Risky Business Draft

As children grow into their teenage years, society's use of drugs leads them to question whether drugs are as bad as they seem, and teens today have a high chance of getting their hands on drugs with alternative, or homemade, drugs that are easily accessible.

Even though the amount of high school drug users have decreased since 1999, a staggering 48.2% of high school seniors have used illegal drugs, while 15% have abused prescription drugs. 80% of students report that their parents' expectations, concerns and warnings have influenced their thoughts of using illegal substances; parents who consistently remind their teens of the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs. However, drugs don't just come from drug dealers OR the medicine cabinet. Teens are turning to household items, such as glue and hand sanitizer, to get their fix.

"Many teens are getting dangerous highs from drugs easily found in stores or homes and replacing underage drinking with them," says Dr. Yael Varnado. For example, hand sanitizer, which may lead to hallucinations, extreme paranoia, violent behavior, and erratic heartbeats. Stress and peer pressure are just a few factors that may lead teens to ingest, inhale, or smoke, these otherwise legal substances.

While illegal drugs are still a danger to teens, parents now have to worry about the trending "designer drugs," from cough syrup to nutmeg. Processes of abusing these substances are only a click away. Recipes for homemade highs on the Internet have increased over the past decade, and tech-savvy teens, unbeknownst to their parents, are crowding these sites. Even though doctors have discovered the effect of some of these homemade drugs, they have yet to learn of other harmful substances teens are using, as well as their disturbing, sometimes fatal, consequences.  These alternative drugs are very easy to reach, and even worse, parents may not know that their teens are using it, until it's too late.