As an eighth-grader in middle school, I want to make a difference in teen drug abuse in my community and the world.

The most commonly used drug is marijuana, in which the chemical THC, which has been increasing in potency since the 1970s, affects your health.

Drug use has been a large issue, especially in the United States, over the past years with youth. Studies show that 6.5 percent of eighth-graders, 17 percent of 10th-graders, and 22.9 percent of 12th-graders have tried drugs. The effects of getting high include loss of coordination, memory loss, trouble with decision-making, increase in sexual behavior and potential addiction.

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