Drugs are Prevalent in Local Schools

One of the most interesting attitudes that I sometimes see in suburban schools is that parents believe that drugs can somehow be eradicated from our schools. Or that somehow all the other kids in the school are using except for their child or their children's friends. I feel bad for them because while they may find this comforting; it allows their child to be at risk.

We must never forget that drug sellers are in business to make money. They will seek where they can get a better price for their merchandise. This is not in the stereotypical ghetto. It is in the stereotypical suburb.

The article that I supplied the link to really is a fundamental article that all parents should read before the school year starts. Parents have to realize that in fact every single child sometime in his or her school career will be offered a drug at least once. Whether that young person takes the drug depends on the environment in which he or she was raised, the drug education that he or she has had,and how aware this child is to how a drug can affect him or her.

'“The chances of your child learning about drugs and alcohol from their peers is high,” comments Mary Rieser, Director of the Atlanta Recovery Center, Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. “ Eleven million high school students (80 percent) and five million middle school students (44 percent) attend drug-infested schools, meaning possession, student drunk and/or student high on the grounds of their school, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII Teens and Parents."'

Drug-infested is really a scary term that Rieser uses. But what are the chances the above definition could be applied to any one of our schools? Well, let's see. Marijuana is easier to get than beer (please see August 30, 2008 post) How many parents take the time to count how many prescription drugs are in each bottle in their medicine cabinets that is an opiate? Plus count how many pills is each one of those bottles?

I like this quote also. "Couple this with the increase in back-to-school themed ads, marketing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs, and you have the potential of chemical experimentation at school, beyond the scope of the chemistry classes."

I wish I could reassure each parent of my students that teachers keep an eye on each child. I think teachers do. But again let's be realistic. The recession we hear about in the news is hitting schools too. As each levy doesn't pass, there are cut back in staff and teachers. That is one more set of eyes that is no longer there to help safeguard each child in a school.

One more time. Safe guard starts at home. Talk to your kid. If you do have prescription drugs do one of a few things, throw them in the used kitty litter or coffee grounds or keep a count and place it with your important papers. Kids are not only watering down the gin (or vodka I forget which they water down), they are taking pills from parents. Ask your parents to do the same.