CALLING DRUG ABUSE 'PARTYING' IS USING LANGUAGE OF DENIAL

I was saddened to read on Oct. 1 that yet another young person's life has
been needlessly lost because of possible abuse of mood- and mind- altering
chemicals ("Martin High senior dies after homecoming"). Although Jason
Kenney's toxicology results still are pending, investigators and friends
suspect an overdose.

Several times in the article, the night's activities were referred to as
"partying." It is time to look at the language we use when we talk about
the substances some use. When we use the verb party to describe the use of
alcohol and other drugs, we are simply giving an innocent name to a
dangerous behavior. Let us remember that the root of intoxicate is toxic
and that drunkenness or feeling high, although deceptively pleasurable to a
point, is an outward indication that a body and brain are being poisoned.

Covering a situation through the language of denial does not help the
situation; in fact, it tends to make matters worse by hiding the danger
involved. The word party should evoke images of people gathered together,
joyously smiling and laughing. It is horrible to think that a "party" ever
should result in a call to paramedics and the death of a promising young man.

Many parties end with the opening of presents. Few end in death. Where the
use of alcohol and other drugs is involved, it's no "party."

Keith Berger

Boca Raton