1. The document discusses how drugs and alcohol have become firmly entrenched in high school culture, with alarming numbers of students trying substances at younger ages despite anti-drug programs. 2. It notes the social and peer pressures students face each day around substance use and the risk of social exclusion, as well as increasing sexual assaults at parties where drugs like rohypnol are used. 3. Many students also struggle with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which impacts their school performance and causes disruption, though some issues may be exaggerated for attention. Overall the culture of high schools has become increasingly stressful with less support for students.

1. Drugs firmly entrenched in high school culture
R
ecently in these pages, we read that 22 students from a notes or understanding, or even hope that the helpful kid in
Hamilton high school were suspended for smoking pot. The seat next to them will show up each day.
name of the school is not important; if we focus on one New standards
school we reinforce the perception that it is always the other
school that has the problem. What is important is that drugs
and alcohol are now firmly entrenched in the culture of our
high schools.
It’s clear that schools do not have a magical force field
that prevents drugs and alcohol from coming in and out of
schools and being used on school property.
Drugs abound
Our kids face daily challenges in our high schools,
challenges that are not academic. The drug culture in high
school is so pervasive that our kids must make decisions RAY PIDZAMECKY PENNY SMITH
every day to “toke up” and cut class or to resist and risk
exclusion or at least sneers and put-downs. When we, as Peer harassment is also a constant part of school culture.
social workers, talk to Grade 11 and 12 students about the North American culture tells adolescents that to be popular
number of decisions they have to make every day just to get they have to wear the right clothes, be thin, buy the right
through it, they dismiss it as no big deal. But it’s apparent products, have incredible personal freedom and finances,
that it wears on them consistently and negatively. love loud noise and frantic behaviour. Our kids pay strict
Although many organizations of adults have been waging attention to these messages and use them to judge each
a war against drugs, the statistics still show that alarming other. Attempting to meet these criteria makes kids vigilant
numbers of kids are trying drugs and alcohol, and at and anxious.
younger and younger ages. Some of our kids have been They often become so dependent on other teens’ opinions
making decisions about drug and alcohol use since Grade 7 that they become vulnerable to prolonged harassment and are
just one year after they received the DARE program and apt to end up being controlled by other kids.
thought everyone in their peer group felt the same way they They become so controlled that their thinking becomes
did. After all, they did their DARE essays, said ‘no’ to distorted. This distorted thinking, in turn, can happen to
drugs and graduated from the program. So why are the teachers and administrators, who worry excessively about
numbers increasing? opinions of parents and community members who feel
New order at parties, dances schools are too punitive or “uptight” or that bullying and
The social options of high school dances and parties, harassment are just normal teasing.
which used to be the standard of fun, are becoming So what are we to do?
increasingly dangerous. In Date Rape: a Question of Trust Our kids are not fighting this battle alone. There are many
(Bigelow and Simpson, 1996) we’re shocked to learn that dedicated parents, teachers, administrators, support staff,
51 per cent of young Canadian women between the ages of and custodians who continue to create as much of a
16-24 will be sexually assaulted. And 80-90 per cent of welcoming environment as possible. But for many of them,
these assaults will be by someone they know. as for the kids, each day is a constant struggle.
There is a corresponding increase in the use of the drug We have to help kids articulate ways to make their school
rohypnol (roofies, also called the rape drug) being added to safer and more welcoming. They seem to know more about
a drink. So for some young women there is no chance to what they need than do the adults in charge. We have to act
even consider a defence because they are unconscious on their suggestions. We have to start with a standard of
during the assault. respect toward each other. We have to work on this until we
Mood disorders on the increase get it right. We have to clean up our lan guage, improve our
Many of our kids are becoming depressed and anxious. attitude, include each other and establish that only kindness
These kids will act out or withdraw in order to cope with matters.”
their disorders, which keeps their teachers and peers If we’re not prepared to act as responsible role models
vigilant and apprehensive about their behaviour and safety. then we should lower our expectations and our hopes for our
Many teachers complain about the amount of time kids are kids. If our schools don’t become safer, saner and more
out of the classroom to “help” each other during emotional welcoming, our kids will continue to invest more energy in
crises. Some of these students may be malingering, but surviving than they will in developing skills they need to
many are truly and desperately worried about their friends, manage successfully as adults.
and don’t feel that adults understand enough about kids’ •••
culture to really help effectively. Ray Pidzamecky MSW and Penny Smith MSW are
More stress, less support private practioners and can be reached at:
Truancy is a common symptom of emotional distress in 905-466-0444
adolescents and it makes it significantly harder for the
attending, hardworking student to cope. They can’t count on or visit www.parent-watch.com.
group members for projects, or depend on buddies to share
Burlington Spectator, Saturday December 18, 1999