Pubdate: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Quesnel Cariboo Observer Contact: http://www.quesnelobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260 Author: Damon Faulkner Note: Damon Faulkner is the Observer's student columnist. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) EXPLORING THE POPULARITY OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL I have to admit that I'm going into this article with a bit of trepidation. I know some of my high school associates read these articles and I fear a potential lynching, but I guess that's what opinionated writing is all about right? Being hated for your opinions. The reason I'm worried for such violent feedback is because this week I'll be talking to you about drugs and alcohol in youth and, of course, I won't be doing it in a positive light. When I first arrived at Quesnel secondary for my first day of high school, I was a bright eyed and excited young lad, enthralled and entranced by this wonderful new world opened up before me. Sadly, this tale doesn't have a happy ending or else I probably wouldn't have become a writer. A few months into the year I started learning not all was well and innocent. I learned through rumour, caveman drawings on the bathroom stalls and frequent Facebook status updates that teenagers have an alarming habit of drinking enough alcohol to make a pirate blush and smoking enough pot to sufficiently knock out an elephant... and some other stuff that doesn't seem Observer worthy to mention. I tried to deny the dark truth, but soon enough reality dropped down and smothered my innocence in it's big blubbery rolls. One by one, former friends and associates fell into the clawing, abysmal, black void of degradation and ruined livers. So why is it that drugs and alcohol are so popular among teenagers? That's one of the questions that keeps me up at night. I just don't get where the appeal lies. I've been to a party before and everyone was either so hammered that they couldn't even find the bathroom without knocking down benches onto my foot, or they weren't drunk, but were pretending they belonged in the former category for some utterly demented reason; as if it was something to be proud of. I think part of the blame (a significant part) can be laid on parents, who condone this kind of behaviour and in some cases even provide their children with the wretched smelling stuff. Now, some people are probably going to argue this is just what teenagers do and I guess I have to concede that point. Yeah I suppose that is what teenagers do. But am I the only one who sees a problem when kids are stumbling into class drunk and asking each other who plans on getting smashed to go to the movies? Think about it. Well I'm almost done here and I just realized I've given marijuana the cold shoulder for most of this column. My distaste for pot is based mostly in my own selfish reasons. The mere smell of it is enough to give me a skull splitting headache and I've never found it very amusing trying to have a conversation with someone while their eyes are red, jaws slack and the most constructive thing they can do is giggle like a moron and then search for Doritos to devour. So what do you the readers think? Is this a serious problem to be addressed? If so, then what are some steps we can take to fighting it? Remember, nothing ever changed without first taking action. Damon Faulkner is the Observer's student columnist. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D