By Holly

Drugs. They can harm or heal, from hospital to alley and everywhere in between.

A recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy, titled “Invest In Love“, highlights an issue that seems to have taken hold of our youth, once again. The idea that they are in control, and that drug use is “experimentation” and “no big deal”.

To recap the episode’s thread, a teenager comes into the ER with over 50 broken bones in her body — the result of falling off the roof of her house.After the doctors reveal that the girl’s toxicology report showed she had taken magic mushrooms (shrooms) the parents, of course, react with shock and disappointment.

The teen then proceeds to scold her parents with an argument of “I’m a straight A student and made poor judgment, blah, blah, blah”, to which her parents have no argument and sheepishly back down.

Without going into more episodic detail, let’s suffice it to say that this TV show has hit on an alarming trend in parent/teen relations. Oh sure, one could definitely argue that “teens will be teens” and will always push boundaries, but when it comes to teen drug use, that’s not the norm. Ask a real life doctor, they’ll agree.

You see, no matter what your personal views are on the recreational use of drugs, the fact still stands that they alter the chemistry of the human body. For some, it only takes one hit, shot, pop, snort, or inhale to cause a downward spiral into the darkness of dependency — and you never know who that’s going to be, or what one time could prove to be detrimental or worse. Teens are still growing and developing, and abusing recreational drugs will alter their health and wellness — possibly forever.

True some parents may be clueless when it comes to illicit drug use or the desire to use, but to turn a blind eye and to let a child bulldoze over the issue is, quite frankly, irresponsible. Maybe a parent feels some guilt because they experimented with drugs at some point in their lives or believes that there’s nothing wrong with living your life high. That’s their choice. But to not keep everything out in the open and have discussions and talk about consequences, regardless if no one wants to, removes that choice from a child.

For the most part, we let our children pick a musical instrument or sport to play, select classes in high school, what clothes they want to wear and what they’d like for dinner: We give our children lots of choices. By not having a firm understanding or interest in what they may possibly be experimenting with when they hang out with their friends leaves the drug field too wide open and could prove to be quite dangerous.

On the brighter side, life is filled with missteps and mistakes, but no one has to stay in the dark. For those parents and teens who choose to open the door to a different reality, they can find support and guidance. There is a way out of the darkness whether it be one second, minute, or day at a time.

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