The Cost of that First Hit
When kids are young and full of hormones and teenage angst, they feel invincible; immune to life’s problems. Their biggest fear is having a pimple breakout before school photos or whether or not the girl or boy they like doesn’t like them back. Those years are filled with ups and downs, new experiences, first loves and the hopes of a bright future.
These are the experimental years. Teenagers experiment with love, relationships and drugs. As innocent as it may have been, these are the years when most kids first try drugs and alcohol.
Why?
A few reasons, really. It could be because their favorite rock musician just said in an interview that drugs help harness their “creative juices” or their friends were passing it around at a party and they wanted to “look cool” in front of the popular kids. Whatever the reason is, it’s a reality that most teenagers are GOING to try drugs at some point. For some they will be able to set it down, walk away from it and go about their lives normally. There are others who aren’t going to be so lucky. Those are the ones that become addicted and can no longer live life without mood or mind-altering chemicals. They found their “cure-all” for what ails them and the answer to all life’s problems.
Most kids try pot first. It’s a “light” step into the drug world because it’s considered a “natural, harmless drug.” So, more often than not, they are going to start with a little joint or toke off a pipe instead of just jumping in to shooting heroin. It’s because of our society’s view on marijuana.
According to modern Western culture, marijuana is a completely safe, non-addictive, socially acceptable drug that also has “medical benefits.” It helps mom’s bad back, grandpa’s arthritis and the kid’s “social anxiety.” Now everyone is getting stoned and passing a joint around the table at Thanksgiving dinner instead of the mashed potatoes. In our society it has become a popular tenant to “take something for whatever ails you.” There’s a pill, a drink or an herb for nearly every pain, every anxiety, every slight discomfort. So the idea is to take something, like drugs, when you’re uncomfortable instead of finding out WHY you’re uncomfortable. This is the setup to the creation of an addiction.
So now, when a teenager is trying pot for the first time, it never crosses his mind that he’s really doing anything wrong. Since drugs are now sensationalized by the media, socially acceptable, as compared to 20 years ago, and now mom, dad, grandma and grandpa are stoned 5 days a week because of its “medicinal properties,” it would be weird for him NOT to try pot. Since his friend brought it over to his house with the girl he likes he thinks:
“Why not? This stuff is supposed to make you feel great!”
Doing drugs is now an okay, acceptable behavior. Many kids put down the pot, go to college, get good jobs and have families. Others heard:
“Pot is pretty good but you should try Percocet…it’s even better!”
That’s how easy pot opens the door to other drugs. Yes, there’s a ton of controversy about whether or not pot is a genuine “gateway drug” or not, but it has proven to open the door to other drug use. Let’s face it, most drug addicts didn’t start their addiction by going right for the Meth or Coke, it all started with a little “harmless” weed. That “harmless” weed made the user feel really good, mellow or relaxed, but then they hear of another drug that’s even better and instantly go for it.
No teenager ever thinks they’re going to wind up as a heroin junkie in 15 years while they’re taking bong hits with their buddies and listening to Pink Floyd. It is kind of a Russian Roulette type of game though. There’s a 50/50 shot the kid is going to put down the pot and go live a normal life or move on to harder drugs to continue their “self-soothing” and endless search for the “ultimate high.”
It’s not a fun game to play. No kid ever thinks about what’s to become of him while smoking weed. On the other hand, a heroin addict, now in rehab, clean for 60 days and just coming back to life curses the day he chose to get high for the first time.
That first hit cost them everything.
Call and speak to a counselor at Narconon Suncoast at 877-850-7355 to get help for addiction today.
