TEENS' MISTAKE WILL AFFECT A LIFETIME

I read with great sorrow the article about the Cooper City High School
students arrested on drug charges. Certainly, everyone agrees it is
sad we have youth taking or selling drugs in our schools and it can't
be allowed to happen. My sorrow runs deeper than that, though. I am
looking at the consequences of these children's actions and why this
situation happens.

Our society has become rooted in drugs. You can't turn on the
television without being bombarded with drug ads. It's either the
pharmaceutical company telling us to take a drug for our social
anxiety, or a pill to lose weight; alcohol ads that tell us we'll be
more popular if we drink their brand or the Office of Drug Control
telling us to not use drugs. As early as middle school, we begin to
pressure kids about college admittance, then we are surprised when
they seek out anxiety-relieving drugs.

The real tragedy lies in the future of these students. The article
mentions that the students will be given enhanced penalties because of
being in a school zone. These young people, if convicted of a felony,
will lose access to federal college scholarships and Florida's Bright
Futures scholarships as well. Their conviction will bar them from
numerous jobs, from certain state licenses, from access to public
housing and they may never have the opportunity to vote or hold public
office. In one swift action, we have disenfranchised five teenagers
for life.

Jodi James

Melbourne