High Numbers

Incense, age 15

Why is it adults are always telling kids not to drink, not to smoke and not to do drugs? The number of kids who do these things is high (no pun intended). I know at least 50 people who smoke regularly, every single one of my friends has tried smoking including myself, and I know about 20 who smoke pot, and four of my friends have dropped acid.

Adults think it is so simple to "JUST SAY NO" but they don't really give us reasons that relate to our lives...except the obvious, like drunk driving can lead to car accidents which can lead to death. Or smoking causes cancer...But hey, we're teenagers, we're not gonna die...or at least that's what we think. I admit at times I don't think anything will ever hurt me.

Do you realize how many of our parents were hippies? How many of them were our age in the 60's and 70's? I think we all know what went on then. I have seen the pictures to prove it.

So are they being hypocrites? Or are they speaking from experience? They obviously survived, so why won't we? They probably never just said no.

Sometimes I don't think adults realize how much pressure we're actually under when we're offered a hit by our friends. If you say no, you risk looking like a total goody goody. No one, not one of us wants to look like a wimp. We want people to think we are strong, so we do it.

We get high with our buddies down in the basement or we have a beer or two at a party. We can't have people telling us how bad it is, how it will ruin our lives. Until we learn for ourselves.

How many teenagers are gonna listen to their parents when it comes to stuff like this? Sure, I do respect my mom and dad, but I don't always think they know best. They can't make all my decisions for me. I'm a big girl, I have a mind of my own, if I don't want to do something, I more than likely won't.

I have done a lot of things. Most I will never do again. 'Cause I didn't like doing them or I didn't like the way I felt after. I've tried smoking a few times and every time I've regretted it, because I didn't like the way I felt afterwards. As for the other things, I tried because I was curious. We all get curious.

But now that I've done those things, I have nothing to be curious about anymore. It's a lot easier to say no after you've tried it. You have to live to learn.

*In no way am I telling anybody to go out and do these things. It's just my point of view. If I told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?