Jorn Krider

Ms. Wilson

Period 1

12/5/2018

Teen drug abuse is much more present in today’s society than ever before. Many outside

factors of the teen’s life, such as parental addiction, traumatic events like jail time, and even the

legalization of a certain drug have led to drug abuse. The teen’s addiction affects everyone

around him or her mentally, physically, and even financially. The problem should be addressed

because many teens are trapped in these drug lives and it may even be passed through

generations, ruining their entire family.

The first factor that plays a major part in the beginning of teen drug abuse is the outside

factors. If they are open drug addicts, the teen finds it easier to start because of the instinctive

comfort in their parents and their decisions. If they see their friends doing it, they will probably

try it. In the first article, Adolescents at risk for drug abuse: a 3-year dual-process analysis, the

author states how he uses Working Memory Capacity (WMC) in at-risk teens. He then states

“drug-relevant associations were stronger predictors of past year alcohol and marijuana use

among females with higher WMC than among those with lower WMC (Ames. 852-863)” This

quote shows that teens that have had something in their lives related to drugs in the past year

allowed them to use some form of alcohol, cigarette, or marijuana. They aren’t always parents,

but friends may play a big part in the beginning of the addiction. A solution is to address the

certain factors that have led to the drug abuse via therapy or rehab.
 The next factor that plays a part in adolescent drug abuse is a traumatic event in their

lives. If the teen has suffered from a lost loved one in a car accident or a lost pet/item close to

them, they may turn to drugs to ‘ease the pain’. In the next article, Trauma in the childhood

stories of people who have injected drugs, it states “Drug problems followed by trauma by

various routes, without straightforward cause and effect: direct use of drugs as avoidant coping;

juvenile heavy recreational use that escalated; forming relationships in mid to late teens with

criminals” (Richard, Phil, Sean 1). This quote reveals that any traumatic event or memory that

can be related to drugs are a “gateway” out of it can lead to the beginning of the abuse process.

The teen may view the drug as a way to numb the pain at first, but later it would develop into a

mental dependant and the brain would need it to survive. Rehab or mental programs are great for

this, but they also need to keep in mind the factor that caused the addiction. It can be sensitive

but getting past it may be the only way to sobriety.

A final factor can be the legalization of a drug in a state. In the article called The Impact

of Marijuana Legalization on Adolescent Use, Consequences, and Perceived Risk it states that

“Findings indicated a significantly positive correlation between marijuana-related consequences

and perceived risk post legalization” (Estoup, Moise-Campbell, Varma, Stewart 1). This

basically means teens saw it as less dangerous to use marijuana when it became legalized. Due to

this butterfly effect (more people see their friends using drugs legally), peer pressure, etc. more

teens may start a marijuana addiction because their friends are. Once they start a marijuana

addiction and build tolerance, they may want another drug to try a different effect, which leads to

even worse addictions and abuse. A simple solution would be just like any other addiction, start a

rehab program or psychoeducation to allow adults and adolescents learn the effects of marijuana

abuse when it becomes legal.

 Due to many influencing factors such as familial matters, death of a loved one, a severe

accident, juvy, or even legalization of a drug teen drug abuse has a higher risk of beginning and

staying. The problem with teen drug abuse is that it affects their family, friends and everyone

around them. It also hurts them socially, mentally, and possibly physically as well. The most

well known course of action is as soon as you find out your friend or son/daughter is abusing

drugs and it is affecting them in school or everyday life is get them into a rehab program to find a

path to sobriety.

Work Cited Page

Ames, Susan L., et al. “Adolescents at Risk for Drug Abuse: A 3-Year Dual-Process Analysis.”

Addiction, vol. 112, no. 5, May 2017, pp. 852–863. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/add.13742.

Estoup, Ashley C., et al. “The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Adolescent Use,

Consequences, and Perceived Risk.” Substance Use & Misuse, vol. 51, no. 14, Dec. 2016, pp.

1881–1887. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10826084.2016.1200623.

Hammersley, Richard, et al. “Trauma in the Childhood Stories of People Who Have Injected

Drugs.” Addiction Research & Theory, vol. 24, no. 2, Apr. 2016, pp. 135–151. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.3109/16066359.2015.1093120.
 Problem-Solution Essay (Honors)

Name: Redford Dunton

Score: 46/50
W.9-10.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately
through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Standard Exceptional (10-9) Proficient (8-7) Emerging Not Evident
(6-1) (0)
2.a. Introduction - ❏ Write an introduction that is clear, ❏ Write an introduction that is 10
Introduce a topic; focused, and concise and that clear, focused, and concise
organize complex creatively hooks the reader ❏ Provide context to your topic
❏ Provide detailed context to your ❏ Present a thesis that presents
ideas, concepts, and
topic that aids the reader in their an opinion on a topic
information to make
understanding ❏ Establish an appropriate
important ❏ Present a thesis that presents a clear organization to illustrate the
connections and opinion on a narrow topic. problem solution element of
distinctions; include ❏ Establish an effective and the essay
formatting (e.g., sophisticated organization to
headings), graphics illustrate the problem solution
(e.g., figures, tables), element of the essay
and multimedia when
useful to aiding
comprehension.
2.b. Argument - ❏ Use effective, highly relevant, and ❏ Use appropriate, relevant, and 8
Develop the topic sufficient evidence consistently that sufficient evidence with an
with well-chosen, is appropriate to a understanding of understanding of the
the audience’s knowledge audience’s knowledge
relevant, and
❏ Use textual evidence to support your ❏ Use textual evidence; introduce
sufficient facts,
argument; provide relevant and textual evidence
extended definitions, sufficient introductions to your ❏ Provide explanations for
concrete details, textual evidence. evidence
quotations, or other ❏ Provide clear and logical explanations ❏ Use appropriate formatting,
information and that connect the evidence to the graphics, and/or multimedia
examples appropriate main idea of the essay that is appropriately aligned
to the audience’s ❏ Use formatting, graphics, and/or with the text (if applicable)
knowledge of the multimedia effectively to enhance
the text (if applicable)
topic.
2.c. Organization - ❏ Use effective transitions consistently ❏ Use appropriate transitions 10
Use appropriate and between and within paragraphs to between and within
varied transitions to link major sections of the text, to paragraphs to link ideas and to
create unity and cohesion, and to create unity and cohesion
link the major create the problem solution pattern ❏ Organize sentences and
sections of the text, of organization of the essay paragraphs in a logical manner
create cohesion, and ❏ Organize sentences and paragraphs in
a logical manner that promotes unity
clarify the
and focus throughout the essay.
relationships among
complex ideas and
concepts.
2.d. Language - Use ❏ Use precise and language and domain ❏ Use precise language and 9
precise language and specific vocabulary consistently to domain specific vocabulary to
domain-specific manage the complexity of the topic manage the complexity of the
❏ Use effective word choice and syntax topic
vocabulary to
consistently to establish and ❏ Use appropriate word choice
manage the
maintain a formal style and objective and syntax to
complexity of the tone ❏ establish a formal style and
topic. ❏ Avoid repetition, redundancy, and objective tone that is
2.e. Language - wordiness to create a concise and maintained throughout
Establish and focused argument ❏ Avoid repetition, redundancy,
maintain a formal and wordiness
style and objective
tone while attending
to the norms and
conventions of the
discipline in which
they are writing.
2.f. Conclusion - ❏ Summarize the main points using ❏ Summarize the main points 9
Provide a concluding original language and clear ❏ Address implications or
statement or section organization significance
❏ Articulate a extension that addresses
that follows from and
the implications or significance in a
supports the
way that relates to the audience
information
or explanation
presented (e.g.,
articulating
implications or the
significance of the
topic).