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Recent choir transgressions indicative of a communitywide drug problem that needs to be addressed, changed
Though the spotlight is currently on choir for
recent disciplinary consequences following the use
of marijuana on a school trip, the larger issue of
drug culture in Grosse Pointe needs to be confronted.
Many sources, including Principal Moussa
Hamka, told us that the use of marijuana edibles at
the choir Findlay competition was not a random
occurrence--rather, it was a tradition. This pattern
is manifest in several stories we have reported on,
including, football
team suspensions for
marijuana use twice
in the past two years.
In addition, weve
covered underage
drinking, Adderall
abuse and LSD usage along with accounts of recovering addicts and graduates who have passed away
from overdose.
While Souths culture is fueled by many positive
traditions, substance abuse is a negative tradition
at South that has escalated quickly without proper
education behind it.
Many students dont know the repercussions
behind having a fake ID or how often dealers lace
their marijuana with other substances in order
to create a dependence on a stronger drug. Many
students dont know how much is too much or
the negative effects that follow the instant high or
drunk feelings. Many students dont know that the
choices they make now are only a temporary fix
and influence their likelihood to be an addict later
in life.
The trend of substance abuse is apparent in our
everyday lives. It is rare to walk down the hallway
without overhearing a group talking about partying over the weekend. It is rare to go a weekend
without seeing our peers under the influence on
Snapchat, Instagram or other social media platforms. It is rare to not be offered illegal substances
at some point in our high school careers.
While all of these statements make sense on
paper, they are often forgotten the instant we are
put in a situation where we are told it will feel
amazing and persuaded to have fun and live a little. It makes sense for teenagers to want to escape
reality and not feel.
However, instead of turning to drugs, we should
be taught other ways to cope with our stressful
lives. Everybody has their own unique set of circumstances and challenges that occur at random
times in life; if we are always turning to drugs and
alcohol to escape these feelings, then nothing will
OUR VIEW //
EDITORIAL
ever be resolved.
A strong foundation educating students with
the wide-range of effects of substances and alternative coping mechanisms is essential to escaping
the drug culture currently present at South. If we
are more informed about what goes on behind that
instant euphoric feeling, we might be less apt to sip,
inhale or ingest an illegal substance.
Allowing students to hear first-hand perspectives of past addicts and the struggles theyve
gone through can bring awareness to the nega-
HUMANS OF SOUTH
Emma Clutterbuck 16
MY
VIEW
Rachel Harris
18
NEWSPAPER
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