Drug use increase trend needs to be reversed

As a youth minister of a church in charge of a rather large youth program, I am disturbed when I see things like a recent national study which showed more teenagers are using alcohol and marijuana. A study by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America released the updated report the week before March 7, 2010, when an AP story by Jennifer C. Kerr, said the increases reverses a decline that started in 1998.

Here’s what Sean Clarkin of the research group said, “I’m a little worried that we may be seeing the leading edge of a trend here. Historically, you do see the increase in recreational drugs before you see increases in some of the harder drugs.”

The number of teens in grades 9 to 12 in the past month was 39 percent or about 6.5 million children, up 35 percent.  In 2008, the rate was 5.8 million children. The same group of teenagers reported smoking marijuana in the past month was up 19 percent, according to the report.

One way to stem this trend is to look at the causes, and this study cited factors due to the ailing economy. With parents working more hours, parents have less time with their kids.  I can see that with my programs. After-school programs have also closed, and the church can help this group, too.  The report said fewer teenagers were working, leaving idle time.  Also funds for prevention programs have dropped, the study said.  It is the role of the church to help fill these voids, and much of the programs I deal with have drug prevention components.

One of the study’s most disturbing trends indicated parents’ attitude toward increased use of alcohol and marijuana.  Parents are expected to be role models to their children, and when some adults indicate through their actions that drinking and smoking pot is acceptable, the results of the study are inevitable.   This leads to another disturbing indicator from the study…almost a third of parents of youths 14 to 19 say their teens have used drugs or alcohol beyond an experimental level.  Nearly half of the parents waited to take action or didn’t do anything to correct the situation.

I admit the economic times are very difficult; however, there is really no excuse to endanger the futures of our children, who hold our later lives in their hands, with the burden and pain of drug and alcohol abuse.  It is time parents, the church, schools, the government and society in general work to reverse this trend of an increase in drug abuse.

Peace be you with always,

Rev. Paul Abernathy

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” -2 Peter 1:2

Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.

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