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According to drugabuse.gov, in a survey of more than 46,000 teens, “8th, 10th, and 12th graders to be exact—showed that 13% of 8th graders, 30% of 10th graders, and 40% of 12th graders say they have used a drug at least once in the past year.”
Drugs aren't going away either. In fact, illicit drugs are on the rise. In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from 8.3 percent in 2002.
Drug abuse can cause physical complications such as stroke, irregular heartbeat, respiratory problems, hepatitis, HIV/AIDs, cancer, among countless more.
Drugs also affect your mood and can cause mood swings, anger issues, anxiety, isolation, and even depression, creating a feedback loop which feeds more drug addiction.

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As we said before, one of the largest ways to reduce stress levels is by avoiding drugs which alter your state of mind and degrade your bodies ability to functions.
Drugs can also hurt your body's ability to function correctly and can give your body permanent negatives which can follow you for the rest of your life. These impacts can forever alter your bodies ability to function correctly, and can cause lifelong untreatable consequences. Taylor S. Jensen write in her book: Understanding Drugs and Addiction: "People who do drugs, on average, make less, are less healthy, and are at risk for more accidents.
To a teens developing brain, these drugs also inhibit development as well as being more easy for young adults to become addicted to.These consequences are almost never thought through before use, and in this way, maintain their influence.

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So how can we as people avoid the rising popularity of drugs? Many people exercise to find what many call: “the runner’s high”. Exercising releases endorphins, raises mood, and keeps you in better shape, all things which help you stay away from drugs.
According to medicine.net, “Endorphins are the body's natural painkillers. They reduce feeling of sadness, and instead replace them with happiness and energy.”

Another way to cope is by talking with people, especially family. Most teens bottle up their feeling and try to keeps them away from their parents for fear of embarrassment, but it actually helps. Talking through feeling is the reason we still have therapists. Getting rid of the bottled up emotions leaves you feeling happier, and solidifies connections between people's, allowing for trust and responsibility to bloom. (kidshealth.org).

One more way people stay away from drugs is simple: blame it on your parents. Author Sean Covey offer this simple yet easy solution if you are ever offered illicit drugs. Saying things like “My parents will find out.” or, “My parents would be really mad.” is a silver bullet to avoiding drugs. It gives you a permanent solution which can work at any time for avoiding drugs. Sean offers a permanent, easy, and believable solution which can keep you out of so much harm in the future.

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However there is always a way to avoid being in these awkward situations. By being proactive, you can avoid larger struggles with many things in life, and avoiding drugs is no exception.
Staying away from people who are clearly drug users is a must to avoid these precarious positions in the first place. If you associate with people who have that mindset, you will want to fit in and soon find yourself experiment as well.
Teens who have used drugs in the past overwhelmingly (84%) did so because someone they knew did or had drugs and 31% felt pressure by them or a group of friends. (drugabuse.gov) Being close with people who pressure you to do thing which you aren't comfortable with or things that can negatively affect your future maybe aren't the kind of people you should be friends with.
By taking these steps into account when faced with pressures or expectations, the world of drugs can be a smaller part of your life, and those around you.

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Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "Understanding Drug Use and Addiction." NIDA. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2017.

"Commonly Abused Drugs Charts." NIDA. N.p., 15 May 2017. Web. 26 May 2017.

Covey, Sean. The 7 habits of highly effective teens. N.p.: Turtleback , 2014. Print.

"Drugs Information, Side Effects, Reviews and Dosage | Everyday Health."EverydayHealth.com. Everyday Health LLC, n.d. Web. 26 May 2017.

"Drugs." U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2017.

Jensen, Taylor S. Understanding Drugs and Drug Addiction: Treatment to Recovery and Real Accounts of Ex-addicts. Lexington, KY: JK, 2012. Print.

"Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects." Drugs.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2017.

"What You Need to Know About Drugs." KidsHealth. Ed. Mary L. Gavin. The Nemours Foundation, Jan. 2014. Web. 24 May 2017.