Eastern Religion Research Paper
Religion on Adolescents
How Religion Can Affect an Adolescent’s Well Being
By
Max Terrien
April.11.2013
Eastern Religion RELS 1275
1. Introduction
Young adults and adolescents are at a stage where they are energetic, young and full of life. This is the stage before growing up to be an adult, who needs a job and need to act mature. In our modern society, we hear more news about teenagers that has had an accident from drug use, alcohol, and even unprotected sex. It is now a vicious cycle amongst adolescents. We all understand this difficult phase because of the social pressure created from society. People need to be accepted into groups and show that by taking risks. It is most definitely a psychological factor, like drinking alcohol that encourages them to try at a young age. Alcohol is a taste that people develop to like further in life. For example wine, where it is normal in my culture that a tasty glass of wine for adults can help relax. On the contrary, teenagers like to abuse the substance, in order to feel accepted and do so until they are in a state of intoxication or worse, poisoned. It is a part of the culture nowadays. Statistics show that already 51.7% of the teenagers in eighth grade have tried alcohol in America, while by twelve grade, 80% have tried (Teen Help). Even though alcohol is illegal to purchase under the age of 21, adolescents still find a way to purchase it. If the state cannot fully protect this law, what can we do to discourage teenagers from binge drinking, especially at a young age?
If the government can’t really protect its law and underage students still find a way to purchase alcohol, what else can we do? I chose to write on the topic of substance abuse of adolescents because it is primarily the culture only seen in America. I am from France so I wanted to see the difference in culture. I am sure there are many students that have tried alcohol at a young age in France as well, but there is a lower percentage of
How Religion Can Affect an Adolescent’s Well Being
By
Max Terrien
April.11.2013
Eastern Religion RELS 1275
1. Introduction
Young adults and adolescents are at a stage where they are energetic, young and full of life. This is the stage before growing up to be an adult, who needs a job and need to act mature. In our modern society, we hear more news about teenagers that has had an accident from drug use, alcohol, and even unprotected sex. It is now a vicious cycle amongst adolescents. We all understand this difficult phase because of the social pressure created from society. People need to be accepted into groups and show that by taking risks. It is most definitely a psychological factor, like drinking alcohol that encourages them to try at a young age. Alcohol is a taste that people develop to like further in life. For example wine, where it is normal in my culture that a tasty glass of wine for adults can help relax. On the contrary, teenagers like to abuse the substance, in order to feel accepted and do so until they are in a state of intoxication or worse, poisoned. It is a part of the culture nowadays. Statistics show that already 51.7% of the teenagers in eighth grade have tried alcohol in America, while by twelve grade, 80% have tried (Teen Help). Even though alcohol is illegal to purchase under the age of 21, adolescents still find a way to purchase it. If the state cannot fully protect this law, what can we do to discourage teenagers from binge drinking, especially at a young age?
If the government can’t really protect its law and underage students still find a way to purchase alcohol, what else can we do? I chose to write on the topic of substance abuse of adolescents because it is primarily the culture only seen in America. I am from France so I wanted to see the difference in culture. I am sure there are many students that have tried alcohol at a young age in France as well, but there is a lower percentage of
Cited: Smith, C., W. Kenan, and L. Pearce. National Study of Youth & Religion, 2008. 0. <http://www.youthandreligion.org/sites/youthandreligion.org/files/imported/publications/docs/w2_pub_report_final.pdf>. Bakhtivedenta, . Bhagavad-gita as it is. 1986. Warner, Stephen. "Youth and Religion Project." master., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2002