Many teens are now fighting drugs instead of taking them.

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Drug abuse: Why many teens now fight it!

Drugs are people-wreckers. That is why many teens now steer clear of getting involved with illegal drugs.

For about 40 years from the 1960s, many young people thought that taking drugs was being cool, even if the drugs did cause more problems than they solved. But smart kids soon realized that drugs were killing their friends, causing sickness and problems with money, and creating barriers with people they otherwise could have related to.

Youth wisdom is becoming stronger in many areas. Many teens are starting to rethink what is cool and what is not. They don't think it's cool to make yourself sick from drugs. Or always have no money because you've wasted it on drugs. Or being unable to hold down a job. Or have people always nag you because they can see the damage you are doing because of your drug abuse.

Former Miss USA Susie Castillo (pictured above) has been a great anti-drugs campaigner.

Is marijuana harmless?

One of the persistent lies that teens hear is that marijuana is a safe drug. Supposedly, marijuana is no more harmful than tobacco. But studies have shown that is false.

Researchers at the University of California tested marijuana to see its effects. They found that an ingredient of marijuana, called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), causes cancerous tumors. They also found that THC doesn't allow your body to fight viruses and infections well.

This means if you use marijuana you are deciding that you want to be sick more. The university researchers also found that marijuana smoke contains four times more dangerous tar than tobacco smoke, so is much more likely to cause lung cancer. This means that if you use marijuana after learning this, you are deciding you would rather get lung cancer than not get it.

And it is false that rock stars are all into drugs. One long-time campaigner against drugs is rock guitarist Ted Nugent. Nugent supports the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) law enforcement program, and has steered many teens away from destroying themselves with alcohol and drugs.

A further problem: A British study of 12,000 women found that babies born to mothers who smoked marijuana once a week had a lower birth weight. And this may lead to diabetes, heart disease, reduced intelligence, and high blood pressure in later life.

Big marijuana = smaller brain

Australian researchers announced in June 2008 that heavy marijuana use seems to cause two important brain structures to shrink, which can affect memory, emotion, fear and aggression.

The study, published in the American Medical Association's journal Archives of General Psychiatry, also found that heavy cannabis users earned lower scores in a verbal learning task — trying to recall a list of 15 words.

Mark and Jonathan's story

Mark's friends regarded him as a loser. He didn't do well at school, his parents split up when he was 14, they left him and his brothers to look after themselves, and he was always getting into trouble. Jonathan was just the opposite. He did well in everything he tried. He was popular at school, his parents were doctors, and he always had money.

But something changed.

Mark makes good

When Mark's father walked out, the family needed money desperately. So Mark called at all the stores in his area looking for work. He finally got a part-time job selling burgers. This didn't give him much money, but it was better than nothing. He learned to cook, and decided he would like to be a chef.

Mark's boss said he would train Mark, and as time went on Mark became a cook at the burger restaurant with higher pay. One of the other workers at the restaurant, Justin, helped run a Baptist youth group. Justin invited Mark to the youth group's fun events. Mark was not a Christian, but thought this would be a good way to make friends. He started attending church, then became a Christian one Sunday morning by asking Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of his life from that time on.

Mark found that one of the other guys in the youth group worked at a large city restaurant, and the restaurant was looking for a trainee chef. Mark applied. He got the job after his friend in the youth group recommended him, and loved the work so much that he eventually became a well-paid chef. He earned good money while doing something he loved.

Jonathan loses everything

Jonathan's story ended tragically. His parents gave him everything he wanted, including a large allowance. But he laughed at Christians who tried to get him to come to the church youth group. Instead, he started buying drugs. He tried marijuana, ecstasy, then heroin and crack. He was always sick, lost interest in his studies, and stole money to pay for his expensive drug addiction.

One rainy night Jonathan landed in jail when a police bust caught him selling drugs. He lost his reputation, money, and friends.

What does the Bible say?

The Bible says your body is a temple for God who dwells in you (1 Corinthians 6:19), and it is not your own. Jesus Christ paid the highest price imaginable so you could live (1 Corinthians 6:20). Therefore you have to look after your body. Filling it with drugs, tobacco, or alcohol is not looking after it.

Groups such as Teen Challenge have countless tragic stories about teens who have wrecked their lives with drugs. If you are on drugs now, get off them as fast as you can before they drain your money, health, and self-esteem.

If you are not on drugs, great! Make sure you have the courage and persistence to refuse them. There are no good stories about people who stay on illegal drugs.

Related topics:

• Christian teens and alcohol don't mix!
• What do Christian teens mean when they say they are “born again”?
• Use your watch as a compass.
• Peer pressure: Is it easier for Christian teens to resist it?
• What's wrong with teenage smoking?

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