In recent years, levels of substance abuse among teenagers have risen to a high. Seen as a way to relax and have fun, more and more students have started using drugs. This is a serious problem arising in Montgomery County Public Schools. Using drugs in adolescence is very dangerous and has many possible side effects and negative outcomes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, negative consequences of drug abuse in adolescent years include possible drug dependence, poor judgment, impaired driving skills, mental health disorders and
changes in school performance. Additionally, depending on the substance used, more serious health-related effects are at risk of continuing into your adult years. For example, marijuana use can often lead to impairment in memory, learning, problem-solving skills, and concentration. In severe cases, it can also lead to psychological disorders and paranoia. With drugs such as cocaine and opioids, there is often the risk of heart attack, stroke, seizure, respiratory stress, and more. It is also important to note that too much of any drug can lead to overdose and possible death. Despite the many dangers and risks that come from partaking in drug use, students continue to abuse these substances, both at home and at school.
According to data from the Montgomery County Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit, youth and adolescent overdoses increased by 78% in 2022.
On January 23rd, two Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School (BCCHS) students were found unconscious in the school bathroom, allegedly due to alcohol abuse. They were rushed to the hospital. For many, this incident showed the growing issue of substance abuse in students.
According to data shared by County Councilmember Will Jawando, five Montgomery County youths have died of overdoses so far in the 2022-2023 school year.
BCCHS senior Madison Lay reflects on her experiences and interactions with teen substance abuse, “Every day I walk into the school bathroom to see kids huddled in the stalls, with smoke peering above the door,” Lay said. “It is upsetting and concerning that I can’t go to the bathroom without another student doing drugs in the stall next to me.”
According to a recent survey conducted by the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, in Maryland, 8.19% of 12- to 17-year-olds report using drugs in the last month. Additionally, three percent of students reported misusing painkillers or cocaine in the last year. Some think that this emphasizes the county’s need for change and control over teen drug use.
“It’s not just the older kids that are using drugs, there are many kids my age doing it as well,” BCCHS freshman Carolina Stell said. “I am tired of bathrooms being locked because security can’t monitor all of them, it takes too much time out of class for me to find an open bathroom.” Her comment emphasizes that even the kids not participating in substance abuse are negatively affected.
However, the county is working to raise awareness of substance abuse in teens to prevent the abuse.
On Jan. 28, MCPS and Montgomery Goes Purple hosted a family forum at Clarksburg High School about the dangers of fentanyl, a prevalent drug, as well as prevention tools and resources for treatment. Hundreds of attendees were given Naxolone kits, also known as Narcan. They were also trained on how to use Narcan, a life-saving medication, to reduce the effects of a fentanyl overdose. Events like these are held to educate individuals in the county on knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and preventing substance abuse among teens.
Written by Madeline Leff of Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School
Photo courtesy of Pappalardo Law