Substance and Drug Abuse Among Youth
Substance and drug abuse have been a essential contributor to the deterioration of the lives of many young people. The following excerpt aims at looking at two felony and social methods that can help mitigate the abuse of both alcohol and marijuana amongst the youth.
Articles Investigated
The articles focused upon include;
- Will Increasing Alcohol Availability By Lowering The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking And Related Consequences Among The Youth? by Henry Wechsler and Toben F. Nelson.
- Religious Involvement And Dynamics Of Marijuana Use: Initiation Persistence, And Desistence by Ulmer J.T, Scott A. Desmond, Sung Joon Jang, and Byron R. Johnson.
In both articles, drug abuse is the main focus that is alcohol and marijuana. Similarly, both articles capture drugs that majorly affect young people. In the United States, the legal drinking age has been 21 years, since in 1984. However, there have been efforts by college students to lower the age to 18 years. Since drinking has serious effects on health, the matter has been left for further analysis from the public health. Alcohol is responsible for 75000 deaths or more. It is associated with serious health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, overdose and other substance abuse. By institutions focusing more on enforcing the 21 years of legal drinking age, would help to monitor the drinking the binge and control it further down. (Wechsler et.al, 2010)
The second article focuses on using religion as a tool to reduce marijuana ingestion by young people. Religion is supposed to prevent marijuana intake in the first place. However, social ties in the religious circle have more effect on its use. Peers have a strong effect on preventing one from ever taking marijuana. Even so, delinquents also have an equivalent effect on encouraging youths in religion to indulge in marijuana. Therefore, the three main causes of marijuana indulgence are delinquent peers, self-control, and social bonds. Religious involvement does not guarantee solid freedom from using marijuana though religious youth are less likely to use marijuana. (Ulmer et.al, 2012)
The minimum legal age for alcohol intake should remain capped at 21 years of age. At this age, it is easier to control the number of binge drinkers, and at least they can do so while in control of their decisions (Wechsler et.al, 2010). On the other hand, religion enforces good morals and has helped keep youths from the use of marijuana and other substances (Ulmer et.al, 2012). Religion teaches self-control and acceptable societal behavior which is key in mitigating drugs and substances abuse. Thus, both methods combined would help reduce drugs and substance abuse among the youth better.
References
Wechsler, H., & Nelson, T. F. (2010). Will increasing alcohol availability by lowering the minimum legal drinking age decrease drinking and related consequences among youths. American journal of public health, 100(6), 986-992.
Ulmer, J. T., Desmond, S. A., Jang, S. J., & Johnson, B. R. (2012). Religious involvement and dynamics of marijuana use: Initiation, persistence, and desistence. Deviant Behavior, 33(6), 448-468.
