Illicit drug use poses a serious and grim problem in America, and with its ever-increasing population there are an increasing number of young adolescents who use narcotics. There is no group of people more affected by this problem than young high school adolescents. Illegal drug use can inflict serious harm on America and its citizens every year. Such drugs include: heroin, marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines. These drugs can have negative effects on every aspect of your life along with many consequences and can lead to many health problems, from organ dysfunction to nervous system malfunction. Fortunately, treatment programs and prevention methods exist to address drug-related problems. Drug use among high school students is widespread everywhere. As mentioned above, drug use can lead to many health problems. Different drugs cause different impacts on health, but they are all similar in their effects. It can weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections, can cause cardiovascular conditions ranging from abnormal heart rate to heart attacks, cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and even cause seizures. It will also cause strokes and widespread brain damage that can impact all aspects of daily life by causing problems with memory, attention and decision making, including prolonged mental confusion and permanent brain damage (effects of drug abuse and addiction). Illicit drug use not only affects the person using the drug, but also those around that individual. Their behavior affects the health of others and can spill over into their lives with a palpable, perceptible, and sometimes permanent impact. High school students who use illegal drugs will experience decreased performance in their education. “Academic performance is reduced due to impaired memory and reduced problem-solving ability” (The Truth About Drugs). Loss of coordination and sprains can also affect where the student is, whether at an after-school activity or on the street, putting people's lives in danger. Ultimately, the main consequence of drug abuse is