2008 Woodie Awards
The habits that students can not seem to break
Stephanie McKiniey
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: Opinion
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"What do you know about pressure?" asked the very stressed-out Sean Young in 1994's "Ace Ventura." Even though this movie is a comedy, the woman brings up a good point: what do we really know about pressure? A whole lot.
Regardless of age, and whether or not they are a college student, most adults will be able to recall the anxiety of peer pressure that haunted them throughout most of their time in high school.
In 2004, the National Institute of Drug abuse (NIDA) funded its 30th annual Monitoring the Future survey to study the extent of drug abuse among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students. Annual use of Vicodin and OxyContin remained stable among all grades, but at somewhat high levels. Annual use of Vicodin was at 2.5 percent for 8th-graders, 6.2 percent for 10th-graders, and 9.3 percent for 12th-graders; lifetime use of LSD decreased significantly among 12th-graders, from 5.9 percent in 2003 to 4.6 percent in 2004, continuing the pattern of decreases in LSD use noted in 2002 and 2003. (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html)
Clearly, kids in high school, and even eighth grade, are exposed to many things. The question remains, however, of whether or not pressure to experiment with or abuse drugs follows a student to college. Some might say, "Yes," if they were thinking of four-year colleges that supply fraternities and sororities. These fun Greek clubs usually encourage substance abuse in order to fit in.
In the New York Times best-seller, "Pledged," author Alexandra Robbins details her experience as an undercover sorority girl. In the week before Greek Olympics, parties were organized to help teams get to know each other-most involved alcohol.
For one night, "[they] planned a chug-off, during which teammates paired up and, tied at the wrists, had to drink two pitchers of beer before they were allowed to untie themselves. The first three teams to finish wouldn't have to pay for their drinks for the rest of the week's nightly parties." - Quote from "Pledged."
Regardless of age, and whether or not they are a college student, most adults will be able to recall the anxiety of peer pressure that haunted them throughout most of their time in high school.
In 2004, the National Institute of Drug abuse (NIDA) funded its 30th annual Monitoring the Future survey to study the extent of drug abuse among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students. Annual use of Vicodin and OxyContin remained stable among all grades, but at somewhat high levels. Annual use of Vicodin was at 2.5 percent for 8th-graders, 6.2 percent for 10th-graders, and 9.3 percent for 12th-graders; lifetime use of LSD decreased significantly among 12th-graders, from 5.9 percent in 2003 to 4.6 percent in 2004, continuing the pattern of decreases in LSD use noted in 2002 and 2003. (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html)
Clearly, kids in high school, and even eighth grade, are exposed to many things. The question remains, however, of whether or not pressure to experiment with or abuse drugs follows a student to college. Some might say, "Yes," if they were thinking of four-year colleges that supply fraternities and sororities. These fun Greek clubs usually encourage substance abuse in order to fit in.
In the New York Times best-seller, "Pledged," author Alexandra Robbins details her experience as an undercover sorority girl. In the week before Greek Olympics, parties were organized to help teams get to know each other-most involved alcohol.
For one night, "[they] planned a chug-off, during which teammates paired up and, tied at the wrists, had to drink two pitchers of beer before they were allowed to untie themselves. The first three teams to finish wouldn't have to pay for their drinks for the rest of the week's nightly parties." - Quote from "Pledged."