From marijuana to cocaine, the chances that an average high school student has taken drugs at least once are more than 50%.  How does this apply to Arrowhead?

At Arrowhead, there is the “Quick Fifty” program which most students are aware of by the end of their freshman year.  Students can turn in another student they believe or know are doing drugs, and get $50 from the school if their beliefs are right. 

Mr. Nejedlo approximated 2 to 3 were “quick fiftied” each week.  With 36 weeks in the school year, almost 108 students each year are turned in.

 The students’ cars are searched, along with their locker and backpack.  Their cell phones may be searched if it is believed to be involved.  

A student caught dealing looks forward to expulsion, a large ticket, and possible jail time.  A student caught with possession receives a big ticket and pre-expulsion/suspension.

In a survey done by the University of Michigan on what percentage of students have taken marijuana in the last 30 days, 19.4% said they had.  A shocking 43.1% had admitted to drinking in the past 30 days, with over 60% saying they had in the last year.

Over 80% of students replied in the study that they could easily obtain marijuana.  In a study done by the University of Michigan in 2008, only 51% of students admitted that they thought marijuana use was harmful to their health.  The assumptions that cocaine and heroin are harder drugs have always held true, with over 80% saying they believe those are harmful to their health.  Shockingly, only 63% of students admitted that they thought LSD was harmful.  According to a study done by NIDA, 2.7% of high school seniors had done LSD.  The physical harmful effects of LSD range from hypothermia to increased heart rate, with the “trip” LSD causes putting the user at risk to hurt him or herself.

With Wisconsin being the #1 binge drinking state, obtaining alcohol would be as easy as opening the liquor cabinet and taking whatever is open.  Very few parents don’t drink in Wisconsin, it is part of the “culture.”  Students grow up seeing their parents drink wine like it is water. 

University of Madison-Wisconsin has the reputation of being a drinking school, and with over 50% of its students coming from a Wisconsin high school, there is no change in environment or drinking habits.  Alcohol use in high school seems to be a rite of passage, getting wasted at least once to be prepared for college. 

On Facebook, even after being warned not to, students post pictures from big events (Homecoming, Prom, Twirp, football games) where they are drunk.  It has been proven that people who started drinking before the legal age have a higher chance of becoming alcoholics later on in life, meaning all who start drinking in high school may face a future of dependence.