Finding The Right Drug Treatment Program - By: ArticleSubmit Auto

There's no question that drug use is a serious problem in our society. Nancy Reagan's campaign against kids using drugs had a catchy slogan, "Just say no to drugs!" However, as we all see, this campaign was ineffective at best. This strategy might be compared to telling a dieter, "Just say no to sweets!" It's well known to psychologists that a forbidden pleasure always holds an allure that's hard to dispell.

One must also wonder if Mrs. Reagan had any prescription drugs in her medicine cabinet as she exhorted the nation to just say no to drugs. The problem of drug abuse is not confined to illegal drugs, but is well entrenched in legal drugs prescribed by doctors. The guy who wouldn't think of using cocaine or methamphetamines might readily pop an excess of pain pills to gain relief from a legitimate condition. Remember the case of the radio show host who became addicted to pain pills, to the tune of 60 per day?

We live in a drug culture here in the U.S. Virtually every kid can look in the parent's medicine cabinet and find a flock of bottles from the pharmacy. These same kids watch television ads, hawking pharmaceuticals to the public at large, for conditions ranging from heartburn to Viagra. These ads invite you to ask your doctor if you should be taking this preparation. The scary part is when, in hushed undertones, a voice like Mom or Dad advises you of possible side effects. To my mind, the side effects are typically far worse than the condition!

So there's an element of hypocrisy inherent in the just say no to drugs message. Why should our kids listen and follow this advice when we, the parents obviously are allowed drugs, even to the point of abuse?

Then there are the lines of demarcation drawn, which purport to separate the 'good' drugs from the 'bad' drugs. The message seems to say, if prescribed by your doctor, drugs are OK. If they're sold on the street, they're bad. This argument doesn't hold water either. Some of the drugs kids can buy on the street are prescription drugs, such as tranquilizers and pain medications. Alcohol is legal for adults, but look at the harm abuse of this substance can cause.

A local television station in southernArizona recently launched a campaign to combat the epidemic use of methamphetamines among young people. Their approach is closer to the mark than the overly simple just say no to drugs message. Their ads list some of the more poisonous substances used in the manufacture of methamphetamines, such as brake fluid and battery acid. "Do you really want this stuff in your veins?"

The truth be known, the Just say no to drugs campaign yielded little more than snickers from young people. They're primed to rebel anyway. Give them a few reasons to stay away from drugs and perhaps we'll realize greater success.

About the Author

Cris Peters For more information about drug and alcohol treatment programs please visit our Wichita Drug Treatment website.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/ArticleSubmit-Auto/95152

Additional Articles From - Home | Health & fitness | Medicine