Drug use, a popular pastime among adolescents, needs to be addressed more carefully now more than ever. Drug use among teenagers leaves permanent marks on the brain and can cause many more problems later in life. Teen drug use is a real problem and needs to be addressed. According to medicne.net, "Individuals who begin using drugs as young adults are at greater risk of becoming addicted than those who begin using drugs as adults due to the immaturity of the adolescent brain, particularly that part of the brain that It controls impulses.” This means that although popular belief states that drug use has no effect on the brain, it actually does and can cause major problems in the future drugs, such as social pressure, other illnesses such as depression, and can also be linked to genetics. Many social situations put teenagers in positions where they feel the only way to gain acceptance or "be cool" is to take drugs Teens may struggle with self-confidence and the need to please people. Both boys and girls experience these problems. Although most people believe that obtaining drugs is difficult, the reality varies greatly. In fact, according to a recent study, "in 2010, about 30 percent of 10th graders had used marijuana in the past year. More than two-thirds of 10th graders said they could easily access that drug." This easy availability makes the use of drugs much more convenient. Because if drugs are hard to come by, fewer people will use them. Also according to a study conducted by Dosomething.org, "More than 60% of adolescents those drugs were sold, used or kept in school." Schools host a simple means for kids to administer drugs, and this circumstance is... the focus of the paper... students use drugs, and by noticing the symptoms and signs of drug use, one can help la cessation of drug use. Parents also play an important role in influencing and controlling adolescent drug use. By learning about the severity of drug use and having the ability to notice the signs, people around the world can stop drug use among teenagers and save lives. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com and Web. November 26, 2013. Dryden-Edwards, Roxanne, MD. “Teen Drug Abuse Symptoms, Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Treatment - MedicineNet.” MedicineNet. Ed. WILLIAM C. SHIEL JR., FACP, FACR,. MedicineNet and Web. November 25, 2013. “Overview of Topics Related to Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Abuse.” WebMD. Heatlhwise, March 16, 2011. Web. November 24, 2013. “Teens: Alcohol and Other Drugs.” Teenagers: alcohol and other drugs. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, July 2013. Web. November 23. 2013.