What do you want to look like?

Figure 1
Middle School to High School (2)

The big leap from Middle School to High School is coming up! Who's excited!? The narrow hallways filled with tall lockers lined up, the big high schoolers towering over others, the teachers yelling "get to class", and some students thinking about nothing else but going to the bathroom to do a line or shoot up drugs quick. Those very kids are the ones that various eyes double take or they often get asked, "are you feeling okay?". Most kids know there is something wrong with them because of their outside appearance but they don't exactly what is causing them to look the way they do. 

Well I do! Let's take a look. 

A popular senior girl is in the bathroom the same time you are. You see a white substance laid out in a row on the metal shelf underneath the mirror above the sink. You keep starring at it, wondering what it could be and then she asks if you wanna do a quick line of cocaine before class. She assures you that you will feel great but you can't get past how she looks compared to you.

Let's start with her skin. 

Figure 2. Girl looking in mirror (3)

You notice that her skin looks different than yours as she goes from looking at you to looking in the mirror above where her cocaine lays. Drugs can cause breakouts and acne on the face and body (1). Your skin can also become very dull and have sores/ scars from constantly picking at it (1). Don't forget the needle marks left on your from shooting up drugs! 

Next, you notice that when she lowers her head to snort the cocaine you suddenly see bald spots throughout her hair. This may sound crazy but drugs can cause hair loss in men including facial hair as well as hair loss in women (1)! 

In school most students favorite "subject" is lunch! Drugs (meth in particular), causes decrease in appetite, thus causing abusers to look very thin and skeletal (1).  You being just a freshman might wonder how in the world you could be taller than a big, old senior. Well, abusing steroids, a type of drug, can cause someone to stop growing (1). 

Figure 3. Teeth after and before the use of drugs (4)

Lastly, you notice her teeth as she smiles at you while asking if you want a hit. You are feet away but smell her breathe from where you're standing. She always has a water bottle tucked away tightly under her armpit. Why is this you may ask? Drugs (meth in particular), can cause dry mouth and poor dental hygiene (1). Poor dental hygiene can include rotten teeth, gum disease and bad breathe (1). Thus, answering why she has a water bottle at hand and her bad breathe.

The bell rings and you tell yourself you need to get to class. Although you are tempted to try something new, you don't want to catch yourself lookin' like that anytime soon! 

Drug abuse is a serious issue and in some situations if not treated the drug or it's withdraws can cause death in extreme cases. If you know anyone or you, yourself is suffering from drug abuse talk to someone or reach out and seek help. Click the link for help! https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov You wont regret it. 


References:

1. Just Think Twice. (n.d.). How Drugs Affect Your Looks And Your Body. Retrieved from https://www.justthinktwice.gov/consequences/health-consequences-using-drugs

2. Figure 1. Retrieved from https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/26/f6/c926f69f161fc71a515fedc2c9a6752f.png
3. Figure 2. Retrieved from 
https://www.justthinktwice.gov/sites/justthinktwice.com/files/girllookinginmirror.jpg
4. Figure 3. Retrieved from 
http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/2307128/83293459.jpg