Male Baldness Info

I have to write an essay on drug abuse. I’m in middle school BTW. Please help and tell me what you think. Here it is.
I know what you thinking. Oh, great. Another ‘Drugs are bad! ‘, Speech. But even if you have your doubts, they’re more important then you know!
Now I’m going to talk about different types of drugs. For instance, Marijuana is actually very popular. You would probably know it by ‘weed ‘, ‘pot’, and ‘grass’. But guess what? It’s illegal! Bad. Being caught having the drug can very easily lead you to jail. Here’s a fun fact. In 2006, 25 million Americans age 12 and older had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. A survey showed that 10.3% of 8th graders, 24.6% of 10th graders, and 31.7% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year. Just think, a kid in your class could be on drugs. Just think, that’s just ONE drug. Let’s take a look at Nicotine. Nicotine is the drug in tobacco leaves. One pure drop could kill someone! Nicotine is in cigarettes. It is also chewed, spit, and sniffed as Tobacco. More than 3 and one-half million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 use tobacco-that’s about 15 percent of teens that age. Of those, just over 3 million, or 13 percent, smoke cigarettes. In the U.S., 66.5 million people, or about 29 percent of the population, use tobacco. Wow. Even I had that face of shock when I read that. I’m eleven, almost twelve. And to know that twelve year olds use tobacco? Drugs. Six years ago they were in kindergarten playing house, or tag! I’m going to talk about another common drug called Steroids. Steroids are used to build muscles. Great huh? Get some killer abs, impress the girls . . . Lets see the side effects, eh? Acne, stunt in growth, high blood pressure, trembling, and a rare liver disease. For girls, they can grow facial hair, baldness and a deepened voice. For guys, a type of cancer, and development of breasts. Behavior can include mood swings. Thankfully, few teens have used steroids. Most teens are smart and stay away from steroids. As part of a 2008 survey teens were asked if they ever tried steroids—even once. Only 1.4% of 8th and 10th graders ever tried steroids and 2.2% of 12th graders. However, among those who do abuse them steroid abuse is higher among males than females but is growing most rapidly among young women. Abuse is also well known to occur in a number of professional sports, including fields such as bodybuilding and baseball.
Now I am going to talk about how addictive drugs are. One hit. Oh, it’s no big deal. Before you know it you take another hit. Eh. Third hit . . . you’re hooked. Drugs are very addictive. Most commonly cigarettes are. Patches and medicine have been suggested, but they can fail quite easily. So? You might be wondering, why don’t they just quit? Here’s the thing . . . They CAN’T! Nicotine for example, is highly addictive. Your body begins to need it. Do you remember when you had to break the habit of depending on your pacifier? Or sucking your thumb? Picking your nose? Biting your nails? Even picking at a scab. Drug abuse becomes a HABIT. You begin to DEPEND on it. You begin to NEED it. To feel good. Most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial sensation of euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the “high” is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased energy. To feel better. Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depression begin abusing drugs in an attempt to lessen feelings.To do better. The increasing pressure that some individuals feel to chemically enhance or improve their athletic or cognitive performance. Curiosity and “because others are doing it.” In this respect adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of the strong influence of peer pressure. These are all some reason people take drugs.
Now I’m going to tell you some ways to tell if someone is abusing drugs. If a person fits under this category, I suggest you talk to person, or contact a parent, family member, or even the school principal. Physical Signs: Change in sleeping patterns ,Bloodshot eyes Slurred or agitated speech, Sudden or dramatic weight loss or gain, Skin abrasions/bruises, Neglected appearance/poor hygiene, Sick more frequently ,Accidents or injuries, Behavioral Signs: Hiding use; lying and covering up, Sense that the person will “do anything” to use again regardless of consequences ,Loss of control or choice of use (drug-seeking behavior), Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, Emotional instability, Hyperactive or hyper-aggressive, Depression , Missing school or work, Failure to fulfill responsibilities at school or work, Complaints from teachers or co-workers, Reports of intoxication at school or work, Furtive or secretive behavior, Avoiding eye contact, Locked doors, Going out every night, Change in friends