US MS: OPED: AMERICA'S YOUTH IN DANGER

Warning America: the youth of this country are under attack.

Bombings, catastrophic natural disasters and the threat of another
world war: all of these sound like terrifying realities. But there is
a much more alarming threat to our way of life that, if not addressed
immediately, will leave our country and our entire future in shambles.

The use of drugs, alcohol and the incidence of teenage crime has
always been a reality. But what is alarming is not only the number of
teens who now participate in this kind of behavior, but also the
amount of exposure and the ease of availability for these destructive items.

A number of studies have charted the progression of teen drug use,
and one study by the Ohio State University department of human
development and family science conveys how much of a problem we're
dealing with.

One of the findings said that by the age of 14, over one-third of
teens will have tried an illegal drug, and that number will increase
to more than half by their senior year in high school. With the
legalization of marijuana in select cities in the United States, it
should not be surprising that it is the most accessible and also the
most frequently used drug by teens (over 40 percent). Probably even
more alarming is that 90 percent of students say that the drug is
easily accessible for them.

What are some of the causes for this recklessly loose attitude toward
drugs? One reason, sadly, is that the people who are supposed to be
protecting our rights as citizens are tragically confused. Lawmakers
think giving us more rights and the freedom to do whatever we want-no
matter how bad it is for us-is freedom and democracy.

The law that just passed in Denver, Colo., legalizing the possession
of one ounce of marijuana for a person age 21 and older is an example
of their disastrous misinterpretation. The lawmakers, as well as the
populace of that city, are sending the message to kids that using
drugs is acceptable, which is the argument used by some proponents by
pushing the idea that marijuana is safer than alcohol because alcohol
causes wrecks and violent behavior. This is in direct contradiction
to the findings by the study mentioned earlier that found teens who
use marijuana are much more likely to start using other more
dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

The lines have to be redrawn when addressing these issues that
greatly affect young people. We are not just fighting a war on drugs;
it's much more serious than that. It's not about accessibility
anymore because the stuff is out there for anyone who wants it. It's
about acceptance. It's about embracing behaviors that 10 or 20 years
ago would be unheard of. Did the idea of what was right and good for
our communities change because we are a few decades more
technologically advanced? Did the idea of intellectual progression
spill over into the realm of our basic belief system, so that our
basic concepts regarding acceptable behavior changed because we're in
a new millennium?

Increasing the use of drugs among young people is not progressive. It
is not forward thinking, and it is not helping the kids or our
society. I think we have enough freedom for the whole world, and
recent laws support that. If you want the right to do something, all
you have to do is be the most outspoken. You can do what you want to
do, and you'll have a written law made to back you up.

I do agree in changing our social attitudes to the extent of growing
as a society and working to dispel stereotypes and discriminatory
practices that hurt us personally and as a community. But the line
needs to be drawn when progress supercedes common sense and the
desires of a select few impede on the basic rights of the majority.

The knowledge that drug use is increasing at an alarming rate should
be reason enough for us to take a step back and look at where we are
headed. Even if you view marijuana as no more harmful than any other
legalized drug, the statistics should tell you that although
marijuana may not be more harmful, its use is highly correlated with
lethargy and decreased performance, as well as the increased
likelihood of using more dangerous drugs.

How important is the future of America to you or even your own
future? Eventually, this next generation will be filling the shoes of
the doctors, lawyers, lawmakers and, perhaps most importantly,
parents. Will they be prepared to assume these roles, or will the age
of selfish desires and the "Me" attitude usher us into a dismal
future? The answer to the last question may prove to be even scarier;
what becomes of the future of this country depends on us.

We are at a critical stage as college students. We are now
responsible for not only our futures but also the preservation of the
next generation. Additionally, because our teenage years are not long
gone, we can have a great influence on these young people-more so
than older adults. We must actively seek out and take part in the
lives of young people who are becoming increasingly susceptible to
falling into ways of acting and thinking that hurt them and all of us
collectively.

While we may not be able to change individual family problems or
large-scale social issues alone, together we can unite our efforts so
that we can encourage teens and give them direction and purpose,
motivating them to improve themselves and our country.

While each of us can only have a limited effect when it comes to
tackling the laws that are in place and the lawmakers that write
them, we can have an exponential effect by mentoring this younger
generation. All the evidence in the studies cited say that the key to
deterring youth from deviant behavior is encouragement and
involvement in their lives by parents or parental figures. According
to the P/PA (Public/Private ventures), mentoring programs decrease
the use of illegal drugs and alcohol and increase positive behaviors
such as attending school and improving family relations.

One of the most well-known mentoring programs is Big Brothers Big
Sisters, which has helped thousands of children through its programs.
Signing up for this mentoring program is easy and can be done online
at its Web site, www.bbbsa.org. We also have our own mentoring
opportunities within a few miles of us. Ever think about your younger
siblings or cousins needing a strong positive influence? They do.
They are at ground zero right now as middle and high school and even
elementary students. The point is this: we are the last defense
against the direct attack on the future of this country.

We will soon be adults and fully integrated into the workforce and
starting our own families. This country is much of our
responsibility. Ask yourselves, what kind of country do you want to build?