Low Self-Esteem and Teen Marijuana Use

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that teen use of illegal drugs such as marijuana is high, and appears to be on the increase, in the West. It is suggested that this is because many teens have poor self-esteem, and therefore they are likely to turn to destructive behaviours, such as using marijuana and other illicit substances. This essay draws on research to show that this is a valid explanation for the high incidence of marijuana use by teens in the West. The writer maintains that it seems very likely that low self-esteem can lead to substance abuse in teenagers. The writer concludes that increased use of marijuana among teens in the West is partly a result of the fact that many teens have poor self-esteem.

From the Paper:

"Similar studies by other researchers have yielded similar results for girls. For example, several studies indicate that girls who have self-esteem and body image issues can turn to drugs. Unfortunately, such self-esteem and body image issues are wide spread in adolescent girls. One study showed that many girls go through a dramatic transition in early adolescence, and that this transition is characterized by issues around body image and low self-esteem. To make matters worse, research has turned up the unsurprising finding that girls with low self-esteem find it harder to cope with the usual stressors of adolescence. Similarly to the research with boys, researchers have found that pre-adolescent girls with low self-esteem are much likelier to abuse drugs by the time they reach the age of 15. Thus, the age of beginning to use drugs such as marijuana appears to be older than girls - but nevertheless, like boys, there seems to be a link between low self-esteem and marijuana and other illicit drug use."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alcoholism & Substance Abuse. "Pre-Teen Low Self-Esteem Linked to Drug Use." Buddy T, Your Guide to Alcoholism & Substance Abuse. 2006. Retrieved from http://alcoholism.about.com/od/tipsforparents/a/blfsu060408.htm
• Earleywine, Mitch. Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
• Lawson, Erma Jean. "The Role of Smoking in the Lives of Low-Income Pregnant Adolescents: A Field Study." Adolescence 29.113 (1994): 61+.
• Lerner, Richard M., and Nancy L. Galambos. "Adolescent Development: Challenges and Opportunities for Research, Programs, and Policies." Annual Review of Psychology (1998): 413+.
• Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President. "Girls and Drugs." February 9, 2006. Retrieved from http://www.streetdrugs.org/pdf/girls_and_drugs.pdf

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