By Ralph Godfrey
The hardest years of a person’s life are arguably the mid and late teens. When young men/women enter the high school realm, they experience a world of obliviousness and confusion—completely unaware of what life will provide and the steps they must take to make it and intertwine with the rest of society. They ponder how to contribute and use their skills and passions to fit in. There are no guidebooks or set rules.
using drugs more easily and at younger ages every year.
Everyone chooses a path and makes choices that are possibly life changing. Within these decisions, some people choose the perilous path of using drugs and alcohol.
Drugs don’t always have a negative effect on people, but for most they do. Most people who do drugs aren’t able to control their actions and rely on them to face everyday conflicts. The addictive use of drugs in America is rising in our youth, especially in New York. Many kids are obtaining and using drugs more easily and at younger ages every year. I know kids who have been to rehab before entering their second year of high school because they allowed drugs to take over their lives. All of their opportunities for a bright future were shattered because of drugs. All drugs such as Xanax, cocaine, molly, and the occasional cup of “lean,” a mix of soda and codeine, can ruin one’s life and change a person’s priorities to only rely on drugs when life gets tough. Many get high to escape their problems because tasks look too overwhelming. Others take drugs because they are under the impression that they need them to fit in and connect with others.
I am 16 and constantly in the presence of other teenagers using drugs. I am actually considered an oddity because I don’t use drugs. Comments such as “It’s only a matter of time before you take some” are common. For the most part, my observation is that drugs are recreational and used during one’s free time. Unfortunately, this recreational use turns into something that grabs and holds them down to the point where I see drastic changes in social skills and hobbies. Sometimes it’s subtle and sometimes it’s sad and blatant. At least with the sad and blatant ones who obviously abuse drugs and alcohol on what seems to be a daily basis, you know where they’re coming from. The ones who use it a little more than recreationally are simply boring and you can feel their souls slowly slipping away. As weird as this sounds, I almost like the fully addicted ones better because it’s less painful than watching the slow deterioration of the escalating drug user.
So, to this day, I haven’t used any drugs and am grateful that I am blessed with the ability to avoid things my family doesn’t approve of. There is a very slim chance I will use drugs in my life. I just have no idea where experimentation can go. I don’t want to be the poster boy for “Just say no,” but I would like to say that it’s worthwhile to consider abstaining. Just think about it and consider not having your soul sucked out of you and being a boring cliché. It is a basic ambition and goal to keep your friends, family dreams, occupation, respect in the community and your brain intact. All these things that you work for will fade away. Hang on. If you have dabbled, it’s OK. Tomorrow is another day to start over and abstain.
