Wonder

Research Outline

Prepared for Godfrey M. | Delivered December 2, 2019

Youth Drug Addicts

Goals

Provide information on the number of youth drug addicts in the world, as well as effects of drugs, number of users, how drugs are transported, and overdose effects in order to gain a holistic understanding of the impact of drugs on young people globally

Early Findings

It is estimated that 164 million people worldwide have a drug use disorder.
 167,000 deaths were caused by illicit drugs in 2017.
Substance use disorders contribute to 1-5% of total disease in the world. However, this rate is higher in the US, over 5%. 
It's noted that the prevalence of drug use disorders is highest for people in their 20s and late teens. 
Youth are often involved in the drug supply chain, including cultivation, manufacturing, and trafficking of illegal drugs, as they lack other opportunity for social and economic advancements. 
There are noted to be high levels of substance use amongst street youth, and youth in extreme poverty around the world. However, there is no estimate of the exact number of these youths that are addicted to drugs. 
It's noted that drug use among young people varies quite a bit between countries and economic circumstances. 
 Two key types of drug youth occur among young people; a)affluent youth using club drugs in night clubs and recreational settings and b)use of drugs by street youth to cope with difficult circumstances. 
Opioids caused the most harm, accounting for 76% of deaths related to drug use disorder globally. 