Drugs: What's the "Worst"?

• Position: STUDENT WORK SHEET

Every year during Drug Facts Chat Day, teens ask, "What is the worst drug?" Different scientists may give different answers, but they all agree that the answer depends on what you mean by "worst."

For example, "worst" can be the drug(s) that causes the most deaths, or one that leads to the most emergency room visits, or that has the highest rate of addiction. You could also measure "worst" by how many people a drug holds back from living up to their potential by causing a drop in school performance.

And the "worst" drug for one person can be different than the "worst" drug for another, since a drug's effects depend on age, genetics, and life experiences.

Review the facts in the table and use them to respond to the scenario that follows.

TYPE OF DANGER DRUG FACT Emergency The three drugs most often mentioned in emergency room Room Visits visits related to drug use are cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Addiction The drugs that have the highest risk for addiction are heroin, cigarettes, and cocaine. Overall Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death Deaths in the United States-causing almost half a million deaths each year, many of them from cancer. Overdose 52 percent of drug overdose deaths in the United States Deaths are related to prescription drugs. Car Crashes A 2009 study found that 18 percent of drivers killed in an accident tested positive for at least one drug...