.         Adolescence is a unique stage of development where one is still developing a sense of identity. It is the period in which a child transitions into an adult– often referred to as the “golden years.” However, teenage life comes with a multitude of challenges, many more than one would expect: family issues, friend issues, romantic relationships, and schoolwork are some of the few. Even though teenagers gain more freedom as they grow, they also face the immense pressure that comes with new responsibilities, which can, in turn, be very difficult to cope with. Sometimes, to escape all of this, kids end up turning to things they think will help ease their pain and make them feel happy again. Something that will lighten the load of the harsh realities of life.

.         This is where substance use and abuse come into play.

.         Fairfax County is home to one of the largest public school districts in the nation, serving nearly 200,000 students across 199 schools and centers. Unfortunately, being such a large district comes with its own set of issues. Substance abuse is a major issue in FCPS, with one-third of middle and high school students reporting drug and alcohol usage in a study published during the 2019-2020 school year. That’s close to 1 in every 3 students– and this was a study published three years ago, with rates only increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

.         According to the Fifth Edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Substance Abuse is defined as a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to the inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. 

.         Substance abuse is a problem that is commonly overlooked, especially among teenagers, likely for a variety of reasons– a lack of education and prevention, the stigma surrounding the topic itself, and the rapid spread of misinformation. The way substance abuse is taught about is very black and white– after all, drugs are evil and only terrible, horrible, awful people would use them, right? 

.         Right?

.         Wrong.

.         According to the Fairfax County youth surveys published in the last year, teenagers who abuse substances are far more likely to have underlying mental health issues and traumatic backgrounds. The last thing one would want to do is shame those who are already struggling. Still, it is incredibly important to show care to and educate these individuals, because, without proper treatment, substance abuse is something that in many cases can potentially be deadly. In 2022 alone, FCPS saw 82 fatal opioid overdoses, with 98% of them involving a drug commonly known as fentanyl. The mortality rate of individuals who abuse drugs increases every year. Substance abuse is something that ruins friendships, relationships, and families– it should be seen as the tragedy it is, rather than being glamorized or villainized. 

.         To evaluate the impact of substance abuse on the lives of other high school students, I interviewed many anonymous students and found that the majority of people I spoke with have previously used or have known someone who has used substances.

.         The names in this article have been changed to protect the privacy of students who gave their input.

.         “Oh yeah, I’ve had friends that got involved with drugs. It ruined their life,” said Joe, a senior, during an interview with The Watchdog.

.         “See the thing is, it starts small, with social drinking and light party drugs like weed or nic– but then, before you know it, you become a heavy drinker, and start doing acids…” he reflected. “That’s how it went for my friend. Acids, coke, heavy smoking, tracers, ketamine, all of that. She dropped out of school within 3 months and failed her GED twice.

.         Other individuals also came forward to tell their own stories. A tenth grader who was once close with someone who suffered from addiction had a lot to say on the topic.

.         “My friend has had a couple of problems with substances– maybe you could even consider it an addiction. They were a smoker, essentially, but just cigarettes– no weed or anything. They were also an alcoholic, which is interesting because my friend was a minor at the time and it was illegal for them to purchase any of these things.” she stated. “The media glorifies substance abuse– drugs, alcohol, drinking, smoking, whatever. All of it is heavily endorsed. The people who make these things, they’re not legally allowed to advertise them in certain ways, so they bribe directors and other content creators to showcase characters using substances, and you know, when you see attractive people or people you find cool doing something, you’re going to want to do it too, especially if you’re a teenager. But what people don’t understand is that it’s so much deeper than that. It isn’t just an aesthetic, it’s f**king suicide. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, because that’s just what it is.”

.         “I had a cousin who tried shrooms. At first, he was only microdosing, but as time went on he began to crave more and more. Skip to a couple of years later and his brain is all f**ked up. He suffers from psychotic episodes now. I wouldn’t suggest trying things like that to anyone.” another senior that we’ll call Cherry advised, shaking her head in dismay. 

.         “My friend has overdosed on antidepressants multiple times.” Emily, a freshman, stated.

.         Some students were currently or had once been drug users themselves. Some found nothing wrong with their habits, while others lived to see the effects and now warned others to stay away, using their own story as a cautionary tale.

.         “I don’t think smoking is a big deal, honestly. I mean yeah, it could have health effects, but most things do. Smoking for me– vaping, all that shit, it helps calm me down– and honestly, I don’t care if it’s “bad” or not. It helps me and that’s what matters the most, to be honest. I don’t think I need to quit.” retorted Sarah, a junior.

.         “I don’t know… with me… withdrawal symptoms were super difficult to manage. I think that’s why it’s so hard for some people to quit. See the thing is, when you’re not sober, everything just feels different. It’s hazy, your emotions aren’t as intense, you’re smilin’ all the time… stuff like that. However, when you finally try to stop and become sober, it’s VERY difficult. It’s an absolute nightmare, especially if you’re like me, and have no support. I have absent parents… I would drink in school and the teachers did nothing about it, the people around me didn’t do anything about it, and so I kind of had to deal with this on my own. It was really hard.” disclosed Lizzy, a sophomore.

.         “I think that environment is really what does it… It could be friends pressuring you into trying something, or it could be something else. I used to live in a rough place and a lot of my friends ended up dying. It’s a far bigger problem than most people realize, and it needs to be talked about.” Ben, a freshman, vocalized. 

.         So that’s just what we’re doing, we’re talking about it.

.         If you, or anyone you know, is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, remember that you are not alone. If only a couple of students were interviewed in this article, imagine how many others have dealt with the same thing. However, even though there are a lot of people who struggle with this, it’s important to remember that no matter what, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Things may seem hopeless right now. You, or someone you love, may feel like substances are the only thing that will bring happiness, but that is far from the truth. Although difficult, becoming sober will reward you greatly, and things WILL get better. You are not a bad person for struggling, and you deserve help.

.         Help is out there if you ever feel that you need it, you just need to be willing to take that extra step and reach out.