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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom