April 18, 2004

Good and Bad News About County Student Drug Use

There is good news and bad news about drug use by Charlotte County middle and high school students.

So said Charles B. Stiles, area chairman of Partnership For A Drug-Free Florida in a presentation before the Punta Gorda Rotary Club.  

Use of alcohol, cigarettes and inhalants are down slightly since 2000, but up significantly for marijuana.  

This according to the Florida Department of Children and Families in its "2002 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey."

Before examining possible causes and remedies, consider the statistics:

• Use of alcohol by Charlotte County students declined from 44.3 percent to 42.2.
• Use of cigarettes declined by 2 percentage points – however, notably less than the 7 points statewide.
• Use of inhalants reflects a statewide decline from 6.1 percent to 3.9.
• Contrary to the statewide trend, marijuana use among Charlotte County students increased from 16 percent for 2000 to 21.8 percent for 2002.

Stiles says the data are a year old, but the trend lines are significant: "It is heartening that the trends are down for three categories of drug use, but worrisome for marijuana."

Principal finding of the regular two-year study: "Charlotte County students are at greater risk for involvement in drug use and other anti-social behavior due to a lack of long-term attachment to neighborhood and community."  

Amity Chandler, Charlotte County director of the non-profit Alliance For A Safe and Drug-free Community, urges a "holistic" all-avenues approach to drug addiction problems.

"These include involvement of community, family, schools, faith-based institutions and peer-to-peer education," declares Chandler.

The local Alliance since October has sponsored 86 anti-drug presentations by high-school academic and sports student leaders. They were for fourth and fifth grade classes at Vineland, Meadow Park and East Elementary – and at Charlotte high school and Ainger middle school.  

David C. Hager, M.D., psychiatrist for the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office, works with addiction-related problems on a daily basis.

In a personal interview, he related similar statistics for drug use. During the discussion, I noticed him making notes on a small card. I asked to see them. They are:  

• Rising social stress with loss of community identity.
• Declining spiritual values.
• Social norm of instant gratification.
• Easily available, high potency, mood-altering chemicals.

It is interesting that the experts mentioned above pretty much agree on the causes and solutions to drug use among school children.

I would emphasize "community identity" and peer-to-peer instruction as crucial factors in the cause and effect of drug use.

In addition, I suggest a subtle reason for the infiltration of social-altering drugs among children – a trend in recent years to teach our children to be non-judgmental about lifestyles.

Television – coupled with a need by low classes to be entertained by an escalating menu of oddity – is largely to blame for declining morals.

Noise and shock are substitutes for melody and skill. Exhibition trumps interpretation. Rapping covers a lack of ability to compose music. Sex and violence are staples on prime time.  

Without positive guidance, children perceive loud mouths and misbehavior to be "cool."

The human craving to be admired has drifted from accomplishments to notoriety.  Now belly buttons, body piercing, tattoos, g-strings and feminine "boobs" are badges of attraction.  

People since the Garden of Eden have sorted themselves into classes – strong vs. weak, rich vs. poor, educated vs. ignorant, sharing vs. selfishness, goals vs. immediacy.

There are high and low classes of people. Each disdains the other. Nature ordains "pecking order" for a reason. And "you can’t fool Mother Nature."

This being so, parents – and surrogate parents we call teachers – have a responsibility to encourage discernment in all things.

Kids who use drugs, bully the halls, and disdain education are low class. A democratic society cannot discriminate openly, but it does so furtively. Low classes fail.

Acknowledging that classes exist, and labels attach thereby, is a reality of life.

Drugs, and confrontational behavior are self-destructing. Society is obliged to provide opportunities for children to rise in class as far as ambition inspires.

This demands that mentors also hone judgment skills of children to recognize the realities of class and the rewards of striving.  

PARTING SHOTS

Sen. Kennedy says, "Iraq is President Bush’s Vietnam." Wrong!  Vietnam is Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick.

*  * *

John Kerry has invented a "middle-class misery index." Quite a feat for someone worth $700 million.

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at linwms@lindseywilliams.org