Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2014
Source: Post-Tribune (Merrillville, IN)
Copyright: 2014 Post-Tribune
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/DenTBXGM
Website: http://posttrib.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3349
Author: Dr. Robert Wallace

IS ILLEGAL DRUG USE MOSTLY A MALE THING?

DR. WALLACE: I'm an 18-year-old female. I have never taken any type of
illegal drug in my entire life, and I seriously doubt that I ever
will. I'm also positive that all of my many close friends are
drug-free, and we all talk about not getting involved with guys who
are doing drugs. We are thinking that it must be a male thing to be
into drugs. Do you agree?

- - Nameless,

Goshen, Indiana

NAMELESS: I agree. The American Council on Drug Education has stated
that of teen drug addicts, 72 percent are males. But females do become
addicted to drugs, and their addiction is every bit as serious as
addiction for males. Please read the following letter from a young
mother who had a difficult time overcoming her drug habit:

DR. WALLACE: I'm a young mother of two sons. When I was in high
school, I took every drug I could get my hands on. I met a young man
shortly after I graduated from high school (don't ask me how I
graduated; all I remember of high school is that I wanted to pass
driver's education) and with his love and understanding I went
straight. Don't think it wasn't a chore, because I was addicted to
heroin.

After two wonderful years of marriage, I started taking cocaine and it
didn't take long to discover that I could supplement the family income
by selling a little cocaine as a sideline. Unfortunately (probably
fortunately) for me, one of my customers was an undercover cop.

I write this letter, I have lost my husband and children and I'm
facing a prison sentence.

I am living proof that drugs can destroy a user's life.

Teens, please listen to my plea. It comes from my heart. Don't start
using drugs! It's just a matter of time before drugs control your life.

- - Mother,

Moss Bluff, Louisiana

TEENS: Who suffers more stress when taking a test, bright girls or
bright boys? Dr. Lisa Ridgway at the University of Colorado gave
hormone tests to 162 high-achieving teens before final examinations
and this is what she found:

A week before finals, girls reported significantly more stress than
boys. By examination day, girls' level of stress hormone had risen
more than 50 percent -- to three times the boys' stress levels, which
were unchanged.

At age 13, both boys and girls had the same stress levels before
tests, but as they got older, girls felt more stress while the boys'
stress levels actually dropped. But even as girls get older and more
comfortable in female roles, they still tend to feel uncomfortable
about competition, Dr. Ridgeway said.

While girls felt more stress taking examinations, it didn't affect
their grades. In fact, the girls had slightly higher grades.

Write to Dr. Wallace at  ---
MAP posted-by: Matt