The Question Of Teens And Drugs Requires Our Adamant Attention

Drug use among teenagers has reached tragic levels. No matter how on top of it you are, your teens 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 fact is that teens view adults as old stupid people that have never seen the outside of a paper bag. Parents, try as they may, face a bitter war in safe guarding their children from the devastating effects of drugs.

The challenge is made more difficult by the fact that most of us have prescription drugs in our medicine cabinets. When confronting the issue of teenagers and drugs, you have to present a sound argument that differentiates between necessary prescriptions and street drugs. This isn't easy. Some common prescription medications are being sold at school as a way to catch a buzz. 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 such drugs themselves, they may well come to the conclusion that their parents are enjoying some buzz that they are somehow being forbidden.

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 tell them that every drug is bad. This is patently false. Some teenagers require medications for a legitimate condition. Used improperly, that medication can produce a high in a kid who doesn't need it. Sometimes, that medication can have disastrous consequences when taken as a 'recreational' drug.

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

One huge deception that encourages teen 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 heroin and ice. The minute that high school kid tries pot, 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 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 jaws of the insidiosly dangerous drugs.

As a world village, we need to educate our kids. Explain the effects of drugs. Lsd, crack, heroin and drugs like 'ecstasy' can ruin their lives or kill them. Tell the truth. 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.