Majority of the times I have walked into a restroom at school, a pungent smell of weed smacks me in the face. The bathroom itself smells bad already so why add onto the bad smell? Aside from the smell, it is common to see someone getting high as if it’s nothing. At times I ignore it but at other times it makes me wonder what got them into drug use. Was it curiosity? Peer pressure? Influence? These factors have been known to influence drug use amongst teens because they are considered to be more vulnerable at this age. It saddens me to see people around my age using it on a daily basis forgetting the harm it causes towards health. Why has drug use become so common amongst teens? 

In today’s world, drug use amongst teens has become more accepted in society. From my experience, I have friends who smoke marijuana or drink alcohol on a daily basis but I never say anything about it. I never say anything because I have always thought it was “none of my business”. No one really says anything out of feeling like it is not one’s place to be commenting about someone’s drug use. It is hard to reach out and try helping a friend, out of fear of ruining a friendship. Although, it is important to keep in mind that they’re struggling and don’t know how to stop. 

A recent study in 2023 found that among the 2.08 million of nationwide drug users were aged 12 to 17 years old and “83.88% report using marijuana in the last month” (National Center for Drug Use Statistics). The amount of teenagers smoking marijuana is high, meaning that these people are slowly harming their health overtime. I have seen friends showing up to class drowsy and completely out of it, not taking into account how obvious it is that they look high. It is obvious at times how drugs have been taking a toll on their physical and mental state. 

I encourage others to speak to their friends or loved ones who face addiction despite it being a hard topic to discuss. It is important to let them know that you care and are willing to help them face their addiction. 

Sincerely,

Sherlyn Samano