BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..

Subject: RE: BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 09:00 PM

My friend Tom lay dead from an overdose for five days in the July heat of Indianapolis, a needle in his arm.

My friend Bob died of stomach cancer brought on by cigarette smoke. He'd survived Vietnam.

My friend Steve died of throat cancer brought on by cigarette smoke. He'd been a CO during Vietnam.

Three old, good friends, all killed by drugs....

Subject: RE: BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 08:57 PM

A related thought- and I recognize that it's a broad blanket indeed.

There is a young man in town who was a fiddle prodigy. By the time he was 11 he was amazing.

He is now 26 and is steeped in pot. Maybe heavier things - I personally have nothing against marijuana, although I suspect that going without drugs at all may be bettre. Kind of like those weight loss diets that tout low-fat, low-carb, low-calory treats. Wouldn't there be even less fat, carbs and fewer calories if you didn't indulge in them?)

Anyway he has not held a job, still lives at home and is frequently stoned out of his mind. I refuse to play music with him at those times, it's just too frustrating.

My point: The other day I saw him on the sidewalk with one of his "friends". And it struck me- one looked as scruffy as the other.

Subject: RE: BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..
From: Alice
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 08:56 PM

My 20 year old who knew about 5th grade drugs grew his hair long and is a musician... I knew he was against drugs and alcohol, but it was only just about a week ago he called himself a "Straight Edge Kid" and I now know how seriously he has taken it all these years since grade school.

Straight Edge Kids>

Subject: RE: BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..
From: Alice
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 08:45 PM

When my son was in the 5th grade, he told me he knew the tree house where the other 5th grade kids who did drugs would go to smoke pot. One of his classmate's dad was the pusher... and I knew that guy from college, a druggie then, too. This is a small university town in Montana. It is Everywhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 08:45 PM

Why would you think the opposite?

Drugs are everywhere, even in Amish schools. They have been for a VERY long time -- since the late 1950s, at least. A very fundamentalist college I knew of back in the 1970s had a serious problem with heroin. My wife smoked pot in high school in the 1950s; her father smoked "reefers" in college in the 1930s.

Subject: BS: Amazing conversation with a 19 yr. old..
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 08:31 PM

I had the most amazing conversation with my 19 year old son yesterday. We live in S. Portalnd and across the bridge in Portland, a middle school has indicated it will provide birth control to middle school kids......this has caused a national furore I am told (I don't watch tv much and read only local papers)--my position on it is that I suspect not many people are advocating for 6th, 7th and 8th graders to be having sex,but if they are, then SURELY it is better they do not get pregnant. My son, (a republican in training don't look at me. I don't know where he got it) said he thought this was an appalling idea and that it was 'giving permission' to these kids to have sex.   I view it very much as the parent who is a doctor and whose kids attend there who said -- I see kids in this age group everyday who are pregnant -- do we want this? NO! Do we want to prevent it.....sure do!

Anyway this conversation moved to drugs in high school.....I have always known my son likes marijuana (don't we all ) and the occasional drink but he told me there is EVERY KIND OF DRUG in high school in s. Maine (a somewhat laid back and behind the times area). He indicated if you wanted,cocaine was availaible in the school parking lot -- said he had tried it but 'it isn't worth $80). Said he tried Ecstasy in school - verdict: Mum - I would never take that again-- it was too darn good (this to a woman who knows alcohol is too darn good and still drinks).

This is MAINE for God'ssake -- what is happening around the country???? I worry for my non existant grandchildren......

Thoughts?