Pubdate: Thu, 22 Nov 2001
Source: Florida Today (FL)
Copyright: 2001 Florida Today
Contact: http://www.floridatoday.com/forms/services/letters.htm
Website: http://www.flatoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532
Author: Bobby Cronenberg, Indialantic

YOUTH DRUG ABUSE COMPLICATED ISSUE

Almost three pages of Sunday's Florida Today were devoted to an article on 
drug abuse, a complicated problem that deserves to be presented objectively 
with valid statistics and supporting documentation as opposed to an opinion 
essay skewed by selective comments.

To build a thesis constructed around one survey of anonymously polled 
students in 2000 raises many questions. For example, is drug use in Brevard 
County greater than in either Dade or Orange counties?

Yes, like other areas in our county, state, and nation, the communities on 
the barrier island are dealing with drug-related issues, particularly 
prevalent among the teen-age population.

To state that "drugs [are] a part of life at [the] beach" is an 
irresponsible generalization, even if buried deep within page two is a 
small disclaimer that "no statistics show conclusively a difference between 
beachside and mainland drug use within the county."

We all carry the grief borne heavily by the families of our youth lost 
needlessly, and as adults we all must focus on finding answers. Instead of 
blaming wealthy, single, "arrogant," double-income working and/or laid-back 
beach parents, school personnel or the justice system, maybe the focus 
should be on the pressures confronting today's young people.

Perhaps the solution is in connecting with teenagers the old fashioned way, 
one at a time, and really listening non-judgmentally. Why do so many need 
to "escape" from their lives? If it gives solace to families living off the 
barrier island to blame the beach scene, fine, but consider this: If we 
closed off bridges, would the drug issue be moot?
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MAP posted-by: Beth