Tool Kit for Teen Care: Common Drugs of Abuse

What are the most common drugs of abuse among teens?

Tobacco

  • Nicotine is the strongest active chemical in tobacco.
  • In 1998, the number of teens who smoke decreased for the first time in more than 10 years.
  • A total of 63 percent of teens have tried cigarettes by the 12th grade.

Alcohol

  • Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug that affects mood and thinking.
  • A total of 51.7 percent of 8th graders and 80.3 percent of 12th graders have used alcohol.
  • When asked, 32.3 percent of 12th graders had been drunk recently, and 11.3 percent drink daily.
  • Binge drinking is having five or more drinks in a row usually at least once every month. When asked, 30 percent of all 12th graders had drunk five or more drinks in a row during the previous two weeks.

What happens?

  • Using alcohol makes it harder to make good decisions, makes the teen clumsier, and increases the chance of unprotected sexual intercourse and acquaintance rape.
  • Long-term use of alcohol is linked to poor nutrition and damage to the liver and brain.
  • Use of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to a baby being born with mental retardation.
  • In 1996, 2,315 youths aged 15-20 years died in alcohol related motor vehicle accidents.

Marijuana

  • Marijuana use has been increasing since 1991. In 2000, 20.3 percent of 8th graders and 48.9 percent of 12th graders had used marijuana.

What happens?

  • Using marijuana causes problems in knowing what is real, difficulty thinking, poor memory, loss of coordination, and anxiety.
  • Long-term use leads to lung disease and difficulty becoming pregnant when it is wanted.

Uppers and Downers

  • The stimulant seen most frequently in the media is methamphetamine, an easily manufactured chemical with different uses.
  • Many stimulants, and another class of drugs, barbiturates, or downers, may be used alone or together.
  • A total of 15.6 percent of 12th graders have used stimulants, with 7.9 percent using crystal methamphetamine.
  • A total of 9.2 percent of 12th graders have used barbiturates and 8.9 percent tranquilizers.
  • A total of 60.8 percent of 12th graders have observed use of stimulants during their lifetime.

What happens?

  • Methamphetamine use changes the body functions, which results in “binge and crash” cycles. This means that doses are continuously increased to get the desired effect with the abuser ultimately “crashing.”
  • Use of methamphetamines causes perceived happiness, increased alertness and hypersexuality.
  • Occasional use causes anxiety and paranoia. Continued use causes severe paranoia, violent behavior, hallucinations of something touching or hurting the skin (shown by chronic itching with skin ulcers), and memory loss.

Hallucinogens

  • Includes drugs such as PCP (phencyclidine or “angel dust”) and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).
  • The majority of people that use these drugs are adolescents.
  • When asked, 11.1 percent of 12th graders said they have tried LSD, and 3.4 percent have tried PCP.

What happens?

  • Effects vary depending on the drug, but usually include body image and shape changes, and cause the user to lose touch with reality. Higher doses can cause violent behavior.
  • Effects can last for many hours after the drug is out of the system, and can come and go in waves.

Inhalants

  • Includes glue, aerosol, butane or solvents. Inhaling the substance directly causes the effects.
  • They are used mostly by younger teens. Those who continually abuse inhalants usually go on to other drugs of abuse.
  • In 1996, use of inhalants began to decrease.
  • Use of these drugs tends to be limited to adolescents.
  • A total of 17.9 percent of 8th graders had used inhalants in 2000, while 14.2 percent of 12th graders had a previous history of use.

What happens?

  • Effects are euphoria, light-headedness, sleepiness and sometimes hallucinations.
  • Use may result in an abnormal heart rhythm, which can lead to sudden death.
  • Bone marrow toxicity, liver damage, renal failure and neurologic effects can occur.

Opioids

  • Morphine, heroin (diacetylmorphine), codeine and many other forms of opioids are available.
  • A total of 2.4 percent of 12th graders have used heroin.
  • OxyContin is a long acting narcotic that has been used as a pain reliever since 1995. It is one of many prescription medicines that are used as an illicit street drug.

What happens?

  • These agents produce feelings of euphoria, sleepiness and decreased sensitivity to pain.
  • Effects can include overdose, constipation and kidney problems.

Cocaine and Crack Cocaine

  • These drugs are normally consumed by snorting, inhaling or smoking. The drug works on nerve endings where it squeezes blood vessels.
  • A total of 8.6 percentof 12th graders have used cocaine, and 3.9 percent have used crack cocaine.

What happens?

  • Bad reactions include high blood pressure, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, strokes and malnutrition.

Club Drugs

  • Ecstasy (MDMA), gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB, “liquid X,” “g-juice”), Rohypnol (“roofies,” forget pill”), ketamine (“Special K,” “Vitamin K,” “Kit Kat”) are some of the club and rave drugs. Street names like ecstasy give the false impression that the drug will have a positive impact on the teen’s life.
  • A total of 11 percentof 12th graders have used ecstasy. This drug shows the largest increase of use among commonly abused drugs in both 1999 and 2000.
  • Rohypnol, ketamine, and GHB are called “date rape” drugs because they can cause unconsciousness and amnesia (loss of memory) of recent events. A total of 1.9 percent of 12th graders have used these drugs.

What happens?

  • Permanent damage to nerves that control mood. Permanent damage to memory and being able to think clearly.
  • Hallucinations and mental stimulation also may occur.