The Question Of Teenagers And Drugs Needs Our Undivided Attention
Sunday, August 24th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Drug use among teens has reached tragic levels. No matter how vigilant you are, your teens will definitely be introduced to drugs at school, the very place you believe to be a safe environment. Mrs. Reagan’s ‘Just say no to drugs’ campaign was a complete failure. The fact is that teenagers perceive adults as old stupid people that don’t know their head from a hole in the ground. Adults, try as they may, face a bitter war in safe guarding their young ones from the devastating effects of drugs.
The challenge is made more difficult by the fact that most of us have prescription medications in our cupboards. When confronting the issue of teens and drugs, you have to present a rational argument that distinguishes between necessary medications and street drugs. This isn’t easy. Some well known prescription medicines are being peddaled in schools as a way to get high. Teenagers don’t realize that these medications are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a way to control the use of specific narcotics. Without having experienced a legitimate need for these drugs themselves, they could well come to the conclusion that their parents are experiencing and liking some buzz that they are for some reason being denied.
Another problem with teaching kids about the issue of teen drug abuse is that this society does not make any distinction between drugs. Some pharmaceutical drugs are needed, but when it comes to our youth and drugs, we tell them that every drug is bad. This is incorrect. Some teens require specific drugs for a legitimate condition. Not used as prescribed, that medicine can produce a high in a kid who doesn’t need it. Sometimes, that medication can have disastrous consequences when used as a ‘recreational’ drug.
Children are not capable of making those distinctions. For example, a person with unbearable pain due to arthritis or cancer, could be prescribed codeine or another opiate to ease the pain. Kids don’t understand that this patient doesn’t get high. That drug only dulls the pain. However, in the world of kids and drugs, this narcotic becomes an opportunity toget a head change. They don’t know the difference.
One huge deception that encourages teenage drug use is the fable of marijuana. This street drug is made out to be the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same category as meth and crack cocaine. The second that high school child tries weed, the child sees that even though it makes them feel good, they can hide this new habit from their parents and it doesn’t make them crazy. They make the conclusion that the rest of the warnings issued on teens and drugs are lies. That’s the reason why they step into the grip of the truly dangerous drugs.
As a society, we need to teach our teens. Teach them the effects of drugs. Ice, crack, heroin and drugs like ‘ecstasy’ can ruin their lives or kill them. Be honest. We can help our children.Addiction is a terrible problem in our society today but with the “proper” education we can teach our future generations the realities of addictions and drug abuse.
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