Lower Class Children Use Drugs example essay topic

... 570 The Controlled Substances Act states: (a) "Addict" means any person who habitually uses any drug, chemical, substance or dangerous drug other so as to endanger the public morals, health safety or welfare or who is so far addicted to the use of a dangerous drug or controlled substance other than alcohol as to have lost the power of self control with reference to his addiction. Illegal drugs are categorized into seven categories: stimulants, depressants, cannabis, narcotics, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and inhalants. In 1998, fifty-four percent of all seniors said they had at least tried illicit drugs.

Stimulants include drugs such as amphetamines (ice), cocaine (as known as coke, flake, and snow), crack and methamphetamine (meth and speed). Stimulants act their name implies-they stimulate the central nervous system and results in higher heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased mental activity. Amphetamines are colorless and may be inhaled, injected, or swallowed. Amphetamines are also used non-medically to avoid sleep, improve athletic performance, or to counter the effects of depressant drugs. Amphetamines are addictive. Powder cocaine is often used by Caucasians while crack is used by African Americans due to the lower prices of crack cocaine.

In 1998, almost one in ten senior (nine percent) said they had used cocaine. Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected. Stimulants rank second to marijuana in terms of current use. Depressants include barbiturates, sedatives and tranquilizers. Depressants are used legitimately for the treatment of psychological disorders. The Illinois Act 550 Cannabis Control Act states: (a) "Cannabis" includes marijuana, hashish and other substance which are identified as including any parts of the plant Cannabis Sativa, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of such plant, and any compound, manufacture, salt, deriv ate, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or resin, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Cannabis includes marijuana (pot, grass and weed) and Hashish (hash, hash oil). Marijuana is used illegitimately to induce states of euphoria, gaiety, detachment, relaxation, intoxication and focused awareness. Marijuana was the most commonly used illegal drug, mainly due to the inexpensive cost. While almost half of high seniors used marijuana at least once, thirty-seven percent said they had used it in the past year, and twenty-three percent said they had used it in the previous month.

Narcotics include opium, morphine, codeine, heroin (horse and snake) and methadone. Street uses of these drugs are intended to induce pleasure, euphoria, a lack of concern, and general feelings of well being. Hallucinogens include drugs such as Lysergic Acid Diathylamide LSD (acid), PCP (angel dust and hog) and Amphetamine. Illegal use of these drugs is intended to produce "mind expansion" hallucinations, creative mental states, and perceptual distortions-all of which have been popularly called "psychedelic experiences" or "trips".

Anabolic Steroids are used for the purpose of weight gain and body bulk. Steroids cause psychological problems, known as 'road rage. During road rage the user gets very angry and they could possibly swing punches aggressively at anyone within striking distance. Another psychological problem is addiction. Though the user has an already built body he or she thinks that steroids are still necessary to use to enhance performance. Users also experience depression during parts of the cycles when taking the drug.

Anabolic steroid users use the drug to increase muscle size and enhance performance, to excel in sports, to hit the winning home run, three point basket and touchdown. Society puts pressure on athletes to excel, by any means necessary. Inhalants include laughing gas and nitrous oxide. They are highly volatile substances which generally act as central nervous system depressants. GHB or Gamma-Hydroxybuyrate is an intoxicating chemical with medical and recreational uses. GHB is also known as the "date rape" drug.

GHB is available as an odorless, colorless, and nearly tasteless liquid; available as a powder, or in a capsule. GHB is a very powerful, dangerous, and addictive drug. Use of GHB can result in severe brain damage, coma, even death. It is illegal to have possession of the drug, to sell, buy, or produce it. Street terms include Georgia Home Boy, Liquid X, Liquid Ecstasy, Grievous Bodily Harm, and Scoop. Ecstasy, a street name given for the chemical MDMA, is a synthetic drug with many negative effects.

Ecstasy has similar structure to stimulants, like cocaine, and hallucinogenics like LSD. Ecstasy effects include brain damage, confusion, depression, dehydration, hyperthermia, increased sensitivity and paranoia. Ecstasy is ingested in either tablet or capsule form. Ecstasy is commonly used in bars, dance clubs and raves, used by middle and upper class children.

Since drug addiction goes hand-in-hand with many drugs, a steady source of gang member's income is assured. Gang members recruit young children to deal and carry drugs, sometimes as young as ten or eleven years old. If these members are arrested, they are likely to be treated less severely than teenagers. Youth gangs have concentrated on the crack / cocaine trade and, like outlaw motorcycle gangs are vertically integrated so that they produce and distribute drugs on both the wholesale and retail level. Drug use within the gang is fairly common, rarely to the point of addiction. Marijuana is the principle drug of choice.

Heavy drug use is detested by the gang members. Addicts cannot be trusted with gang plans or gang protection. The Illinois Act 600 Drug Paraphernalia Control Act states: (d) "Drug paraphernalia" means all equipment, products and materials of any kind which are peculiar to and marketing for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, repacking, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body cannabis or controlled substance in violation of the "Cannabis Control Act" or the "Illinois Controlled Substance Act". In conclusion, juvenile crime, as all crime has been increasing.

Brutal crime among young offenders also is increasingly evidenced in reports, particularly on urban areas. Ease of access to weapons; drug addiction; unemployment; and economic motives, are the more obvious circumstances leading to crime; but modern societal stress, breakdown of family life, deviant role models, threats of war and the confusion in values which produce unstable feelings and distorted ideas, probably all contribute to aggravate violence among youth. One view is that delinquent behavior develops when a youngster's rewards in terms of money and goods, excitement, fellowship or revenge outstrip the costs of getting caught. Cohen's theory people states juveniles are under a great deal of strain. Strain produces criminal activity. Delinquent subcultures have values that are in opposition to those of the dominant culture.

Cohen contends that crime culture existed in certain social groups and the individuals learned the value of the delinquent subculture through participation in gangs. Lower class children use drugs to escape the strain placed by the middle class. Even though many of them yearn to succeed according to middle-class standards, their lower-class socialization prevents them from achieving success. The anti social structure of cities also affects the why a boy and or girl joins a gang. If we try to deny a teen who seeks help, they will only turn to the streets, drugs, and gangs. When they turn rebellious they will commit crimes, minor or major.

Juvenile violence is a problem; it leads to crime and segregation. If it is not lessening, it will only keep doubling. And then the future of America will devour. Some of the main concerns of violence revolve around the family atmosphere. Some families are not creating a secured environment for their children. Instead, these children get exposed to illegal behavior and violent actions in the homes.

Family morals and values play an important role in the discipline and education of an adolescent. If parents teach their children positive values and morals, he or she will be good; if parents show children negative or no values, he or she will see badly. Everyone tries to find explanations of the causes and consequences of street violence and other aspects of the turbulent lives of young people. Yet, the problem facing our juveniles will not be solved over night.

But that is not a reason enough to ignore the problem. It will only make matters worse and continue to double crime through the years. It is frustrating to know that violence among the children of America is increasing in many aspects. The crimes are starting to vary. It's not like in the past, where kids only stole candies or disobeyed curfew laws. Now adolescents steal, murder, rape and use drugs.

This is not the America that we knew, this is a battle.

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