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.Butthe evidence shows the contrary.When you possesses the drug style, it possesses you back.But it is not alwaysfair to criticize the drug user.After all, he or she is merely falling for the cultural line, going along with theprevailing philosophy that deep down, people are not really worth that much and have to be enhanced by someoutside agent.But times are changing.A few years ago, in many circles, it was more hip to use drugs, now it is beginning tobe more hip to go beyond drugs.But how does one choose the way of going beyond? For some, it is no bigproblem drugs are not that attractive; life is involving and meaningful, if not always easy.Other searchersmay not be getting much help from their families, schools, or communities, who may not recognize the need toassist in providing alternatives.The individual searcher must be alert.A person who wants to be happier and more fulfilled, must try.A greatalternative in itself is the process of putting energy into finding alternatives.There are other guidelines that maybe helpful.Be optimistic.If you have used drugs, ask yourself what you enjoyed about the drug experience; askwhat areas in your life need work and fulfillment.Then seek, particularly in the areas of your highest interest.That means asking about different alternatives you hear about or read about.Follow up leads, investigatepossibilities.One useful way is to discover the secrets of those you really admire whether friends, peers, orheroes in order to find out what turns them on.It can help to ask anyone who might know about interestingavenues of exploration, especially former drug users.Look for help and ask for help if you need it.Stay offdrugs as much as possible while looking; it will help you evaluate the alternatives.Get others to join you in thesearch.Have faith in both yourself and in the possibilities of natural alternatives.The problem of drug abuse is both a tragedy and a challenge.It raises issues that every responsible human beingshould face.The search for viable alternatives can be, at the same time, great fun and very profound.Whenhonestly faced, the challenge of self-discovery can force new perspectives on the game of life.In the words ofthe great Indian spiritual leader Meher Baba, "To penetrate into the essence of all being and significance and torelease the fragrance of that inner attainment for the guidance and benefit of others, by expressing, in the worldof forms, truth, love, purity and beauty this is the sole game which has intrinsic and absolute worth." 2Afterword Chill:The Decision Is YoursMargaret O.HydeThe controversy over the "war on drugs" and how to wage it has been going on for decades.Kids laugh at someof the messages that adults use to try to scare them from drug abuse.Many kids know that reefer madness is ajoke.They know "just saying no" is not an easy solution.The list of reasons not to use drugs is so long and sofamiliar that many teens just tune it out.Teens are free thinkers.Many feel that what they do about drugs, legal or illegal, should be their own freechoice.Most feel invincible.Who cares about warnings of wrinkles from smoking, or even those about lungcancer and emphysema? But they do care about their classmates who are strung out on drugs.There is great energy for change among kids who have seen what drugs can do.Many of them know about thedown-side that follows the high.They respect the complicated and delicate working of their own brains, so theyseek other highs that have more subtle and long-lasting rewards.Thinkers want the facts, and as far as possible, facts have been presented in this book.They are more accuratethan information from druggies on the street and pushers in the schools, where one in four claims to be able tobuy marijuana in less than an hour.At this very moment your brain is receiving countless messages.Some are conscious.Some are unconscious.Drugs change many messages in the brain and can change some of them permanently.Many of the kids whoknow this are in the forefront of the movement toward safer highs.NotesChapter 11.Susan Neiburg Terkel, The Drug Laws: A Time for Change? (New York: Franklin Watts, 1997), p.102.2.William Bennet, and others, Body Count (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996), p.1563.National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, The New York Times, August 7, 1997.4.National Institute on Drug Abuse Capsule, "Facts About Teenagers and Drug Abuse," Monitoring theFuture Survey, 1997.5."Survey Suggests Leveling Off In Use of Drugs by Students," The New York Times, December 21, 1997.6.Christopher S.Wren, "Fewer Youths Report Smoking Marijuana," The New York Times, August 7, 1997.7.Christopher S.Wren, "Drug Use by Young Teen-Agers Is Found Up," The New York Times, October 29,1997.Chapter 21.Lester Grispoon and James Bakalar in Raymond Goldberg, Taking Sides: Drugs and Society (Guilford,CT: Brown and Benchmark Publishers, 1996), p.9.2.Fred Leavitt, Drugs and Behavior (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1995), pp.196 197.3.Richard Seymour and David Smith, Drugfree (New York: Facts on File, 1987), p.24.4.The Holy Bible, King James Version, Genesis 9:20 21.5.Margaret O [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]