
HEADLINE: Youth / OPINION 'Scaring Kids Doesn't Seem to Work'
Publication Date: Monday February 7, 1994
BYLINE:

 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.

