In Western society, youths begin drug use with caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. If they go on to use other drugs, the next drug of choice will most likely be marijuana, followed by one of the hallucinogens, depressants, or stimulants. These drugs are taken at first on an experimental basis, they are reinforcing, and lead to few serious consequences. Marijuana is seen as a step on the road to the use of other substances. Once the illegal barrier is crossed, it becomes easier to take a second and a third drug (Gould and Keeber 1974; Kandel 1978).
After about 30 years, this is still true. The exposure to, or at least knowledge of, substance abuse is an unavoidable aspect of life in high school. The problem is multifaceted, and being that it is rooted in many cultural habits, and supported by some adults who may even serve as mentors, it is one that is all but impossible to eradicate. According to some sources it is on the rise, and others it is declining, but really, it is very hard to measure.
Though certain aspects of the matter are contested, most sources agree that alcohol is the number one substance abused by minors. This is not hard to believe, given alcohol use’s general social acceptability among high school students. Of course, for many, caffeine is far preferable.
Biennially, the Juvenile Welfare Board Children’s Services Council of Pinellas County Contract Management & Evaluation Center publishes a report called “Prevalence of Substance Use among Pinellas County Students.” The information is gathered from a survey given to 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade students. It covers issues such as substance abuse, motor vehicle-related risk behaviors, and school safety issues. As of 2006 it [the survey] was administered to over 27,000 elementary, middle, and high school students from 125 schools within the county public school system, as well as 3 of 26 private schools invited to participate, who accepted the offer. According to this, in nearly every grade and every substance, use has decreased since 2002. However, since it is not a scientific study but a survey, it is apt to have some level of error.
According to the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, Pinellas county youth (ages 10-17) report higher alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse than Florida’s statewide averages. They report that, county -wide, the averages age of onset for alcohol use is 13.3, and 13.2 for cigarettes.
Throughout the high school community there is a myriad of varying opinions in relation to the legal significance of dealing with substance abuse and the forms of rehabilitation or retribution which are most sensible and effective. Not many would comment for print.
“I think all drugs should be legalized and dealt with in the same way as alcohol,” said Mark Stauderman, Countryside High psychology teacher. According to Stauderman, when something is forbidden, it tends to be more desirable, and legalizing all of these substances would not only abolish this mind-set, but eliminate the profits being made illicitly through drug trafficking.
The laws are not likely to change, however due to the multitude of harmful effects related with substance abuse. The top five substances having reportedly been used by high school students, according to the 2002 Households survey, were, as follows: alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, misused prescription drugs, and inhalants (such as nail polish, glue, or correction fluid).