Is it true that drugs can influence teens to take, use, or sell drugs? These statistics show that marijuana usage is rampant, “81% of 12th graders say it would be easy to get marijuana.” These statistics are alarming because it shows a lot of teens using drugs, also more than a 3rd of 12 graders said marijuana is easy to get. “Only 32% of 12th graders feel that regular marijuana use is harmful” (teenrehabcenter.org). 30% of 12 graders said marijuana is harmful because they had a negative effect using the drug. Therefore, drugs affect society and impacts youth with their education and their household because an abundant amount of drugs used is harmful.
Firstly, teens that do drugs in school don’t focus in class and are more interested in their next substance use. This illustrates a sign of an early addiction. Teens may get easily distracted because they are only thinking about drugs. This matters because they are probably failing every class and are choosing to go home early or skipping school to buy or sell drugs. An interview with an Oakland resident, Diana Espinoza said, “When you are a teenager drugs can drive you crazy in school” (Espinoza). This matters because teens that do drugs are going to get infuriated in school because they can’t get any drugs or use it in school therefore, they are most likely to skip school so they can go get or do drugs to feel satisfied. With the same interviewee, she stated, “Drugs can affect you and your brain” (Diana Espinoza). This matters because the brain doesn’t fully develop until one is 25 and mostly all the kids that are doing drugs are under the age 20. They are hurting their brains which can affect their grades in school and their social ability to interact with other students and teachers. Thus making it harder for the student to pay attention and communicate.
Furthermore, teens who do drugs can negatively affects their households. This matters because teens may start lying to their parents, start stealing money for drugs, become antisocial and not oblige to parent communication. An oakland resident that was Interviewed, asked to remain anonymous and explained “ Teens that do drugs can have violent activities against their family” (anonymous). This matters because if a parent told his/her child to go take out the trash, they may respond with atone of attitude. In another interview that chose to be anonymous the person clarified that “Drugs can make the user fight with their own family”(anonymous). This matters because they may start disobeying their family and would feel determined to win every fight. A situation that may accelerate further issues, is the use of borrowing money for drugs, if the parent says no they may get furious and start over reacting upon the situation. This is intriguing because a lot of teens are choosing to have a negative energy inside their household and could cause their parents to go insane and could start thinking what has happened to their child.
Others may argue that drugs do not affect teens learning capability at school and can have a positive effect. This matters because teens that are doing drugs, can have a positive influence thus allowing them to have good grades and honest communication with school staff and classmates. MTV an interview with “Seth Rogen testified that marijuana does, in fact, make him buckle down and get right to work. The work he does? He writes scripts, acts and participates in other aspects of filmmaking—all creative tasks”.This matters because a successful actor(Seth Rogen) said, that marijuana really helps him to sit down and read his script. So he can go ahead and another funny film for are viewing. Although Seth Rogen says it helps him but he doesn’t necessarily say the negative effects on marijuana. He is an adult and all the kids that are consuming the drugs are under the age of 20 and Seth Rogen is 34 years old.
In conclusion, Therefore, drugs affect society and impacts youth with their education and their household because an abundant amount of drugs used is harmful. What do you think? Do drugs affect society?
Photo by ©Moon Photography by Mel 
I am fascinated with your article, “Drug vs Teens” because you discussed about students skipping school and failing many of their classes. When teens start doing drugs, they become addicted and loose interest in many of the activities that occur in school. If students worry about drugs too much, they misplace their attention on grades and showing up on school. From what I’ve researched the nicotine addiction could also impact how students behave at home. That is why I completely agree when you state “Furthermore, teens who do drugs can negatively affect their households. This matters because teens may start lying to their parents, start stealing money for drugs, become antisocial and not oblige to parent communication.” This delineates the affects nicotine in drugs can do to students. Not only could students begin lying to their parent’s however, students show anger and frustration from the displeasure of not having drugs on them to their parents. Please check out my blog, http://freshpod.home.blog, for more information on addiction.
Dear Hugo,
The topic you chose was interesting and a good one to talk about because its an issue faced by teens. One thing that stood out to me was “81% of 12th graders say it would be easy to get marijuana.” To think that marijuana is just that easy for teens to get their hand on it is not what surprised me, if not that they know they can get it without an issue. Moreover, I liked that you pointed out how a teenagers brain is not fully developed and therefore unable to fully understand the decisions they are making such as doing drugs. Also, I liked that you compared the ages between a teen and Seth Rogen, but you are talking about a famous comedian. It would have been nice in my opinion to have gotten input from someone who is his age group, but who is an average working person and see where they stand with being an adult and using drugs. Other than that great job!
Best,
Elizabeth
Drugs do in fact change the behavior of any one who uses them, as I have seen for myself the effects of such substances. When you mention about teens who use drugs and their effects on the relationship with their parents within their household, it reminded me of myself in a way. Although I have never used drugs, I can relate to teens acting out towards their parents. I mean what teen can deny such experiences? Giving attitude, disobeying your parents, talking back, etc… are all part of being a teenager, maturing and growing out of those stages. Drugs are definitely a negative factors that can make such experiences even more challenging for both parents and teens. Now in regards to you mentioning Seth Rogen in your article, I have to say I really liked that part. Reason being is that you not only present one side of your argument but you also present the opposing side. Which is important when writing these kinds of posts. The author needs to be able to talk about both sides and let the audience decide on their own ideas or thoughts about the topic.
Thank You for sharing this amazing post.
Thanks Katrina I was really happy when you said “Seth Rogen in your article, I have to say I really liked that part.” Because I really liked that part too.
Dear Hugo,
I am mesmerized by your letter “Drugs vs Teens” because when I read your letter it made me think about my friend that I use to go to school with. When I read your story I visualized myself being my friend because he skipped and missed days at school just to smoke marijuana with his parents money while they’re at work. Marijuana is powerful some people, and I say some people because there’s people that use Marijuana to survive.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is “This matters because teens may start lying to their parents, start stealing money for drugs, become antisocial and not oblige to parent communication” I think this is significant because this is true, when teens don’t have no more money for marijuana there going to start stealing money from their parents secretly.
Another sentence that I admired was “This matters because teens that are doing drugs, can have a positive influence thus allowing them to have good grades and honest communication with school staff and classmates.” This stood out for me because this is true, there people who use marijuana so they could stay up and study.
I do strongly agree with you that teens start skipping school. One reason I say this is because my friend always missed school, so he go kicked out of school. Another reason I agree/ with you is that teens start stealing their parents money to buy drugs.
Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next, because you used great evidence and made me visualize the things happening in my head. DON’T DO DRUGS THEY DON’T GET YOU NOWHERE, STAY IN SCHOOL AND BECOME SOMEONE IMPORTANT
Sincerely,
Miguel
Dear Hugo :
I am intrigued by your post, “drugs vs teens,” because It gets right to the point and is telling about a problem that most kids face going to high school. And it shows how easy it is to get drugs for youth which tends to them messing up in school.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: “These statistics show that marijuana usage is rampant, “81% of 12th graders say it would be easy to get marijuana.” These statistics are alarming because it shows a lot of teens using drugs, also more than a 3rd of 12 graders said marijuana is easy to get.” I think this is important because I am a senior and I feel the same because it is so easy to get drugs nowadays. Also it can tend to make people to not care about school and that’s a huge problem.
Another sentence that I liked was: “This matters because teens that do drugs are going to get infuriated in school because they can’t get any drugs or use it in school therefore, they are most likely to skip school so they can go get or do drugs to feel satisfied.” This stood out for me because it iss an ongoing problem that I see in my school everyday. People skip everyday just to get that dose. And they tend to have they’re grades reflect on it.
Your post reminds me of something that happened to me. One time my friends had to go through this faze in middle school and it affected the grades they had terribly. But in high school they learned the lesson of what it did to them in school.
Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next, because it’s a problem that every high school faces and has to see people do. Almost every high school has a student that does this to themselves and it’s a sad thing that people have to go through because it makes students no care.
Dear Hugo,
I am in agreement with your post “Drugs vs. Teens”, because within Oaklands society, drugs are a real issue, that greatly affects teenager’s lives. One sentence that stands out for me is: “30% of 12 graders said marijuana is harmful”. I think this is shocking because the number is surprisingly low. Another sentence that stood out to me was: “others may say drugs do not affect teens learning capability at school “. This stood out to me because marijuana is known to do brain damage, and can actually rewire an undeveloped brain for the worse. I do not agree that marijuana doesn’t affect kid’s performance in school. One reason I say this is because, when I completed the “drugs and teens” unit in biology, I learned that drugs take away your brain’s ability to be happy. Another reason is that the smoke from smoking marijuana can severely damage the lungs of someone of any age.
Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next, because you seem to have clear opinions on the topics you have researched.
Best,
Kate.
Dear Hugo I really like your essay, drugs vs. teens. It addresses a very current problem and brings the point home. teens that do drugs in school don’t focus in class and are more interested in their next substance use. I like this sentence because I see this in my everyday life. I also really like this stat, 30% of 12 graders said marijuana is harmful. It shows how little education people have around drugs. I completely agree with everything you said. One reason I say this is because I see some of the examples you gave during most of my day. Another reason i say this is because you had good stats that gave me information about your topic in the first paragraph.
From,
Brendan
Dear Hugo,
I am intrigued by your post, “Drug vs Teens,” because it deals with an issue a lot of high schoolers deal with. One sentence you wrote that stands out for me was, “teens that do drugs in school don’t focus in class and are more interested in their next substance use. This illustrates a sign of an early addiction.” I think this is interesting because I did not know that drugs can not just affect your health, but also your progress and work in school. Another sentence that stood out to me was, “Only 32% of 12th graders feel that regular marijuana use is harmful.” This stood out to me because it shows how uneducated most high school students are on the subject of drugs. However, I do not fully agree with you when you states, “because teens that are doing drugs, can have a positive influence thus allowing them to have good grades.” This contradicts your previous argument, and I don’t understand how teens under the influence of drugs can have a positive influence. Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because I would like to know more on this topic.
Best,
Langston.