Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006
Source: Belmont Citizen-Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2006 Community Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/belmont/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3552
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

KEEP FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE

Massachusetts has one of the highest drug and alcohol abuse rates in
the nation, and is ranked first for Oxycontin and heroin use,
according to a national study released last year.

The state  government, as well as doctors and pharmacies, have taken
steps to control  Oxycontin.

So teenagers  looking to get high have found another drug - perhaps a
variety of similar drugs  - to satisfy their cravings.

Why should we be  surprised? Until our society figures out how to
fight the causes of substance  abuse, not just the symptoms, some
teenagers will always find something - no  matter how toxic - to dull
their pain. The problem now  is that the latest drug, Klonopin, is
extremely dangerous. Arlington police are  investigating whether the
prescription medication played a role in the suicide  of an Arlington
High School student last week. Like many other  prescription drugs,
Klonopin can cause a wide variety of adverse reactions -  behavioral,
psychological and physical. Taking this drug without medical
supervision is a very bad idea.

Most teenagers  understand that fact, or can be made to understand it.
The allegedly  drug-induced suicide in Arlington last week will be a
wake-up call to some  teens.

But what about  those kids who think they're immune to the dangers?
And what about the kids who  will avoid "hard drugs" but abuse
alcohol, which also has the potential to maim  and kill?

Police say  Klonopin is "readily available." It can be found in many
homes, purchased on the  Internet, or obtained from other high school
students. Alcohol and  other intoxicants are also accessible to
teenagers. It would take a  revolutionary change in our society to
make drugs unavailable to teens. So we must focus  on the demand.

We don't support  drug testing of high school students. We believe
random drug testing is  excessive and punitive, and assumes students
are guilty until proven  innocent.

We believe the  best tool to fight drug abuse is communication - not
just about the dangers of  drugs, but also about all the fears and
sorrows of adolescence that can lead to  substance abuse.

Teenagers need  the facts, and adults must face the
facts.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake