Post #2 Alcohol, Drugs and Teens

    So I'm going to this party at a friend's house, we're all having fun and all.  When all of a sudden, late at night, I see some friends outside the house, drinking and even smoking.  At first I just look at them briefly, not even paying that much attention, trying to not even think about it.  It's sad to say that I actually, for a brief moment thought that "this is all normal, let's just go with the flow" as they say.  How is it that me, a teenager of only 16 years old thought that smoking weed or drinking is normal, how is it that I didn't even pay that much attention, and for a brief moment I actually ignored it.  Even though, at the back of my mind, many thoughts, many feelings, many words traveled through my head.  Later, as the party went on, I saw them doing it again, and that's when it really struck me, some of them were actually close friends of mine.

    As I saw them I tried to ignore the fact that this was happening before my very eyes.  As I saw them I wondered: Why where they doing it?  Is it just because peer pressure, is it because they want to feel "cool", is it because they want to fit in or is it because they need attention.  All of these questions I asked myself.  When the party ended, I went home, still thinking about what I saw.  My friends, friends since 1st grade, friends whom I grew up with, friends whom I use to play hide and seek and other childish games, friends that helped me when I was in need of advice.  I just saw them doing things, smoking and drinking.  Why?  Is it that they want to feel older?  If it is, well let me just say to those kids, teens, youth in general...  Enjoy your teenage life, take things step by step, don't try to rush life, drugs and alcohol are things that will only end up messing your precious teenage years, so please, before you light one up, or before you take a gulp, stop, think of the consequences.  Do you want to mess up your teenage years or do you want to resist peer pressure?  Be strong, just say no, it doesn't hurt, it just makes you better than them.