KSS STUDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT DRUG USE

Students of Kwalikum Secondary School are worried about the increasing
prevalence of drug use within their age group.

High school aged children are saying they now see a higher prevalence
of experimentation and usage of harder drugs. High school parties
generally involve most students drinking alcohol, with some students
smoking tobacco or marijuana.

"I don't think it's a big deal for someone to smoke weed once a week,"
said one student interviewed. "But nowadays, it seems like more and
more people are using MDMA. I don't think people realized how serious
it is. They compare it to weed but really it's a hard drug."

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is finding an audience in the
Oceanside community, specifically within the 17-21 age group of
graduates and post-high school students. It gives the user an
energetic high, and is popular with students at dances or for house
parties.

Most students asked replied that it was a "pure form of ecstasy,
without any other drugs contaminating it."

This is one of the myths used to promote sales and use of it at
parties. In reality, MDMA is only an acronym of ecstasy's scientific
name, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and is used by dealers to
legitimize the drug. Students who have tried it also replied they did
not know where it originated from, who produced it, or what it contained.

"MDMA is a huge problem" said another student of KSS. "My friend uses
it now, and he's been hanging out with different people and I don't
like what he's becoming."

This student had also been at a party when MDMA was slipped into his
drink, causing him to become ill.

"I was throwing up, it was disgusting."

As prevalence of the drug increases, however, knowledge of it seems to
be spreading.

"I think kids are becoming more aware, and now there isn't as much
hype about it at parties. Hopefully more people realize it's not a
light drug, and should be taken seriously."