Drug and Alcohol Use

Everyone knows that the legal age of drinking in Australia is 18 and when most students hit their legal age, the first question asked by their peers is “What drink did you have as your first?” Drinking alcohol is part of the Australian culture but at times, alcohol does more harm than good. Every year, there are so many young Australians that die due to alcohol use and as a result, many schools have resorted to running different workshops and talks about the sensible use of alcohol.

In my opinion, more than legal-aged drinking, under-aged drinking is an issue. Most students have access to alcohol within their own homes and most parents do not hesitate to give their kids maybe a sip of their drink before they are of age. It is the continuous exposure to drinking and the associated benefits of having a ‘good time’ as well as peer pressure that causes many young people to have their first drink before it is legal. It is also some aspects in the media such as American movies and TV shows that portray drinking and drug use as a desirable behaviour. Shows such as Gossip Girl, especially, show drinking and drug use to be a common and preferred way to live life. In most cases, however, the media does aim to raise awareness of the associated negative effects of drugs, which is something that should be continued. 

Aside from alcohol, the exposure and access to drugs at such a young age, especially in highschool is a rising issue, which in my opinion needs to be more addressed within schools. Most students are aware of the effects of alcohol but not all are aware of the effects of drugs. A different drug produces a different effect on the body, especially synthetic drugs. Some adolescents, in the hype of trying new things only take a particular drug once but its effect is for life. In my opinion, preventing the exposure to drugs is difficult, however, raising awareness of the different types of drugs and their effect is vital to today’s society. And for those who are addicted, it is necessary to raise awareness of the help that is available.

- Areeka