Kids, Drugs, Parents and Death.

**NotSoSilentBob** · January 15th, 2007, 09:48 PM

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** · January 15th, 2007, 10:04 PM

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** · January 15th, 2007, 10:09 PM

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** · January 15th, 2007, 10:13 PM

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** · January 15th, 2007, 10:32 PM

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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.

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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** · January 15th, 2007, 10:48 PM

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.

**jtw61194** · January 15th, 2007, 11:05 PM

I had this same discussion last week at a conference I had to attend, but the subject was sex and not drugs. As a parent and educator, it is my opinion that kids don't trust adults, think adults are stupid, and stuff like this won't ever happen to me. I can say that, because I was like that and I believe most teens would tell you the same thing. The education is there. The messages are being sent via multiple routes. The consequences for alcohol and drug offenses are way stiffer than they were 20 years ago. I hate to sound cynical, but the bottom line is that most kids learn the hard way. This young man's death is tragic and may save several lives. But, experience tells me that it won't make a dent in the problem. I would be more concerned with the cause rather than the solution, to be very honest. For the most part, taking drugs is a voluntary action. A person knows whether it's right or wrong; knows what their intention is for taking the drugs; has been told prior to taking the drugs that it can be potentially harmful. So, with all that, why still take them? It is a question that really bothers me, both as a parent and a teacher. I told my class, in very unspecific terms (because I only heard that a student had died), about this instance. Sure, it shook them up. But what about next week, month, or year? At some point kids have got to quit being kids and start thinking about the finality of their lives. Tomorrow ain't guaranteed. Sorry if I'm preaching.

**R0cketer** · January 15th, 2007, 11:13 PM

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.

January 15th, 2007, 11:32 PM

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?

**NotSoSilentBob** · January 15th, 2007, 11:47 PM

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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.

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Your brush is a little too big.