Pubdate: Sat, 12 Mar 2016
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Cris Lopez

TEEN DRUG ABUSE

EDITOR: Drug abuse is becoming a great epidemic among teenagers in 
Sonoma County. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that almost 
70 percent of seniors in high school will have tried alcohol, about 
40 percent will have smoked a cigarette, and more than 20 percent 
will have tried some type of prescription medicine to get high. Other 
studies also show that marijuana use at a young age can have a 
long-term effect on thinking, memory and learning functions.

Drug abuse is an issue that we need to address as a community. 
Sometimes parents aren't aware that their kids are abusing drugs, 
because they are not well educated about certain drugs and the effect 
they have on a child's health. Parents need to inform their children 
about the dangers of abusing drugs at a young age and the 
consequences for possessing, selling or consuming illegal drugs. 
Schools should have more programs that educate children about the 
health effects drugs have on their minds and bodies while are still 
developing. Only we as a community can put a stop to teen drug abuse.

CRIS LOPEZ

Santa Rosa
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