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? - --- MAP posted-by: Beth