Gore 1

Jenna Gore
DeBock
English IV Honors
March 13, 2015
Research Question: What are some substances that can cause teenagers to commit crimes?
Working Thesis: Alcohol and drugs can cause teenagers to commit crimes.
Refined Thesis: Alcohol, drugs, and peer pressure can cause teenagers to commit crimes and go
down the wrong path of life.
Annotated Bibliography
Alters, Sandra M. "Alcohol, Tobacco, Illicit Drugs, and Youth." Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit
Drugs. 2007 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
In Sandra Alters article, she provides numerous charts which show the percentage of
high school students who drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, or smoked marijuana and to what
extent. This information reveals the amount of students who are involved in actions that are
illegal for their age. Many minors reveal that starting these bad habits are related to who
surrounds the preteens in their daily life. Alters also goes into detail about what percentage of
drug users or alcohol drinkers may attend a four-year college or become alcoholics later in their
lifetime. In this article, Alters goes into detail with charts and data that supports the refined thesis
that alcohol and drugs can cause young adults to make bad life decisions.

Gore 2

Snow, Misti. "Young People Talk About Drugs." Drugs. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego:
Greenhaven Press, 2002. Teen Decisions. Rpt. from "Kids Offer Sobering Look at Illegal
Drug and Alcohol Use." Minneapolis Star-Tribune 8 Jan. 2001. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
Snows article gives realistic advice given by teenagers and preteens that have been
involved in situations that involve alcohol and drugs. The article states reasons why juveniles
may partake in activities including drugs and alcohol. Educating minor about the life-long effects
of these substances could potentially prevent them from trying or experimenting with alcohol
and drugs. Involving the school systems by conducting searches and drug tests could bring the
substance abuse to a minimum. The personal aspect of this article that includes the opinions of
teenagers provides a more realistic and understanding point of view. In this article, Snow gives
statements from young people that describe their personal experiences with drugs and alcohol
that provides evidence for the refined thesis statement.
Wiloch, Thomas. "Crime, Alcohol, and Drugs." Crime: A Serious American Problem. Detroit:
Gale, 2005. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10
Mar. 2015.
Thomas Wiloch brings information that states that drug abuse violations are on
the top of the list of crimes in 2002. It also shows the drug use by adults in specific cities and
states of the United States. The rate of drug use is continuing to grow since 1990. By showing
the drug related homicides, it is apparent that drugs can lead to serious adult crimes. He also says
that drug use may lead the user to commit crimes to acquire money. Wilochs article supports the
refined thesis that drugs and alcohol contribute to the crimes of juveniles by providing graphs
and charts that show the most popular crimes and alcohol-related and drug arrests by age.