Drugs & How They Affect Teens in School

Teens can have access to many different types of drugs both at school and outside of school. Drugs such as ecstasy and ketamine are often available at parties with teens present. Heroin, hallucinogens and cocaine are other drugs commonly found on school campuses. Readily available household products can also be used as inhalant drugs. Easy access to drugs encourages teen drug abuse. There are numerous long-ranging effects of teen drug abuse.

Academic Performance

Researchers at Colorado State University have found that teen drug abuse increases the risk of failure at school. This includes poor academic performance which can lead to increased truancy and drop-out rates. Missouri State University researchers state that half of the population in prisons is made up of people who dropped out of school.

Teen Violence

Researchers at the University of Illinois list drugs and alcohol as the third main factor that causes teen violence. With an increase in violence, the likelihood of teens bringing in weapons to schools increases. Students with violent tendencies are more likely to resist authority. This increases tension within the classrooms and may cause students to lose focus in class.

Effect of Steroids

The Office of National Drug Control Policy states that steroids are frequently purchased over the Internet and imported illegally from other countries. Teens often take steroids to improve their performance in athletics. Excessive steroid use can increase teen aggression at school and have physical side effects such as chest pains, decreased immunity and psychologically disturbed behavior. Students are apt to get sick more frequently and miss school as a result.

Effect of Inhalants

Teens frequently use inhalants when they start experimenting with drugs. Inhalants can be found in common household products that can be purchased legally. Excessive inhalant use can break down the brain's myelin sheath which can cause uncontrollable muscle spasms. A child's vital organs can also be affected by excessive inhalant use. These health issues can present themselves during school hours and disrupt classroom instruction.

Teen Depression

Drug abuse causes adolescents to be more vulnerable to depression and suicidal behavior. Teen depression can be debilitating and cause teens to lose their ability to function successfully in school. Symptoms of depression can manifest themselves in the form of children being late to class and unable to complete homework or other assigned tasks. Teen depression may increase sexual promiscuity and the likelihood of early pregnancy leading to increased drop-out rates.