Youth / OPINION : ‘Scaring Kids Doesn’t Seem to Work’

According to a study of 8th-, 10th- and 12th-grade students released last week by the federal government, use of illicit drugs by teen-agers increased significantly between 1992 and 1993. The study said marijuana, LSD and inhalants were the most popular. Here’s how some students react.

HANNA RILEY

Junior, 17, Foothill High School, Tustin

I read the article about the survey and I was a bit surprised. There seems to be a trend of reverting back to the ‘60s. You can see it in the music and dress. There doesn’t seem to be any hard-core use of drugs such as cocaine or heroine. I don’t feel I need to take drugs. But if my friends want to do it, I’m not going to lecture them. I see drug use at parties, but that is not as bothersome as alcohol, a much more dangerous drug.

GEOFF URLAND

Junior, 17, Foothill High School

I have some problems with the reality of the survey. I think kids will answer questions a certain way to be cool. So, I don’t know for sure if that survey is accurate. From my own viewpoint, I do think there has been an increase in use of drugs like marijuana and LSD. But it’s not like people are selling drugs on campus. I don’t take any drugs because I am concerned about not harming my body and mind. But some of the things we have learned in health class would suggest that marijuana is not as harmful as we are led to believe.

JENNIFER RANALETTI

Senior, 18, Hollywood High School

To call the rise in drug use a trend or that kids are emulating what took place in the ‘60s is not true. You can’t blame the youth of the past for what kids are doing today. It’s peer pressure. We need to talk to the younger kids and not treat them like babies. People have to start understanding that kids today are much wiser than they think they are. They know that drugs are bad. We have to find ways to not want to take drugs.

LENEE BOLTON

Senior, 18, Mission Viejo High School

I’ve noticed an increase in drug use. One big reason is because drugs like marijuana are cheaper. But I really don’t think the nation has to start screaming for help. I think kids, being kids, experimenting with things like marijuana and LSD are natural expressions of their lives. It’s something all kids have done. Our parents did it.

RYAN BELCHER

Senior, 17, Mission Viejo High

My concern is about the little kids. I would like to see more effective programs that educate. Trying to scare kids doesn’t seem to work. Maybe if they legalized some drugs, like marijuana, there wouldn’t be such a problem.

JENNIFER MEHLE

Senior, 17, Rancho Cucamonga High School

I think we definitely need to be concerned about the drug trends. I have seen the increase. Two years ago, stuff like marijuana wasn’t that plentiful. But now you see kids smoking in the parking lot. A lot of it has to do with the way kids look back at the ‘60s. That period represents music and drugs. A lot of the music out there reflects these trends. I don’t think programs like DARE should only be at the elementary level, but should be continued in high school.