Among 12 or 13 year olds, 1.5 percent used prescription-type drugs such as Xanax, Percocet and oxycontin and 1 percent used marijuana. A very good way to prevent teens from using drugs would be to state the dangers and effects of such drugs. With 14 or 15 year olds, marijuana was the most commonly used drug at which studies shown 5 percent of all teens used. It also was the most commonly used drug among 16 or 17 year olds at 12.5 percent. These readings were recorded in 2008 and the number has significantly dropped since.

The most popular drug among 2.9 million teenagers ages 12 to 17 was marijuana at 56% usage rate. The substance in marijuana is THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Signs of using marijuana usage are rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased rate of breathing, red eyes, dry mouth, increased appetite also called "the munchies" and slowed reaction time. Other words for marijuana are weed, pot, cannabis, grass and Kush. Many experts also believe that marijuana is physically addictive. Symptoms of withdrawal from pot might include aggression, anxiety, depressed mood and decreased appetite. This can be very bad for people who start to smoke at such a young age.

The second most popular drug among 2.9 million teenagers ages 12 to 17 were Pain Killers at a 22.5% usage rate. Popular pain killers are Xanax, Percocet, and Oxycontin. Teens usually get these drugs from people who really need them such as cancer patients and other sick people. The effects of these pain killers are very devastating and can cause an overdose. Some of the effects are constipation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, increased risk of heart attack, coma and death. Other names for these drugs are hill-billy heroin, Oxy 80, Perk 30, and jackpots.

The third most popular drug among 2.9