A student recently asked me
why kids who use drugs feel the need to talk about it all the time.
We chatted for a while and finally decided that they must think
that it makes them look cool. Ah, the dreaded coolness factor! With
all the prevention education and public service ads, it seems like
there is still this perception that getting drunk and high is cool.
Most kids (and adults for that matter) will deny that “being
cool” is a driving force for them. But, I would like to share
a little story from my own childhood that illustrates just how important
it can be.
I love egg salad. I have always loved egg salad. However, when I
was kid, there was a terrible price to be paid for this. Yep, whenever
I would bring egg salad to school, kids would make fun of me and
tell me that it smelled like farts! So, I would ask my mom to make
egg salad. Then, when I got into the cafeteria, I would act all
surprised and complain that there was egg salad in my lunch bag.
I would never have admitted publicly that I liked that stinky sandwich.
Well, I am in my 30’s now and am out of the egg salad closet.
What is the point of this touching little story, you ask? All kids
are acutely aware of what their peers think of them—even if
it’s something as silly as liking egg salad! As adults, I
am sure that you can think back to your own egg salad story. We
may laugh about it now, but we can all remember what it felt like
to be excluded for being “different.” It is a lonely
place to be!
So, in a teen culture that rewards drug use, what can be done? That
is tough call since it is hard to change a whole culture! But again,
I come back to dialogue. Talk to your kids about these issues. Try
to develop an understanding of what it is like for them. Think back
to your own struggles, so that you can have compassion for where
they are. Perhaps even share your egg salad story with them!
This section provides answers to common questions that parents
may have about teen substance use. Similar to "Dear Abby,"
ASK OKUN was designed to solicit questions from parents and then provide
answers written by Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor and
SAP, Karen Okun. Past editions of the column are posted here
for you to read.