Teen Drug, Alcohol, And Sex Use

There is a fine line between being a child or an adult. As the years go by, the line is fading and things are no longer black and white. Teens are getting into sex, alcohol, and drugs much faster than in years before. In the town of Spokane, WA, there is a group of teens that know the pleasures of older age and illegal drugs, far too well.

Amanda grew up in a Christian home with loving, kind parents. She was what some people refer to as, "straight edge", meaning that they don't do any alcohol, or drugs, and are still virgins. Her and her best friend were very proud of this title and glad to obey the responsibilities it held. One weekend, Amanda (13 at the time) went to her beach house with her brother and her father. When her dad fell asleep, Amanda's brother broke out the beers. At first, she was skeptical,but after time, she decided to try one. Before she knew it, she was drunk for the first, but definitely not last time in her life. When she went to school the following Monday, she was "acting odd", claims her friend. Amanda texted her friend to meet her in the bathroom, near both of their classrooms. Amanda explained what had happened and there was an instant break in the bond they once had. Her and her friend were still extremely close, but as her friend reported, things were just never the same. "We used to think it was really cool that we had so much in common and that our morals were the same... But after she told me that, I didn't know what to expect next. I never thought she would do something like that." As the months went by, Amanda's habits grew and worsened. Soon it was pot and binge drinking. A little into Amanda's freshman year of high school, she lost her virginity to a guy she barely knew and who was 2 years older than her. They had ditched youth group, to go to a field behind the church. They made out and had sex. I just recently sat down with Amanda and she reported to me that since then, she has continued to binge drink, and do pot, but now she has also added to the mix, shrooms, salvia, oxy, vicadin, and ecstasy. She is 14 years old.

Kristen started up at a new school in 6th grade. Kristen wasn't popular, or very pretty, and to be frank, she was kind of odd. She was often ridiculed and had very few friends. In seventh grade, she started to change her look, along with it, came a change of attitude and friends. Kristen was what many people call, "emo". In eighth grade, she quickly made friends. She was gaining popularity not only in the middle school, but also in the near by high school. Her new friends were, for the majority, drug users. Kristen started to follow in the foot-steps of her peers. Before she knew it, drugs were a big part of her everyday life. She and Amanda became good friends. They hung out a lot of the time and experimented together. Kristen's home life was anything but perfect, which is one reason, she says, that she got so involved with drugs and alcohol. As time went by, Kristen got more and more into her bad habits. In the middle of last year, she got caught dealing. She had to attend addiction meetings and since then, has not used pot. However, that does not even come close to sobriety in her case. Though, Kristen doesn't smoke pot, anything else that is available to her, is on her list of things to do. Kristen is 15 years old.The other members of Amanda and Kristen's group refused to sit down and talk to me. However, Amanda and Kristen informed me that "birds of a feather, flock together". So it is safe to say that the other 5 teens are very much so, involved in the drug scene.

Why is it that kids are trading in balls for bongs so early? I am in no way saying that age makes it okay for people to defy the law, but we all know it happens. Sadly, more and more young people are trying to grow up too fast. If I could leave you remembering just one thing what I have written, I would want you to remember to try and live your life to the fullest, and have safe, legal, fun.

(The names of these girls have been changed to protect their identity)