For me, drugs and alcohol were a big part of the pressures of high school, because drug abuse was a real problem for the youth in my community. When I say that people get this idea that I lived in a rough inner-city neighborhood, but that wasn’t the case. My family lived in a suburban area and I went to high school at a very typical, middle-class public school. As a teen, I can remember how often I would smell pot on other student’s clothes, mostly because they were smoking joints in the bathrooms or at bus stops. The saddest drug-related tragedy was when one young girl, who was a freshman at the time, was found dead at a popular community hang out. Her death was revealed to be caused in part by friends who were involved with drugs.
Those events happened many years ago, and I feel a wrenching sadness whenever I pass by my old school and see that things haven’t changed for the next generation. It’s terrible that teens have to deal with other kids coming to class stoned or drunk on a daily basis. Even if some teens aren’t interested in doing drugs or drinking alcohol, it’s all around them – and it takes a serious, concerted effort to stay out of it. Even worse is the fact that many parents don’t really prepare their teens for the stress of substance abuse. There’s no doubt in my mind that the support of my family and friends is what got me through those difficult times.
So, if you know someone who is heading out to school this fall, don’t hesitate to let them know you believe in them. Give them the reassurance to come to you if they need help or for advice. It’s not silly – every teenager needs reassurance, because they are so uncertain about what’s going on in their lives. Even if you’re not their parent, you’ll help empower them to make the right decision when the time comes.
