DRUG DEBATE NEEDS PERSPECTIVE OF TEENS

I read with great interest the article "'High' School" (Star
Bulletin, March 21). The article was well written in discussing the
data of drug use increasing among teens, according to the random
survey of public high school students. However, it was missing the
teenager's perspective.

At the beginning of this school year, I decided to transfer to a
public school in hopes of taking Advanced Placement classes that my
school didn't offer.

I knew that drugs would be there, but I didn't expect to see them
used on campus openly. I remember walking to class and being offered
what appeared to be a cigarette on my first day. I was shocked by the
apathy of some of the students for school rules and their own moral
standards. Throughout the day, I was appalled at not only the
curriculum displayed in the regular classes, but the social climate around me.

I lasted only a day and a half at this school before I transferred
back to my current school.

Many adults don't realize the culture we teens live in. A lot of
teens are bullied or teased for not trying drugs. My friend left that
same school recently because she was being harassed by a teen boy who
was a meth user. There is no way to stay completely sheltered from
this environment. Drugs are sometimes perceived as a regular part of
daily life.

In the current social culture, the consequences for those actions are
not an adequate deterrent. I have friends who used to drink every day
after school or smoked pot to feel good. All of these friends have
confessed how they regretted doing drugs, because they fell behind in
school or felt the negative effects of the various drugs on their bodies.

I cannot emphasize how much of a role parents play in their
children's choices to drink or do drugs. Teens often model themselves
after their parents. If we have loving, supportive parents, we are
more likely to discuss with them issues such as using drugs or
alcohol. However, if they are drinking alcohol to excess, teens are
more likely to follow their example and get into trouble.

Unfortunately, no matter how much money is invested in drug
prevention, drugs will still be available to teens. That doesn't mean
we should stop caring, because I know there are ways to regulate
drugs in the schools and enforce punishment to those who disobey
school rules. Look for examples to certain private and charter
schools, which have low drug use by students.

It would be nice for the world to be full of ideal people who have no
disputes or bad influences, but in reality there are some bad people
out there who accept drugs and other crimes as tolerable. These
people often are on this path because of past actions with drugs. I
hope the number of teens doing drugs can decrease, but this will
happen only with community support and better education about drugs
and their effects.

Among all the drug pressures and the culture of rebellion, there are
a lot of talented youths who deserve better and are not fairly
represented or given opportunities to succeed in the public and
private school systems. I urge the government, the community, parents
and teens to change the way we handle this issue.