TEENS CAN'T DO IT ALONE

Every year Cherokee County students pledge, in one form or another, to
abstain from using drugs and alcohol. Murphy High School's Fellowship of
Christian Athletes organized the Students Taking A Responsible Step (STARS)
program recently to encourage fellow students to stay away from drugs and
alcohol. Many students pledged to stay clean. This is admirable, but for
all of the students who make the commitment, others continue using
controlled substances with the misguided belief that nothing bad can happen
to them. All too often The Scout reports about a teen who died while
driving drunk, or who was a drunk driver's passenger. Teens feel
invincible. They see people their age dying from drug and alcohol use, but
don't learn from the example. They have to learn the hard way. A person's
inhibitions melt away when they use drugs and alcohol. This can lead to
promiscuity, the spread of sexual diseases, pregnancy, date rape, physical
assault or worse, death. Teens cannot make the drug- and alcohol-free
commitment alone. It takes parents and authority figures to show young
people the risks and consequences associated with using drugs and alcohol.
Do your part.