partners
The Question Of Teens And Drugs NeedsOur Adamant Attention
Drug use among teens has reached epidemic proportions. It Doesn’t 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 fuddy-duddies that don’t know their head from a hole in the ground. Parents, try as they may, face a bitter battle in protecting their young ones from the ravaging effects of drugs.
The battle is made tougher by the fact that most of us have prescription medications in our bedroom drawers. When confronting the issue of teens 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 get high. Kids don’t realize that these prescriptions are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a way to control the use of specific narcotics. Without having experienced a legitimate need for such drugs themselves, they may well come to the conclusion that their parents are enjoying some buzz that they are somehow being denied.
One more problem with teaching children about the issue of teen drug use is that this society does not differentiate between drugs. Some pharmaceutical drugs have a place, but when it comes to our youth and drugs, we say that every drug is bad. This is a deception. Some teenagers need medications for actual problems. Used improperly, that medication can teen] high who doesn’t need it. Sometimes, that drug can have lethal consequences when used as a ‘recreational’ drug.
Children are not able to make those distinctions. For example, a patient with extreme pain because of arthritis or cancer, may be prescribed codeine or another opiate to ease the pain. Children don’t comprehend that this patient doesn’t get high. That med only dulls the pain. However, in the world of teens and drugs, this potentially dangerous drug becomes an opportunity toenjoy a different reality. They don’t realize the difference.
One huge lie that encourages teen drug abuse is the fable of pot. This street drug is posited as the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same bag as lsd and ice. The minute that grade school kid tries weed, the child sees that although it makes them feel good, they can keep this from their parents for years and they never know the difference. They come to the conclusion that the rest of the warnings issued on teens and drugs are lies. That’s why they fall into the grip of the really dangerous drugs.
As a world village, we need to teach our teenagers. Explain the effects of drugs. Meth, 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 lead our children away from the realities of addictions and drug abuse.
More Resources for Drug Abuse Rehab
