Kids, Drugs, Parents and Death.

[R0cketer]

I guess its just the continuing story of life. It used to be kids dying from alcohol (directly or indirectly) and now its drugs.

Honestly there is no simple solution. It is probably worse here because there is limited things to do.

I mean the options are really this

Go to a ballgame
Go to a movie
Go bowling
Go walmart
Go eat

That's it effectively.

Now I know good kids who never did a thing but got tired of the same old, same old. Or the nothing. If you put a good kid out there, with nothing to do, who doesn't want to do anything but the options are sit at home, or go to a friends house where there are girls/guys, what are they going to do. Most don't go and do anything/everything the first time but they go a time or two and do nothing but sit around and talk. The next time, maybe they have a beer because everybody else there is drinking so what does it hurt. They have a good time so next time they drink more. They have a bad time and someone says well no wonder beer sucks, try this booze. Eventually someone they like or think is cool is doing something, and they think well it doesn't hurt them, so whats it hurt me, besides they have been over here doing whatever for months and never hurt them. Of course odds are nothing happens the first time so the next time they don't think about it. On it goes.

I honestly can speak for myself, that back when I used to could go sit out in Clintwood, hang out with friends, maybe see some people cruising around (girls from other towns, who are we kidding), I could have a great time just doing that. Didn't need anything to help me have a good time. Once it got to the point that they started running off people parking or cruisers, as a teen or young adult you had to find something to do, and especially a way to meet some of the other sex. I went several times and never touched anything. After awhile, being one of the good people, I'd get bored or get tired of being the one who didn't touch anything, so yes, I eventually gave into drinking some. Thankfully with seeing the effects of drugs to some family, I didn't give into that, but its really a slippery slope that most can't stop.

My honest opinion. I know that kids can be messy and you'll always have some bad eggs (like we talk about in relation to everything else) who end up ruining things for everybody, but in sticking it to the bad eggs, you stick it to the good ones as well.

Yeah you have cruisers, you are going to have some kids who are out there speeding, hanging out of cars, playing music to loud, etc. You have people parking in lots, you're going to have litter and yes, probably a few who sit there and drink or whatever, but you have to find some middle ground.

I used to park in a lot in Clintwood and a town cop would pull in and talk to us. Guess what, we didn't care, we were sitting there, watching people and I guess being watched. We was talking one time about someone they had pulled over a few days earlier, and the cop made a good point. He said he was suspicious that they had been drinking but as long as they sat still in the lot, they wasn't out on the road, and running people off the road or wrecking. As he said, kids are going to find a place to go, at least there, he could keep an eye on them. Once they were out of town though, with all the backroads and curves we have, it was just an invite for an accident.

If this area really wants to slow down drugs, give kids some options. Don't treat them like trash and try to eliminate options. Guess what, its not going to get fixed over night. It didn't go to hell overnight either. It's just that a lot of adults who used to sit out at all the little drive-ins or shops that they used to meet their wives or some of their best friends have forgotten what they did growing up.

[DawgFan3]

The kid that passed away was a good friend of mine. I have never known of him using drugs, except drinking occasionally. He was an all around good kid and never caused harm. He was active in sport and I never thought I'd see him gone. The first time using drugs was his last. People need to think about the consequences of using drugs, especially pills. I'm not saying I'm inncocent by far, but losing a buddy of mine sure has opened my eyes along with others. People, espcally kids, need to think about their actions. I honestly think that there should be a program in schools showing the side effects of specific drugs and the harm that they can do to someone instead of being taught that drugs are "bad" without showing what harm that a certain and specific drug can do. Kids need to be more educated. The drug problem in our area will never go away no matter how many busts go down. As many have said, we need more to do around here. The same stuff gets old. We use to cuise Wal-Mart parking lot until the cops started writing tickets and such. Then the hanging out moved to the mountains where many got ran off or charged with trespassing for kids fourwheeling and having a good time. After all of that was taken away, what's left for us to do? I know that's no excuse, but think about it?

[NotSoSilentBob]

Plenty of things for kids to do. Want to save a kid's life? Buy them a gun or fishing rod and take them fishing and hunting.

[UTVols2]

I am glad I was not exposed to most of the drugs that kids are exposed too today when I was in school. The worst things we did when I was in school was drink and smoke dope, none of this cocaine, prescription drugs, and all that other crap that they are exposed too. I know if I was exposed to this stuff in school and peer pressure and all I am sure I would have been tempted to do them..... IMO Parents need to be more aware of what their kids are doing, that is where most of the problems are.

[imported_mega]

They were there man, I saw alot of Coke and pills. Never say any oxy's or anything that extreme but the other stuff was there. The majority of those people are dead or in prison now though so I guess they are pretty much a prime example of why not to get into that junk.

[UTVols2]

I know they were there, just not as prominant as they are today. You had to really search for them if you wanted them not just show up on any street corner and there they are like Tylenol.

[imported_elp6n]

[ QUOTE ]
I honestly think that there should be a program in schools showing the side effects of specific drugs and the harm that they can do to someone instead of being taught that drugs are "bad" without showing what harm that a certain and specific drug can do.

[/ QUOTE ]
We had the DARE program growing up. They came to school every Wednesday. Drug eduction was specific, we were taught what they looked like, smelled like, what category they were in, what they did to a person, etc.
And look at all the dopeheads that came out of my generation. It's apparently "cooler" to listen to a friend than a cop that comes to you weekly for years. I just dont understand how people can forget all we were taught those years. Did they just not believe what we were taught?

[imported_trumpet1988]

I had that DARE program from like first to 6th grade. The cop kept mentioning something every session, "Don't touch stuff that isn't safe to put in your mouth".

Some people say that the cops are being jerks and that they don't have to listen to them. I'm kind of sick of the anarachy fad that seems to be going around. It's always "me" who is the only thing important in this world.

Yeah, some cops are jerks, but when it comes to drugs and such, how do you want them to react? Give you a pat on the back when you do drugs and say "good job buddy"?

I've talked to some people who were arrested and say they still do drugs. Maybe the punishment from the law wasn't enough?

I'm no cop. I don't plan to be a cop, but to those cops who are strict when it comes to issues such as this, congratulations.

If I have to use harmful substances to be cool then I think I'd much rather be part of the "uncool" community. People do it to be cool.

[R0cketer]

Buy them a gun or a fishing pole...first off, neither of those is giving kids interaction with the opposite sex normally.

I would tend to agree that it would be good if that was the case, but most of the people I know or knew who were big into fishing were drunk or drinking 1/2 the time they fished. Let's not go into those who are drunk all night on hunting trips then out in the morning hungover or still buzzed.

I agree that those are good options and something to help, but most people hunt either alone or with a hunting buddy. Kind of the same boat fishing. That's not giving them too much interaction, which is where most of the partying comes in.

We have slowly took away a lot of what the kids use to have.

But now what if they had it back in this age. Crusining was a cool thing. Some drink and it was just a social thing. But times have changed. Can you bring it back and not have what you have now or more of it.

I don't know or have the answers. Just trying to point some attention to a problem. One that will not end quickly.

Having known this kid personally makes it harder. A good kid known for just wanting to be what he was a kid. Play around and yeah maybe sneak a drink occassionally. Most of what he did was to get attention. And to be accepted. Peer pressure in some ways.

But a kid that will not play in his final senior football game, get to go to the prom. Get to do all the things he should of gotten to do.

It was his choice to experiment. A choice i know if he could recall he would.
My only problem with all of this, other than a young man losing his life, is the ease with which all these prescription drugs are hitting the streets and all over.

I don't have all the answers. But i will challenge those who work around kids and with kids. Pay attention. Be nosy. If it may save a kids life. Or maybe help out in some way. Maybe you will benefit. I know some don't like that. And i've had some tell me they don't.
But someone has to look out for these kids and teach them.

Soon we may be erecting a wall of those lost to the battle of drugs. Maybe that will be the ever day reminder. If it's put at the local schools in an area where it can be seen.

Honestly im just tired of seeing it hushed up and over. We got some serious drug problems from all age groups in this area. It's time we realize that and that we ask for some help. How many has to perish before we do realize it?