Painter 1

Taleeyah K. Painter

Professor Dunham

English 1201

3 February 2019

“Are Teenagers replacing Drugs with Smartphones?”

Matt Richtel, author of “Are teenagers replacing drugs with smartphone” writes that the

downfall of opioids may be caused from entertainment of computers and cell phones. In the past

year the percentage of drug usage by teenagers is at its all time low. Along with marijuana at its

lowest percentage of usage. Researchers state that “It still needs to be proved”. Many researches

wish that the trend continues to grow and the opioid usage decreases. Some individuals seem to

think that more issues are concluded from the devices, rather than the opiods. Richtel shows

many researches that are wanting the opioid usage to decrease.

Although there is many percentages that provides information towards the conclusion

why the usage of opioids is at its lowest, researchers say these still need facts. Cell phones are

also a large problem, they are addicting and a 2015 reports states that 73 percent of teenegers

have a cell phone. It is said that cell phones are being used more than opioids. Although the

usage of opioids is decreasing, the usage of cell phones are increasing, which are also addicting.

Even though there is a lot of information put towards the downfall of opioids in the past

few years, researchers are continuing to develop further research towards the increase of cell

phone usage and the decrease of opioids and the connection between them.

Works Cited
 Painter 2

Richtel, Matt. “Are Teenagers Replacing Drugs With Smartphones?” The New York

Times, The New York Times, 13 Mar. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/health/teenagers-

drugs-smartphones.html.