High School is where many teenagers can encounter drugs and alcohol for the first time. The availability of drugs at school is surprisingly high, especially in high school. Sadly, some teens using drugs will suffer serious consequences as a result of their substance use.

Illicit drug use among teenagers remains high, largely due to the increasing popularity of marijuana. Marijuana use by adolescents declined from the late 1990s until the mid-to-late 2000s but has been on the increase since then. In 2013, 7.0 percent of 8th graders, 18.0 percent of 10th graders, and 22.7 percent of 12th graders used marijuana in the past month, up from 5.8 percent, 13.8 percent, and 19.4 percent in 2008. Daily use has also increased; 6.5 percent of 12th graders now use marijuana every day, compared to 5 percent in the mid-2000s. There are many different possible causes of teen drug use. Many are reacting to peer pressure and believe that turning to drugs and alcohol is how to become popular in high school. Some use drugs to self-medicate from painful feelings. Some teens even turn to “study aid” drugs like Adderall or Ritalin, because they believe these substances will boost their academic performance. High school is often the first time that kids encounter illicit substances, and their curiosity often gets the better of them.

With taking drugs comes a lot of negative effects. Young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties, health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society. This has become a big issue these days. Drug searches in high schools may help the problem. During a drug search, a dog is capable of covering a much larger area in a much shorter amount of time than a human could possibly do. Drug searches would be really effective, the students that have drugs would get caught and they would have people to help them get on a better road to recovery. 

Facts from:

https://nida.nih.gov

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov