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Victorian Teenage Drugs

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TEENAGE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE Alcohol use: Although the numbers have fortunately decreased in recent years, teenage alcohol and drug use is still a serious problem. It can affect the mental and physical health of an adolescent whose body is in a vital stage of growth. Use of drugs and alcohol has often been linked to serious injury, homicide and suicide. In 2001 the average age for a first alcoholic drink was 14.7 years. In 2016 this had risen to 16.1 years. In 2004 one in three 15-17 year-olds were involved in risky drinking behaviour, but in 2016 this had fallen to one in ten. Unfortunately, drinking and drug use is still seen by many as a “rite of passage to adulthood”. Problem drinking places enormous personal and financial stress …show more content…

Psychoactive drugs act on the brain and can change the way a person thinks, feels or behaves. Of course, most people use some kind of legal drugs such as alcohol, prescribed medication and caffeine. Unfortunately illegal drugs are part of life for some people too. Regarding some of these illegal drugs, in 2013, 3% of Victorian teenagers from age 12 to 17 had tried ecstasy and 3% had tried amphetamines. Around one in six had deliberately sniffed inhalants at least once. 1.9% of 12 to 17 year-olds who had taken cocaine had only used it once or twice. 1.5% had tried heroin and about 15% had tried cannabis. Different drugs have different effects on the body. For example marijuana (cannabis) can send the heart rate up as far as 100% in a short time. This can last for up to three hours and send the body into shock. Case Study: A case study was carried out in Victoria to determine whether adolescent alcohol use predisposes an individual to alcohol dependence in young …show more content…

Illegal Drugs and the Law: Possessing or supplying illegal drugs can lead to severe penalties. Supplying others with illegal drugs is a serious criminal offence. Possessing an implement that is used for smoking or taking illegal drugs is an offence. The penalties for these offences can be harsh, depending on the type of drug involved and the quantity recovered. Every Australian teenager has the right to feel safe and not to be pressured into illegal or risky behaviour. It is your right to say “No!” Most teenagers don’t drink, about 65% have never had a full serve of alcohol and only 5% currently drink on a weekly basis. Most teenagers do not use illegal drugs. Over 80% of teenagers have never used an illicit substance. Many teenagers are therefore taking responsibility for the own lives and are not infringing on the rights of

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