INVITING YOUTH TO GROW, NOT SELF-DESTRUCT

Providing opportunities for youth to grow and self-actualize is the
ethical choice we need to make as a community. To decriminalize or
make legal the possession or use of illicit substances is
destructive.

"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker," wrote Ogden Nash. Simplistic
solutions are just that -- expedient and convenient -- but they excuse
us from thinking. Thinking is often difficult work. It would be
dangerous, even life-threatening, to either decriminalize or legalize
illicit drugs for one reason: Legalization is an invitation to addiction.

Do we really want to offer our youth an invitation to destroy
themselves? Or could we, instead, as a community, provide
opportunities for them to make creative, challenging and sometimes
hard choices so that they can self-actualize, embark on their mission
and fulfill their life's purpose?

Seven of every 10 people who abuse or are addicted to substances have
a co-occurring or co-existing psychiatric disorder such as depression
or anxiety. Such disorders begin most often in adolescence, when teens
have access to alcohol or other drugs. Thus, some to most substance
abuse is a person's effort to self-medicate or feel better.

For example, one study of 1,000 cigarette smokers showed that 460 --
almost 50 percent -- had a pre-existing biological depression for
which nicotine was used to alleviate symptoms. Most adult cigarette
smokers started before age 21; very few start afterwards.

Each human being has the right to feel good, but using a legal
substance like alcohol or an illicit one such as marijuana to achieve
that state -- biochemically or socially -- becomes maladaptive and is
considered substance abuse when it leads to impairment or distress or
results in a failure to fulfill obligations at home, work or school,
despite recurring legal, social or interpersonal problems.

For example, I met with one adolescent who received a DUI but had no
alcohol in her system -- she had been high on marijuana at the time of
her arrest, which causes the same impairment in the brain as alcohol.

By contrast, substance dependence is diagnosed when a person needs to
use increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or the
desired effect (known as tolerance); experiences withdrawal symptoms
for which the same or related substance is used to relieve or avoid
those very symptoms; takes more of the substance over a longer period
than was intended; becomes unable to cut down or control the substance
use; spends much time in activities necessary to obtain the substance;
gives up or reduces important social, occupational or recreational
activities; and continues to use despite persistent or recurrent
physical or psychological problems likely to have been caused or
exacerbated by the substance.

In fact, countries that have legalized drugs have incurred greater
social and criminal costs when substance users who became addicted
turned to crime to afford greater amounts of the drugs to achieve the
high experienced before with lesser quantities. What had been assumed
to be an expedient and quick "solution" was anything but, and those
laws then were repealed.

If not to self-medicate a pre-existing biochemical or biological
imbalance, substances are used/abused to cope with stress, boredom,
loss, loneliness, trauma and shame. Marijuana use, for example, often
is cited by teens as their attempt to "chill."

Let me suggest a solution, by no means comprehensive, other than that
of decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana or any other illicit substance.

First, let's teach youth how to socialize, communicate and get their
intimacy needs met in healthy ways. Let's include emotional and social
intelligence in our health curriculums, including modeling how to
resolve conflicts in their families and community without emotional or
physical bloodshed.

Second, construct or convert existing buildings into recreational
centers in the North, South, East and West wards of Trenton. Besides
basketball and volleyball, install cost-effective recording studios
for youth to express themselves creatively. Bring in art and music
therapists to facilitate self-expression.

For example, when we engage in creative activities that are meaningful
and intrinsic to our talents and gifts, we achieve a "high" and a
feeling of fulfillment that transcends that of any drug or substance
we ever could use. Because it is so freeing to become who we are
through our creativity, it is not only everyone's birthright but
everyone's salvation.

Third, start a 501(c)3 non-profit group that would offer tax
incentives for credentialed and background-checked adults and other
business/career, artistic and athletic mentors to provide hope and
opportunities for inner-city and other Mercer County youth. Use
existing resources -- physical and human -- to create magnets and
attractions stronger than the lure of gangs and drugs. Let's teach
youth to heal losses through counseling, therapy groups and creative
activities so they can further link or bridge their talents and
interests with a rewarding career path.

Inviting our young people to create and realize themselves is the
ethical choice. To do otherwise by creating parity of legal
consequences for alcohol and marijuana offenders unwisely enables and
legitimates drug use. By teaching communication, coping and social
intimacy skills and providing athletic, cultural and creative mentors
and outlets, youth will be challenged to develop, become and
self-actualize who they truly are, manifest their God-given talents,
make linkages to credible and fulfilling career paths and experience a
fulfillment and satisfaction unlike any they have ever known.

The late Sen. Hubert Humphrey said it best: "Life is to be enjoyed,
not endured."