SURVEY REVEALS DRUG ABUSE EXISTS AMONG HALTON TEENS

There have always been enormous stresses placed on teens throughout
their high school years.

That is never going to change, but what seems to be changing are the
ways in which teenagers learn to cope with the many pressures.

With the constant emergence of new technology, a logical way to relax
would be to turn on the television or listen to music on an iPod.

However, recent research suggests an alarming trend in the way teens
choose to relax.

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, a drug awareness meeting was held for parents,
students and teachers in the library of M. M. Robinson High School.
It was put on by the Halton Regional Police Service in partnership
with the Halton Health Department.

Many people assume that since we live in Halton drugs are not as much
of a problem as everywhere else in Canada.

However, a survey called the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey
demonstrates that Halton is indeed equally as bad as the rest of
Ontario in terms of drug use. The No. 1 drug that teens are using is
alcohol, with 69 per cent of teen respondents admitting to have used
it. Twenty eight per cent of teens report using tobacco and 26 per
cent admit to having been under the influence of marijuana.

However, 60 per cent of Grade 12s admit to having smoked weed in the last year.

Another surprising fact about drug use with teens; it appears that
Mississauga and Halton are home to the highest amount of pain killer
abuse by teens in Ontario.

One of the emerging problems with drugs such as cannabis -- more
commonly known as marijuana -- is that it is becoming increasingly addictive.

Teens are turning to these drugs to relieve the stress they feel is
placed on them by parents, teachers and peers; therefore changing the
stereotypical profile of a drug user.

Almost every teen could have access to these drugs and many more if
they wished.

Some of the harder drugs available to teens include cocaine, ecstasy
and crack cocaine. However a drug such as cocaine is so expensive
that an addiction may set someone back $300-$400 a week.

Part of the reason so many teens have access to so many drugs is
because they are affordable.

Marijuana may cost as little as $5 if the cost is split between several people.

The recent drug-awareness meeting was highly informative and
demonstrated several aspects to the problem of teen drug abuse in Halton.

TURNING AROUND TEEN DRUG USE

In a community such as Halton, where teens often have access to
money, it is not hard for them to purchase drugs.

In order to prevent extensive drug use by teens, a parent or an
authority figure may employ several techniques. First, it must be
realized that drugs have come to fit the culture in which we live.

If we can change the way our society thinks about drugs it may become
more taboo and teens may begin to think negatively about using them.

Also, if alternate ways of dealing with stress are given to
teenagers, they may be much less likely to turn to drugs.

It takes a community to raise a teenager and, if the community of
Halton works together, drug use can decline.