Now the question is how do you achieve that? Telling them no and hiding it until they are out of their parents sphere of influence rarely works.
Yet most major ADD/ADHD medications are derivatives of Meth and the last line of medical treatment for ADD/ADHD is meth...
I agree - hiding it never works. Also that message of: "Do as I say - Not as I do" doesn't work either.
Real true education on what the different drugs do to the brain/mind would go a long way - though - for allowing teens to make an informed decision. I'm not talking about the government funded bullshit either. I mean for YEARS they told everyone that smoking pot led to addiction of the heavy drugs and they pushed this out there everywhere. Yet when people looked around themselves as saw it wasn't true - well - then one wondered what else wasn't true.
The same goes for adults as well. Real, true knowledge could help adults as well. But the one's in control really don't want the majority educated - it seems - so they keep it out of mainstream information. There's too much money to be made on the backs of the populace - and the ones addicted - are the best to make money on. Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, buying things one day only to throw it out a month later because they're bored. The list goes on and on.
When I interned at a mental health facility I found out there are correlations between doing crack and developing schizophrenia. If teens were shown that - and allowed to meet someone with it and see first hand what schiziphrenia is like - they may stay clear of it till they're older. Even doing pot, in a heavy way, while one is 13 - to 16 often keeps a teen from learning how to deal with their intense emotions. Later on in life - they develop mental health disorders and their quality of life rapidly declines.
One of the problems is - like discussing how NOT to get pregnant is perceived as knowledg about having sex ( we mustn't talk about sex - they'll WANT to do it) - they will not discuss doing drugs in a rational manner. It's more about you're a bad person if you do - don't do it. It's against the law and you'll go to jail. Bad things will happen. And it's hush hush and hidden and then the dealer comes up and says - wanna have a good time? And - well - you know how the rest of that story goes.
The teen has never seen jail, doesn't know anyone who's been in jail, doesn't know how much a person can lose in this country by just being in jail. Because no one teaches them the long term ramifications of doing chemicals when they're young.
I've always been one to tell teens - watch what you do now - for it may limit your choices in the future. And you WANT to have choices - don't you? Teens are not stupid. They know when a person is telling them the truth in a caring way.
As for meth - yes - a person with ADD/ADHD really thrives on an amphetimine derivative. I get that. The brain is missing a chemical that helps one focus and get energy. Yet meth itself given to the average individual can mess up their ability to focus for years after they quit taking the drug. And dopamine production is practically non-existent for months to years after that too. No dopamine practically takes away a persons will to live. It is very devasting....
