The Question Of Teens And Drug Abuse Requires Our Undivided Attention

Drug use among teenagers has reached tragic levels. No matter how on top of it you are, your teens are going to be exposed to drugs at school, the very place you think should be a safe environment. Mrs. Reagan’s ‘Just say no to drugs’ campaign fell flat on its face. The fact is that teenagers perceive adults as old stupid people that have never seen the outside of a paper bag. Adults, try as they may, face an uphill war in safe guarding their children from the ravaging effects of drugs.

The battle is made tougher by the fact that most of us have prescription medications in our cupboards. When confronting the issue of teenagers and drugs, you have to present a sound argument that distinguishes between necessary prescriptions and illegal drugs. This isn’t easy. Some well known prescription medicines are being sold at school as a way to catch a buzz. Teens don’t know that these medications are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a method to control the use of certain narcotics. Not having experienced a real need for these drugs themselves, they may well conclude that their parents are experiencing and liking some high that they are for some reason being denied.

One more problem with teaching children about the issue of teen drug abuse is that this society does not make any distinction between drugs. Some medicinal drugs have a place, but when it comes to teens and drugs, we say that every drug is bad. This is incorrect. Some kids need medications for a legitimate condition. Not used correctly, that medication can get a child high who doesn’t need it. Sometimes, that drug can have fatal consequences when taken as a ‘recreational’ drug.

Children are not capable of making those distinctions. For example, a person with extreme pain due to arthritis or cancer, could be prescribed codeine or another opiate to ease the pain. Children don’t comprehend that this patient doesn’t get high. That pain killer only dulls the pain. However, in the world of teens and drugs, this potentially dangerous drug becomes an opportunity tocatch a buzz. They don’t know the difference.

One big lie that encourages teenage drug use is the fable of marijuana. This street drug is posited as the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same bag as heroin and crack cocaine. The same houy that grade school kid tries weed, the kid sees that although it gets them high and they like it, they can hide this new habit from their parents and it doesn’t make them crazy. They conclude that the rest of the warnings about kids and drugs are deceptions. That’s the reason why they step into the jaws of the really dangerous drugs.

As a nation, we need to educate our children. Teach them the effects of drugs. Cocaine, crack, heroin and drugs like ‘ecstasy’ can devastate their lives or kill them. Be honest. We can defend our teens.Addiction is a serious problem in our society today but with the “proper” education we can teach our future generations the realities of addictions and drug abuse.