As part of group one, our responsibility is to explain and research the problem in the first display and documentation sections of our class portfolio.
Westfield, New Jersey is an amazing town filled with kind people, beautiful homes and a great downtown. At the Westfield High School, however, substance abuse is a very serious topic. Many teens sell, receive and use illegal drugs every day on school property.The worst part of all is that nothing is changing even though people are trying to change it. Our job is to try and eliminate drug abuse in Westfield High School.
On any given day, if you go behind the bleachers or in the locker room, you can guarantee that drugs are being distributed. Many students will go to extremes to get their hands on drugs. For example, students can stuff drugs in everyday objects such as old candy wrappers, pens and highlighters and even belt buckles (TestCountry.org). In 2012, 6.5% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders and 22.9% of 12th graders used marijuana within the past month when the survey took place (National Institute on Drug Abuse). We took a survey of a class of 7th grade students at our school. 87% of those we interviewed think that drug abuse is a problem, and 47% say that they know someone who has used drugs. However, only 20% know the consequences of getting caught with drugs at the High School (Class Survey).
Not only do students abuse illegal substances, they also can abuse prescription pills. Prescription drugs are much easier for teenagers to obtain because they are most likely in their own home. In Fort Lee, New Jersey a 19-year old overdosed on prescription drugs and unfortunately passed away due to the incident (Fios1news.com). These drugs are very common among High School students as 14.8% abused it non-medically in the past year. Prescription drugs are just the start to a drug addiction as many others lead to marijuana in the future. Even though this event didn’t occur in Westfield, something like this can happen.
Despite the fact that Westfield High School is #19 in the state among New Jersey high schools, there is drug abuse hidden behind the good grades (usnews.com). 29% of teens reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property (teenhelp.com). Recently two Westfield teens have been arrested for drug possession and or distribution. Both of them were suspended from school (Westfield Patch). In 12th grade health class at Westfield High School, students learn the incidence and impacts of commonly abused substances, relate injected drug use to the incidence of diseases, and correlate the use of drugs with certain incidences (state.nj.us). Even though the students are aware of the consequences of drugs, they still choose to abuse them.
In summary, it is obvious that there is a real problem of drug abuse at Westfield High School. This can majorly affect student’s grades, social lives and sports reputations. Although there are organisations that are currently trying to solve this problem, they need more help from the government. For example, P.A.N.D.A is a local movement. It involves the citizens of Westfield in a fight against alcoholism and drug abuse. There used to be a program in New Jersey called D.A.R.E.(drug. abuse. resistance. education). It educated kids about the harm that drugs can bring in an interactive and fun way. Unfortunately, this program is no longer around, but we should bring it back. In conclusion, drug abuse is a problem among high school students but there are solutions we can put into action.
Works Cited
Alterman, Elizabeth. “Westfield Man Arrested for Drug Distribution.” Westfield Patch 24 Jan. 2013: n. pag. Westfield Patch. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://westfield.patch.com/articles/westfield-police-arrest-three>.
“High School Seniors’ Tobacco Use Pales in Comparison to Alcohol.” Tobacco Truth. N.p., 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2013/01/high-school-seniors-tobacco-use-pales.html>.
Koebler, Jason. “Teen Drug Use Up Since 2008.” US News 11 Apr. 2011: n. pag. USNews. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/04/11/teen-drug-use-up-since-2008>.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “DrugFacts: High School and Youth Trends.” National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends>.
“Prescription Drug Addiction among Teens.” SoberRecovery. N.p., 29 Oct. 2008. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.soberrecovery.com/drug-rehabilitation-alcohol-treatment/prescription-drug-detox/prescription-drug-addiction-among-teens.html>.
“Teen Drug Abuse Statistics.” Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. TeenHelp.com, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-drug-abuse/teen-drug-abuse-statistics.html>.
Westfield, New Jersey is an amazing town filled with kind people, beautiful homes and a great downtown. At the Westfield High School, however, substance abuse is a very serious topic. Many teens sell, receive and use illegal drugs every day on school property.The worst part of all is that nothing is changing even though people are trying to change it. Our job is to try and eliminate drug abuse in Westfield High School.
On any given day, if you go behind the bleachers or in the locker room, you can guarantee that drugs are being distributed. Many students will go to extremes to get their hands on drugs. For example, students can stuff drugs in everyday objects such as old candy wrappers, pens and highlighters and even belt buckles (TestCountry.org). In 2012, 6.5% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders and 22.9% of 12th graders used marijuana within the past month when the survey took place (National Institute on Drug Abuse). We took a survey of a class of 7th grade students at our school. 87% of those we interviewed think that drug abuse is a problem, and 47% say that they know someone who has used drugs. However, only 20% know the consequences of getting caught with drugs at the High School (Class Survey).
Not only do students abuse illegal substances, they also can abuse prescription pills. Prescription drugs are much easier for teenagers to obtain because they are most likely in their own home. In Fort Lee, New Jersey a 19-year old overdosed on prescription drugs and unfortunately passed away due to the incident (Fios1news.com). These drugs are very common among High School students as 14.8% abused it non-medically in the past year. Prescription drugs are just the start to a drug addiction as many others lead to marijuana in the future. Even though this event didn’t occur in Westfield, something like this can happen.
Despite the fact that Westfield High School is #19 in the state among New Jersey high schools, there is drug abuse hidden behind the good grades (usnews.com). 29% of teens reported that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property (teenhelp.com). Recently two Westfield teens have been arrested for drug possession and or distribution. Both of them were suspended from school (Westfield Patch). In 12th grade health class at Westfield High School, students learn the incidence and impacts of commonly abused substances, relate injected drug use to the incidence of diseases, and correlate the use of drugs with certain incidences (state.nj.us). Even though the students are aware of the consequences of drugs, they still choose to abuse them.
In summary, it is obvious that there is a real problem of drug abuse at Westfield High School. This can majorly affect student’s grades, social lives and sports reputations. Although there are organisations that are currently trying to solve this problem, they need more help from the government. For example, P.A.N.D.A is a local movement. It involves the citizens of Westfield in a fight against alcoholism and drug abuse. There used to be a program in New Jersey called D.A.R.E.(drug. abuse. resistance. education). It educated kids about the harm that drugs can bring in an interactive and fun way. Unfortunately, this program is no longer around, but we should bring it back. In conclusion, drug abuse is a problem among high school students but there are solutions we can put into action.
Works Cited
Alterman, Elizabeth. “Westfield Man Arrested for Drug Distribution.” Westfield Patch 24 Jan. 2013: n. pag. Westfield Patch. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://westfield.patch.com/articles/westfield-police-arrest-three>.
“High School Seniors’ Tobacco Use Pales in Comparison to Alcohol.” Tobacco Truth. N.p., 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2013/01/high-school-seniors-tobacco-use-pales.html>.
Koebler, Jason. “Teen Drug Use Up Since 2008.” US News 11 Apr. 2011: n. pag. USNews. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/04/11/teen-drug-use-up-since-2008>.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “DrugFacts: High School and Youth Trends.” National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends>.
“Prescription Drug Addiction among Teens.” SoberRecovery. N.p., 29 Oct. 2008. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.soberrecovery.com/drug-rehabilitation-alcohol-treatment/prescription-drug-detox/prescription-drug-addiction-among-teens.html>.
“Teen Drug Abuse Statistics.” Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. TeenHelp.com, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-drug-abuse/teen-drug-abuse-statistics.html>.
Below are graphs that show drug use and selling throughout High School.