I live in Wyoming- Wyoming of all places, right in the middle of nowhere... and yet, drug abuse is still a problem. There are people selling all varieties of it at city park by night and what does anybody do? The cops even know about it but say that "someone's on it". Then why do people keep dying and getting wasted without anyone knowing?

I've lived in Los Angeles my whole life
and drugs are everywhere!
but for its been simple to stay away from it
i have a job(i work for Philadelphia cream cheese)
and i don't party every night, even when i do, i never feel the need to do it. To me its pointless and a waste, and flat out Stupid!

Okay, yeah it does get a little old at times, but drug education can help in the long run. I mean someone told me that they did drugs once, and instantly the theme songs from drug prevention movies from years ago to present kicked in, and I knew what to do. I went and told a teacher. I don't consider myself a tattletale becuase I did the right thing and possibly saved her life and others.

Yeah, true true

man, thats bad how we can't fix everything. but, we can fix somethings. not that have to do with drug abuse, but other things.

Hey its okay, I understand trust me. I don't know why we cannot have a drug free society either. But life is the way it is, we cannot fix everything and everyone, we can only do what we can and hope everything takes care of itself.

this whole thing that's happening! not to me, but to society. i dont know why we cant have a peaceful, drug-free society, you know? sorry, i didnt mean to like blow up : )

Whoa whoa whoa! What has got you so upset????????

well jeez, what kinda of world is this? some freakin pot chain or something? this isnt fair.none of it. this world isnt fair. noone is! why has our society come to this? a bunch of junkies and drunks? is that why God put us on this earth? if it is, then i dont want to live in it. someone once told me,"it takes a tragic event to bring people together." he was right. take 9/11 for example. but, what happens whenso many people are junkies, noone cares? doesnt anyone care about what is happening to society!? obviously not. you might not be a heartless person, but others are!

Wait a minute, I was talking about your grandfather. Yes I agree it does matter if you try, but all I'm saying is sometimes you gotta back off. I'm not a heartless person, I'm just saying with most cases you cannot help someone who doesnt want to be helped. Now if he knows he's got a problem, then YES help him, help him to realize that there is a better life out there.

thats just not fair, because he may never realize when he needs help. So who will be there for him? someone has got to him to go to rehab before he will go. hopefully, when he gets out of jail, he'll be acohol free. but, then we'd have to do alot of hoping, now wouldn't we? what he did was not fair to anybody, espeacily his child( whom lives in Florida and comes to see him during holidays and the summer). You say noone can help him, but someone has to help. it doesn't matter if you cant help him, it matters if you try.

See thats just the thing........ He CAN help himself, he just doesnt choose to. I was in your same boat, and trust me these problems he has are something he can do something about. Its a little thing called rehab, and until he realizes that he needs help, nothing you or anyone does is going to change that, because he will keep doing the same thing over and over again.........

gosh, imean what kind of person con just sit around while their family is being torn apart because one person has some problems that he cant help? if he cant help himself, others need to help him, right?

Yeah me too, but see theres only so much you can do for someone before they have to start helping themselves. I had to learn this the hard way when I was your age.

i know its just in my nature to help people who need help

Oh thats sucky, then if I were you, I'd do what I do when dealing with my family, (the ones who drink and do drugs) and stay away. They've got a real problem, and you cannot help someone who thinks they dont have a problem.

i guess not, but when is that? my uncle went to jail last week for drinking and driving and he'll be in there for a year and wont get to spend christmas with the family

I'm not sure because I dont know the guy. Getting to know someone as long as they're SOBER I dont see a problem. Do you?

well, i dont want to like hang around him, just get to know him. im pretty sure he wouldnt push drugs on me. my dad let me see him once at a funeral, but i didnt get to meet him. he did really bad things, but i dont think that makes him a bad person, do you?

I dont think its a good idea to be around someone who uses drugs, especially a young girl, do you?

I don't think it's right to assume you should stay away from him. Drug use isn't contagious, and I seriously doubt that your own grandfather will try to push drugs on you.

Like I've said before, the difference between someone who uses drugs and someone who doesn't is nonexistant - they're the same person.

well my dad and my second to oldest brother does drugs and I wisk that before I died they would come to their sences and ask the Lord Jesus CHrist to save them from all the wrong doings cause I beleive that God doesn't want them doing that stuff

Thats really sad, maybe you're better off staying away from him. That's what I'd do anyway.

i dont think so. i met him, well seen him, at his mom's funeral. my dad didnt want me to meet him, though. i dont think he considered anything other than he needs drugs

Weed? and Cocaine? oh wow those are highly addictive. I'm so sorry for you. Has your grandfather considered getting help?

i think he does mariuawona however you spell it. and cocaine

oh im sorry, my grandad was a drinker. What's he on? do U know? My brother and sister are druggies...........

well, im glad to hear that although it would be nice to know who they are or what they look like. It is my grandad btw.

Thats probably 4 the best, trust me you arent missing a thing!

i have never tried drugs, but my part of my family did drugs MAJORLY! and I have never met them before because they are so involved in it

Yes its your choice BUT sometimes its so bad you gotta have it, a hard habit to kick but some ppl do make it!

well, drug abuse is your choice really. but, people don't think that it doesn't just hurt you, but your family too. and your friends.

SoyAndSublime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> the thing is, DARE programs and crap dont work. it
> tells kids to never start drugs or they'll end up
> a complete loser with no hope for a future. why
> not take a different approach? say, one like
> targeting kids who have maybe expermiented with
> drugs and such, and to tell them that one mistake
> does not determine your whole future.
> for the past 3 years i've been struggling with a
> drug addiction and heroin addiction problem. and
> now that im 100% sober, i wish i could let all
> drug users know how AMAZING being sober is! i LOVE
> it! but the fact is, you can tell someone they
> have to get clean all you want, but its not worth
> it. the only way someone can get clean is if they
> want it. if its their choice. any other way, it
> just wont work.
>
> well, there's my rant on the whole subject.
>
> i dont think i did, but if i did offend anyone in
> any way, i apologize.

Yes I totally agree with you, being sober is amazing! I've never expermiented with drugs because one I've never wanted or needed to. Another is I saw what it does to my sister, she's destroyed. Alot of people dont come back from heroin simply because they dont want to, they dont think they have a problem. But the FEW that do realize they have a problem and do something about it I tip my hats off to them. Even though I dont know you, I am proud of you because you are one of the few to stand up and get help for your problem. Keep it up!

Ushersgirl_06

requiem for a dream? most deff my favorite movie of all time!

the thing is, DARE programs and crap dont work. it tells kids to never start drugs or they'll end up a complete loser with no hope for a future. why not take a different approach? say, one like targeting kids who have maybe expermiented with drugs and such, and to tell them that one mistake does not determine your whole future.
for the past 3 years i've been struggling with a drug addiction and heroin addiction problem. and now that im 100% sober, i wish i could let all drug users know how AMAZING being sober is! i LOVE it! but the fact is, you can tell someone they have to get clean all you want, but its not worth it. the only way someone can get clean is if they want it. if its their choice. any other way, it just wont work.

well, there's my rant on the whole subject.

i dont think i did, but if i did offend anyone in any way, i apologize.

I meant that they aren't common in relation to weed. To my understanding, weed is easily the most common illegal drug.

nfinnigan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't agree that ecstacy, speed aren't common.
> I know plenty of people that have done those drugs
> in my school, and I live in a small rural town.
> Drugs like that are easily obtainable in my
> community, which isn't a drugged-out one to say
> the least. I'd be careful when using that
> statement herosdoexist.

people need to be informed of the different types of addictive drugs out there and what the side effects are or the outcome of taking the drug.

I don't agree that ecstacy, speed aren't common. I know plenty of people that have done those drugs in my school, and I live in a small rural town. Drugs like that are easily obtainable in my community, which isn't a drugged-out one to say the least. I'd be careful when using that statement herosdoexist.

Requiem For A Dream is an awesome movie. Everybody should watch it.

Well what I think helps scare people out of getting involved with drugs (or what at least keeps me away from them) is attaining knowledge of all the negative aspects and effects drugs have on people. The gruesome details have a way of just making me completely uninterested in doing drugs. Learning about the long-term effects, or seeing what addiction does to a person, or even the disgusting things some people go through just for their drug of choice can help open up people's eyes and see things other than the short-lived high you get. Take the movie Requiem for a Dream, for example. In that movie, you see exactly what it's like to be a heroin addict and you see 4 people (all completely different) becoming addicted to some drug and ultimatelly ruining their lives completely because of the addiction. The book Crank is also a good eye-opener showing the negative effects of drugs. It's things like this that I believe keep some people, including myself, away from drugs.

gweiner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What resource(s) could Do Something have that
> would help this issue?
>
> Service ideas that could help folks inform their
> schools about drug abuse?
>
> Real Stories?
>
> Are there Nonprofits that actually work to help
> teens avoid drug abuse?
>
>
> Your ideas will help shape this program as it
> grows.

Maybe a non-profit organization that seeks out speakers for schools and coach the speakers on how to put their story together for high school classes--
find people who have almost died from overdosing, or have witnessed a friend or family member's overdose. The detailed story of how the person began and why they began using drugs. They could tell stories of bad things they had done along the path to the bottom (stealing, lying, hurting loved ones with words/actions), and what the cravings were like, what the drug did to them physically and mentally/psychologically.
Also, how they finally turned it around and struggles they still have because of their past problems with drugs-- cravings from addction, health problems, family and friends who are no longer in their lives because of it.

It shouldn't be just a one time thing. There should be a new speaker at least every year.

well he is my dad and if he thinks that I am goin to get him out of jail then he is wrong because he done Drugs in front of me and I didn't apperacaite that because I thought my dad had more care for me than that because he use to did not do that in front of me until his mom and dad died

Keith and cindy gurl,
you know you really shouldnt wish someone dead. It can come back to haunt you!!!!!!!! Not tryin 2 but in yo biz but seriously U shouldnt be doin that!

~Ushersgirl_06~

well in Warsaw N.C Drug Abuser are really bad but I cant say much because my dad is one and he realy deserves the punishment that he got and maybe he will die where he is at and that is Jail and all drug abusers need to be there until they die and may God bless you all and be with your families if you all have any in your families

Exactly, good point matt.

That's because most drug abuse is low-key. The majority of drug users aren't whacked out on heroin, or OD'ing on cocaine. Those drugs - crack, ecstacy, speed - aren't very common. They are strong and incredibly dangerous.

Weed is probably the most common drug by far. It's cheap - about $20 for 1/16 to 1/8 of an ounce, which will last one person for a week, doing it once a night. It has a widespread reputation of being harmless, that you 'can't get addicted to it physically'. You can, however, become psychologically addicted.

Just please, keep in mind that there is NO difference between someone who smokes pot and anyone else. The commercials are wrong - pot smokers are out doing things with the rest of us. They're normal people, don't demonize them. That's why I want us to switch the way we try to convince them to stop.

Wow I never knew that drug abusers are that big in cities today in the world.

Yes drug abuse is a problem, I have 3 members of my family on drugs. One is on heroin. People need to realize that doing drugs doesnt make you cool. It only causes problems and hurt. My sister is the one on heroin and she has 5 kids. My mom is raising 2 of them....And she prostitutes for money for drugs....Anyone else have a similar story?
~Ushersgirl_06~

well I am going to tell you a real story k so I am here to say that I love each and every one of you I am rebelgirl92

Real stories are a must. We all talk about 'potential' side-effects and long-term damage, but we're teens now and we do drugs NOW.

I don't know anyone who's died of an overdose, or gotten into much trouble over drugs around here - and I know a lot of users. Maybe a few stories about harm resulting from a simple, everyday drug like weed would calm things down.

Because, really, the bad effects aren't there on the surface. They're my friends; they're good guys and do good things; the drugs don't hurt them. I'm not going to tell them to stop. That's a decision they'll have to make for themselves. In the end, the only TRULY effective way to stop 'em is to make them think they'll be caught. And how're you gonna do that?