Dying for Drugs

Four out of nine high school seniors use illicit drugs once a month; one in five use weekly; one in ten use daily. Drug use among teens is at its highest level in nine years! Some parents believe that their child would not lie to them about drug use, but the reality is, drug-abusing teenagers do lie more than realized. Our young people use drugs for many reasons, such as home life, personal feelings and fitting in. The bliss of simply getting high, for no apparent reason, is also a common factor.

DRUG USE STATISTICS:

60% of youngsters who use marijuana before the age 15 go on to use cocaine.
Columbia University has found that kids who smoke marijuana are 85 times more likely to use cocaine than their non-marijuana-smoking peers.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CLUB DRUGS:

slang...Ecstasy: E, X. XTC, Ghb, Liquid Ecstasy, liquid X, Georgia Home Boy, Ketamine, Special K, Kit Kat. Just a few drug names that are floating around in the busy nightclubs.

CLUB drugs do affect your brain.
CLUB drugs do affect your body.
CLUB drugs affect your self-control.
CLUB drugs are not always, what they seem.
CLUB drugs are addicting.
CLUB drugs can kill you.

Another drug to beware of is called OXYCONTIN, or OXY. It is a high potency pain killer used mostly for cancer patients. OXY is like a high grade of Heroin, but with worse consequences. As little as half a pill combined with alcohol or other depressants can lower the respiratory system enough to kill. Even without the use of other pills or alcohol OXY is still proven to be deadly, if taken in high doses. OXY is more addictive and much harder to come off of than Heroin.

In Philadelphia, twenty two deaths occurred from Oxy in a three month period. Did you know that there are many websites on the Internet with easy access, selling OXY without a prescription? Just use a search engine and type in OXY. From there watch this deadly drug open its maddening world right before your eyes. OXY is very dangerous when misused, and not only do the parents need to know these frightening facts, but so do our kids.

Did you know that thirty-seven pharmacies have been robbed by thieves seeking this drug? Once used OXY leaves its victims dying for more, with a hunger beyond reason. OXY, along with many other drugs, kill without warning or sympathy towards its prey. So as our future generation continues dropping like flies, so does our power as parents, educators and yes, you the citizen. There are many ugly monsters in our world and wishing them away is not the solution!

As a mother of four, I am happy and relieved to say that the drug scene has not come into my family's life as of yet. As a parent and writer, I would like to express the need for parents to continue instilling the wrongs and the rights while allowing your child the right to prosper and grow, to become their own being. Remember to keep the communication open, focused, and truly listen when your child speaks. When our own children do step out of the guidelines, and are no longer using the stepping stones that you the parent provided, you then must find your inner strength making the helping hand of the past a reality. There are many hotlines and organizations on the Internet that are filled with resources and statistics. You, the parent or citizen, do not have to walk the path of drugs alone. Let us do all that we can for our children, for our future as well as for ourselves.

Educational Websites:

http://www.geocities.com/flynnshope/helpingyou.html

http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/hotline.htm

http://www.stopdrug.org/

http://www.health.org/

Hotlines:

1-800-662-help
1-800-234-0420