Teens and Drugs: Solutions

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Teens and Drugs: Solutions

By Madelyn Jarrett

BILLINGS - Programs in public schools target drug and alcohol use, but it's a problem that isn't going away. We continue to look at substance use among teens to find out what can be done; everyone seems to have a different answer.

KULR-8 talked to teens who say schools don't offer programs or extra curricular activities that interest everyone. Teens say a wider variety of activities might keep more kids away from drugs and alcohol. "I come here to the skate park. That's probably what gets me away from it," says Joey, a local high school student.

Robin Kuhr with the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch says, "Boredom is a word for other things, like problems with who to identify with. Kids who are involved with extra curricular activities are more apt to have a sense of belonging in a different group." Brandon Lofquist, a local high school sophomore, offers his solution, "Maybe they could take a survey and see what people's hobbies are so they can look forward to those instead."

But school officials say the problem even reaches athletes and kids involved with other activities. In television shows and movies, partying is the norm and most of the time, no consequences result. Experts say that makes that type of life-style more attractive. "Our role models have to change. Because people look at sports role models and look on television," says Kuhr. She also says education needs to start closer to home. "Families need to be families, we need to give then a sense of belonging in their families."

One thing that is working is the Montana Meth Project. The ads have shown unprecedented success. Many think it's the graphic nature that keeps first time users away. "That's the way this generation is. They're pretty well desensitized. They need real world views, they need to see the real thing," says Officer Dan Brown, a school resource officer at Senior High School.

Experts say there are different avenues to explore to fix the problem, but many believe the best resources are the kids themselves. And while the statistics say more than half of all Montana high school students had tried some sort of drug in 2006, only 26% had used in the past month. So for teens, that suggests it may be more experimentation than constant use.

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