We're on drugs. Kids, athletes, adults, retirees, the nation--the world--is on drugs.
For today's teenager, the drug of choice is prescription drugs, primarily pain killers (right alongside inhalants, alcohol, marijuana and cough syrup).
We've been told recently that studies show that alcohol is good for you. A glass or two of red wine has multiple health benefits. At the same time, 40% of driving deaths over the holidays can be attributed to the effects of alcohol.
We see ad after ad on television for drugs that help us sleep, lose weight, lower cholestrol, lower anxiety, even if possible side effects include nausea, dizziness, diarreah, limb loss or death.
When we see the doctor, what we probably don't hear about is the multitude of drug company representatives who visited the office to "heighten awareness" of new drugs coming on the market, and why he/she should begin prescribing them to patients. True, drugs make money for street pushers; they also make LOTS of money for doctors, wholesalers, drug companies, researchers and shareholders.
Don't get me wrong--many drugs are necessary and beneficial to our standard of living. (What would I do without Claritin for my allergies?!?) But like anything, when used in excess instead of moderation (and I believe as a society we've crossed that line), things spiral out of control.
As a middle school counselor for 500 students in San Bernardino, I deal with some type of drug issue on a weekly, if not daily, basis. And, if it's not the student, it's the parent, the sibling--sometimes, yes, the teacher--who has dependency or abuse issues.
A few weeks before our "winter" break (ever the rebel, I always refer to it as our Christmas vacation--go ahead, fire me) I talked with an 8th grade boy who was struggling with parents who were constantly fighting, and alcohol seemed to be the drink of choice in the household. I asked him how he dealt with his parents' drinking and yelling, and he said he smoked weed. It helped him "tune out" the pain and chaos he simply could not escape.
When we return from break, I plan on including him in one of my support groups. But for the life of me, I simply could not find the words--or the justification--to explain to him that he shouldn't be smoking weed. Seriously, his parents are old enough to go to the store and buy their drug of choice that helps them numb whatever pain they're experiencing. Mom or dad aren't in any frame of mind to realize how their discord is negatively affecting their son. So he does the best he can with what he has. This is a good kid I'm talking about. A good kid trying to survive in a rotten situation.
Perhaps my not trying to talk him out of getting high makes me a rotten counselor . . .any suggestions?
2 comments:
does esCape ever solve anything? it's just a band aid... it's time to step up, grow up and face big problems and little ones. a habit of escaping will never be a healthy life choice. life is full of things we want to avoid but if we don't deal with them they'll supress us to isolation... isolation leads to desolation
We all have escapes. Whether its drugs, video games, books, movies or whatever - we all have escapes. Some escapes are just more self destructive than others. Would you tell a person suffering depression or anxiety disorder to stop taking their medication? Kind of the same thing with this kid. He is self medicating to cope with the pain he is going through. I don't think you are wrong not to tell him to stop smoking weed. He wouldn't listen and might turn his back on you completely. Best to slowly lead him toward God and let kid quit the drugs when he is ready to.
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