Try this quiz.
Current Information on Treating Addiction
Get help at Teen Challenge
Understand the Issues:
Alcoholism
Why Teens use Illegal Drugs
A clinical look at various substances as they relate to addiction:
Alcohol
Cocaine
Hallucinogens
Heroine
Inhalants
Marijuana
Speed
PCP - Angel Dust
Next page > Killer Drug Use - Part 1 > Page 1, 2, 3, 4
