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Most Addictive Drugs Being Abused by Teenagers According to Business Insider

It's no secret... America is addicted to prescription and illicit drugs like never before. With pharmaceutical companies manufacturing enough drugs to kill every man, woman, and child, coupled with doctors receiving millions of dollars to over-prescribing said drugs, it's no wonder why millions of our nation's youth are addicted to harmful substances. 


As it currently stands, America's youth are in the midst of a drug crisis. Prescription opioids, for instance, are the third-leading cause of death among young people. While there have yet to be any finished studies on the subject, several clinical studies are currently underway about the impact covid shutdowns have had on teenage drug use. As of this writing, experts are not optimistic, many feeling that covid-19 has had detrimental effects on teenage drug abuse. 

What are the most addictive drugs? This article gives an intimate look at our country's most abused drugs.

Author's Note: As a parent, it is crucial to know the potential dangers your teenage daughter faces coming into the new year. Unfortunately, drug addiction continues to be a severe issue with today's teenage girl culture. Suffice to say, it's not a bad idea for parents of adolescent girls to be educated on the most widely used drugs being abused by American teenagers. 

What Are The Most Widely Abused Drugs In America? Read Below for An Intimate Look at America's Most Abused Drugs.

  • Heroin - The brain converts heroin into morphine. This means that the brain binds molecules into cells that affect how we perceive pain and reward. However, heroin is easy to overdose on as it slows the user's heart rate to fatally low beats-per-minute.
  • Cocaine - It only takes moments for cocaine to flood the brain with the feel-good chemical known as dopamine. The sensation of pleasure is so intense that studies show animals choose it over food until they starve to death.
  • Nicotine - With the main ingredient being tobacco, nicotine is sucked through the lungs, with drug effects peaking at 10 seconds. Since the pleasures felt from smoking are so fleeting, the user must smoke frequently. The frequency of which one must use causes users to become addicted almost instantly.
  • Barbiturates - Barbiturates are prescribed for those who suffer from anxiety and insomnia. However, at low doses, barbiturates can give users the sensation of euphoria. Moreover, large quantities of use slow down the user's heart rate to fatally deficient beats-per-minute - similar to large doses of heroin abuse.
  • Alcohol - slows users thinking, breathing, and heart rate. The drug interferes with messengers in the brain called 'excitatory' messengers while simultaneously boosting 'inhibitory' messengers, giving the user feelings of pleasure. Alcohol is perhaps the most abused drug out there and causes thousands of deaths per year.

Clearview Girls Academy is an Accredited Therapeutic Program

At Clearview, our students receive an individualized treatment plan aligned with their medical, emotional, and psychological needs and issues. Our multi-disciplinary psychiatric and behavioral staff are dedicated to serving each resident is starting a new and more productive life path. The clinical staff, both on and off-campus, is made up of psychiatric specialists, primary care physicians, a dentist, an orthodontist, & licensed psychotherapists, as well as teachers, mentors & residential care staff.

Often, teens enrolled in Clearview Girls Academy have a history of low to moderate substance use. We can help teens understand the risks associated with substance abuse and help them value their future in a way that is not a conceivable option when they return home. Our therapeutic program has successfully helped teens turn from substance abuse to other more positive outlets that build instead of destroying.

Use of any of the following substances or narcotics that become out of control and lead to impairment or distress: alcohol, amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, nicotine, opioids, phencyclidine, and sedatives. This disorder includes symptoms of tolerance, a possible manifestation of withdrawal symptoms, and the use of such substances must interfere with daily functioning.

For immediate assistance, please call us today at (888) 796-5484.

**Note: This article was created for informational purposes only. That said, it is not meant to be a complete list of all known drug and alcohol disorders but rather a deep dive into the most common disorders present among youth that Clearview Girls Academy serves. For further information, Clearview Girls Academy recommends consulting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V-TR for further understanding and information about any of the above disorders; please consult the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V-TR.