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Drug abuse among teenagers has reached tragic levels. It Doesn't matter how vigilant you are, your teenagers are going to be exposed to drugs at school, the very place you believe to be a safe environment. Mrs. Reagan's 'Just say no to drugs' campaign fell flat on its face. The fact is that teenagers perceive adults as old stupid people that don't know anything. Parents, try as they may, face a bitter war in protecting their kids from the devastating effects of drugs.

The challenge is made more difficult by the fact that most of us have prescription drugs in our bedroom drawers. When confronting the issue of teenagers and drugs, you have to give them a sound argument that distinguishes between necessary medications and street drugs. This isn't easy. Some common prescription medicines are being peddled in schools as a way to get high. Kids don't realize that these medications are issued in duplicate or triplicate, as a way to control the use of certain narcotics. Not having experienced a real need for such drugs themselves, they could well conclude that their parents are enjoying some buzz that they are for some reason being denied.

Another problem with educating kids on the issue of teen drug abuse is that society does not show any differences between drugs. Some medicinal drugs are needed, but when it comes to teenagers and drugs, we say that every drug is bad. This is patently false. Some children require medications for a legitimate condition. Used improperly, that medication can child who doesn't need it. Sometimes, that drug can have fatal consequences when used as a 'recreational' drug.

Kids are not capable of making those distinctions. For example, a patient with severe pain due to arthritis or cancer, may be prescribed codeine or another opiate to help with the pain. Kids don't comprehend that this person doesn't get high. That pain killer only dulls the pain. However, in the world of teens and drugs, this narcotic becomes an opportunity toget a head change. They don't know the difference.

One big lie that encourages teen drug abuse is the fable of marijuana. This street drug is posited as the first step to drug addiction, thrown in the same category as lsd and mescaline. The same hour that middle school kid tries pot, the child sees that although it makes them feel good, they can hide this from their parents for years and they never know the difference. They make the conclusion that the rest of the warnings about kids and drugs are deceptions. That's the reason why they step into the grip of the extremely dangerous drugs.

As a society, we need to educate our teenagers. Explain the effects of drugs. Mescaline, crack, heroin and drugs like 'ecstasy' can destroy their lives or kill them. Tell the truth. We can defend our children.Addiction is a terrible problem in our society today but with the "proper" education we can teach our future generations the realities of addictions and drug abuse.

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