The Question Of Teens And Drugs Requires Our Utmost Attention

Drug use among teenagers has reached tragic levels. No matter how on top of it you are, your teenagers will definitely 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 was a complete failure. The truth is that teens view adults as old fuddy-duddies that have never seen the outside of a paper bag. Adults, try as they may, face an uphill battle in protecting their kids from the devastating effects of drugs.

The battle is made tougher by the fact that most of us have prescription medications in our medicine cabinets. When confronting the issue of teenagers and drugs, you have to present a rational argument that distinguishes between necessary prescriptions and illegal drugs. This isn't easy. Some well known prescription medications are being peddaled in schools as a way to get high. Teenagers don't realize that these prescriptions are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a method to control the use of certain narcotics. Without having experienced a real need for these drugs themselves, they could well conclude that their parents are experiencing and liking some high that they are for some reason being denied.

Another problem with teaching children about the issue of teen drug abuse is that this society does not differentiate between drugs. Some medicinal drugs are needed, but when it comes to our youth and drugs, we say that every drug is bad. This is patently false. Some kids need prescription medication for actual problems. Used improperly, that medication can get a child high who doesn't need it. Sometimes, that medication can have fatal consequences when used as a 'recreational' drug.

Children are not able to make those distinctions. For example, a patient with unbearable pain because of arthritis or cancer, may be prescribed codeine or another opiate to help with the pain. Children don't understand that this patient doesn't get high. That med only dulls the pain. However, in the world of teens and drugs, this narcotic becomes an opportunity toget high. They don't know the difference.

One major lie that encourages teenage drug abuse is the fable of pot. This street drug is made out to be the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same category as lsd and mescaline. The minute that middle school child tries weed, the kid sees that although it makes them feel good, they can hide this new habit from their parents and it doesn't make them crazy. They conclude that the rest of the warnings issued on kids and drugs are deceptions. That's the reason why they fall into the grip of the insidiosly dangerous drugs.

As a world village, we need to teach our children. Teach them the effects of drugs. Lsd, crack, heroin and drugs like 'ecstasy' can devastate their lives or kill them. Tell the truth. We can help our teens.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.