Since grade school we are told drugs are bad. Don
’t do drugs. Teachers drill it into our heads until it almost
loses all meaning. Then, we never learn what drugs do to our body
until high school, or worse, until it’s too late.
Since grade school we are told drugs are bad. Don’t do drugs. Teachers drill it into our heads until it almost loses all meaning. Then, we never learn what drugs do to our body until high school, or worse, until it’s too late.
During my sophomore year at a different high school, my parents and I had to attend a mandatory meeting on teen drug use. There was a panel of male as well as female teens who lived in drug rehab center. They gave their testimonies and officered our parents advice on how to recognize the signs of drug use. Many of them told us that they had started their drug use with pot.
It got me thinking. There are arguments saying that pot isn’t addictive and that it should be made legal. However, it makes no difference because pot is a “gate-way drug”, meaning that its use opens the doors to other drugs. During the meeting, one parent asked which drug is the worst. To our surprise, they answered pot.
Don’t be fooled by popular beliefs. Research shows that marijuana use can lead to addiction. Many teens start their downward spiral with marijuana. It is a gateway drug for many reasons such as its availability and because of the misconception of its effects.
More teens enter treatment for marijuana abuse each year than for all other illicit drugs combined. For the most part, drug use among teens today has stabilized. Experimentation has decreased from 53 percent in 1997 to 48 percent in 2002. That’s the good news. The bad news is that teen drug use is still at an all time high. 48 percent of the teen populations have tried illegal drugs. To put it into perspective, 24 percent, or one out of every four teens have used illegal drugs in the past 30 days.
Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke. Yuck!
Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. This may be due to marijuana users inhaling more deeply and holding the smoke in the lungs.
Drunk driving makes the headlines, but the dangers of driving after smoking marijuana or using other drugs has been overlooked. Since marijuana distorts coordination and perception, driving while under the influence of it may be fatal for the in the car and those on the road.
In high school we learn what drugs physically do to our bodies. During my sophomore year biology my teacher explained in great detail what happens to our brain and organs when we put drugs into our body. It was pretty gross. A big portion of my P.E. class my junior year was an anti-drug course. Our teacher showed us documentaries of street druggies. Watching the movie may have taught some of us to stay clear of drugs, but for many in the class, it was to late. They could already start to relate to the movie.
Maybe they should have seen the movie sooner than high school. In fact I believe that drug education should start way before high school. I remember during junior high, I started hearing about kids I knew who smoked pot.
By the time teens get into high school, many have already experimented with drugs and are on a lethal path to a lifetime of health and mental problems.
So what should be done to help teens before they start abusing drugs? I ask parents this question. They know their teen better than anyone. Do you know where your teen is going after school? Do you know their friends? I’m not condoning interrogating them, but becoming aware on their activities can help you as parents see signs of drug use. Be positive. Building and continuing a healthy relationship with your teenager is key to becoming part of their life.
No matter how much we don’t want to admit it, parents are an important influence when it comes to drugs.
Getting kids involved with the community or sports is a great way to build self-esteem especially in junior high. If kids are having fun and involved, they have less time to be elsewhere involved in drugs.
We have all seen those ads telling parents to ask when where and with whom. Follow this advice. As much we will tell you to bug off, it makes a difference. Be persistent, don’t just ask once in a while, and ask often.
To make a long story short, parents you need to pay attention to your kids. Even if they seem normal. Lack of attention makes it OK for kids to do drugs. Give them plenty of positive attention. We need it. There is pressure every day to do drugs.
Melissa Ballard is a senior at Live Oak High School. She alternates weekly with Chrissy Bryant in writing Teen Perspective. Contact Melissa at editor@morgan hilltimes.com
