Drug abuse among teens has reached tragic levels. It Doesn't matter how on top of it you are, your teens will definitely be introduced to drugs at school, the very place you think should be a safe environment. Mrs. Reagan's 'Just say no to drugs' campaign was a complete failure. The truth is that teens view adults as old fuddy-duddies that don't know their head from a hole in the ground. Parents, try as they may, face a bitter battle in protecting their children from the devastating effects of drugs.

The challenge is made more difficult by the fact that most of us have prescription medications in our bedroom drawers. When confronting the issue of teens and drugs, you have to present a rational argument that distinguishes between necessary prescriptions and street drugs. This isn't easy. Some common prescription medications are being peddled in schools as a way to catch a buzz. Teens don't know that these medications are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a way to control the use of specific narcotics. Without having experienced a real need for these drugs themselves, they may well conclude that their parents are experiencing and liking some high that they are for some reason being forbidden.

Another problem with educating kids on the issue of teen drug use is that our society does not show any differences between drugs. Some pharmaceutical drugs are needed, but when it comes to teens and drugs, we say that every drug is bad. This is patently false. Some children need prescription medication for actual problems. as prescribed], that medicine can produce a high in a kid who doesn't need it. Sometimes, that drug can have disastrous consequences when taken as a 'recreational' drug.

Kids are not capable of making those distinctions. For example, a patient with severe pain because of arthritis or cancer, could be prescribed codeine or another opiate to ease the pain. Children don't comprehend that this patient doesn't get high. That pain killer only eases the pain. However, in the world of kids and drugs, this potentially dangerous drug becomes an opportunity tocatch a buzz. They don't know the difference.

One huge lie that encourages teen drug abuse is the fable of marijuana. This street drug is made out to be the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same bag as meth and crack cocaine. The same hour that grade school child tries weed, the child sees that although it gets them high and they like it, they can keep this new habit from their parents and it doesn't make them crazy. They make the conclusion that the rest of the warnings about teens and drugs are lies. That's the reason why they step into the jaws of the truly dangerous drugs.

As a nation, we need to teach our teens. Teach them the effects of drugs. Cocaine, crack, heroin and drugs like 'ecstasy' can destroy their lives or kill them. Tell the truth. We can help our kids.Addiction is a serious problem in our society today but with the right education we can lead our children away from the truth and consequences of addictions and drug abuse.

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