One would think that with all the educational initiatives out there to keep kids up to snuff on the dangers of alcohol abuse and illicit drug usage that maybe we as adults and parents might actually make some decent headway from time to time. Alas it looks to be a frustrating exercise in futility more often than not. Every week a new study or survey seems to come out illustrating just how successful we are at succeeding or failing our young people regarding dangerous behaviors.
This week the study that caught my eye was about some research that found almost one in ten kids have resorted to using over the counter medications to get high. When I say resorted I’m assuming that booze and drugs are readily available to youngsters and that maybe either they’ve become bored with the usual weed/beer/pill type of buzz or aren’t getting enough of an allowance to afford the usual list of popular substances. Maybe it’s just my suburban surroundings and knowing what upscale things kids nowadays need in order to be part of the status quo, but the lack of disposable income just doesn’t cut it as an explanation for me.
My theory? Laziness. Yep, while again I may be accused of making light of a serious issue I still think what makes the most sense is to strip away all the intellectualizing (Have I ever been accused of that? Hmmm) and look at the basic nature of many of the teens I know. Unless for the most part they see a large upside to any endeavor most would prefer to take the easy way to the jackpot. Now this isn’t to say all people let alone teens are like this, but hey let’s not delude ourselves into thinking this methodology isn’t ingrained into human nature for better or for worse.
Think about it. Why try to get booze either through a fake ID or with the use of a legal aged runner when you can just swipe it from a liquor cabinet or a neighbor’s garage? Why buy marijuana if you could just grow it, and that goes for booze and other drugs too. So why go through the hassle of text messaging or calling your connection arranging to meet at a time and location, getting a ride or driving there, hitting the ATM for money for something you may or may not be able to afford and then making the buy in a way that is discreet, clandestine and hopefully won’t get you busted when you can just go into the supermarket, grab some Nyquil or Robitussin a pint of vanilla extract or hairspray, rubber cement, spray paint or magic markers and make yourself and your friends one hell of a cocktail? Oh and don’t forget to pick up the makeup and other sundry items you need while you’re at it. There is a good reason why you raided mom and pop’s liquor or drug cabinet, convenience. Why would someone go way the hell out of thier way when the easy alternative (not necessarily cheaper one either!) is staring you right in the face?
It makes loads of sense to me, but then again when it comes to some activities, if there’s a will, there’s a way, and that would the easy one.
