How the Use of Drugs and Alcohol Affect High School Achievement

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How the Use of Drugs and Alcohol Affect High School Achievement

A student at Lakeside High School, called Ann for purposes of privacy, had a grade point average of 3.6 through her sophomore year. During her junior year, she dropped out of extra-curricular activities and became withdrawn from other social activities. As she was introduced to the world of hard drugs, Ann’s grades dropped to C’s and D’s. At her graduation party, she was rushed to the hospital for a heroin overdose. Ann’s grades plunged as a result of heavy drug use, a likely combination of emotional and physical degrading upon herself. Society as a whole degrades itself in this manner, whether the individuals themselves realize it or not. Achievement in high schools today is lacking greatly because of the societal problem of teen drug abuse. (Callahan 1)

The achievement of high school students is affected by the usage of drugs and alcohol. Many factors can lead to the usage of drugs. There is an apparent correlation between family income and drug use. The pressures exerted by society and peers also increase the chance of high school students to use drugs or alcohol. Students who are under the influence of mind-altering chemicals cannot learn as well, lack motivation, and risk permanent loss of memory and ability to learn. Many programs have been put into effect in the last five years to help combat this social disease, such as D.A.R.E. This is a serious problem in today’s society because not only is the usage illegal, it causes society as a whole to degrade its social climate for growth. (Schydlower 1)

Some of the most common factors that seem to have a direct correlation with drug use are peer pressure, high unemployment rate, low paying jobs, continued poverty, health problems, and lack of health insurance. There are many reasons why a high school student may use alcohol or drugs, but there are five main reasons as thought by Cepulkauskaite. They may feel the need to use drugs in order to feel grown up, to fit in and belong, to relax and feel good, to take risks and rebel, or to satisfy curiosity. Students yearn for social acceptance more than academic achievement, which is a problem that society continues to fight. These causes are among the many that may or may not lead to drug usage. (Hayslett 1; Cepulkauskaite 2)

The effects of drug abuse are many and range from coma to ...

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... Executive Summary of the 2000 Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude, & Use Survey (PPAAUS). 2000. March 23, 2003.

Futris, Ted G. and Urvia McDowell. Adolescents at Risk: Illicit Drug Use. 2002. April 6, 2003.

Hayslett, Chandra. Alcohol, Drugs Affect Dropout Rate-Study. February 13, 1996. March 9, 2003.

Jacobus, Karen. Effects of Drug Use. 1999. April 6, 2003.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Prevention. School Health Policies and Programs Study. September 30, 2002. April 6, 2003.

Parents. The Anti-Drug. Winter 2002. April 7, 2003.

Pride Says Teen Drug Use at 10-Year Low. July 19, 2002. April 6, 2003.

Schuster, Eli. Education, Poverty Linked. November 26, 2002. April 9, 2003.

Schydlower, Manuel and Committee on Substance Abuse. The Role of Schools in Combating Substance Abuse. May 1995. March 9, 2003.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. September 3, 2002. March 9, 2003.

Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use Among High School Students – United States, 1991. August 5, 1998. March 9, 2002.

Your Time-Their Future. Overview. 1999. April 9, 2003.

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