John was so overwhelmed, his parents were going through a divorce. His school gave him so much work and since he wasn’t paying attention in class anymore, everything was so confusing. His older sister was in a coma. This was clearly too much for a 12 year old to handle. His friends had similar problems at home. They always seemed more relaxed. They told him that they were smoking weed. They told John that he should do it too. So he did, hoping it would make him feel better. Later on he committed suicide.
Although this is a story of my imagination, it’s based on real life events. Many people today as young as 12 years old are using illegal drugs. Teens may be overwhelmed by work at school, or problems at home. Kids are using these drugs, hoping that it will make their problems and fears disappear. Bottom line: IT DOESN’T.
The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) did a report on Teen addicts in 1999 and 2000. In the year 2000, 14 million people were using illicit drugs. This estimate represents 6.3 of the population 12 years and older. The rate of girls ages 12 to 17 that use marijuana has increased from 3.1% to 3.5%. Among teens 12 through 17, 9.7% have used an illegal drug. About 2.1 million kids in that same age group have used inhalants at some point of their lives. 3.9% had used glue, shoe polish, or Toluene, and 3.3% had used gas or lighter fluid. When you use an inhalant you purposely smell a chemical for the intention of getting high. These chemicals deprive the brain of oxygen, are addictive and deadly.
Nearly 25% of children agreed that it would be easy to get marijuana if they wanted some. One in four kids agreed that lot of drug selling goes on in their neighborhoods. One in six of them had already been asked if they wanted marijuana. More than 25% that had been asked use marijuana. About 9.5 million youths stated their friends smoked marijuana. This is a growing problem that has to be annihilated. With drugs like Acid (LSD), Crack (cocaine), Ecstasy (MDMA), Heroin, Marijuana (weed), Steroids (gym candy) and Methane (crystal meth) on the loose, it’s easy for kids to get sucked into that whirlpool of mayhem.
Youth today needs to realize that drugs are not the answer to your problems. If you’re taking drugs now tell someone immediately so they can help you. Drugs damage your brain cells and are deadly. A drug’s effect only last so long before you’re right back to the same problem, except now you feel worse. Drugs can make you feel like committing suicide. If you’re taking drugs now get help. If you aren’t taking drugs and are pondering if you should, DON’T. The effects are monstrous.
The BACC Rag 