I know many a mom whose kid went after the drugs and the moms could not stop it. They tried everything, but in the end their only hope was that the kids came to their senses and shucked the drugs. Some kids did, some didn't. Some died tragically, either got shot or ODed. It's very painful to learn that through whatever failures society, school, parent, the church, and the kids themselves, it's still a matter of a person who is not strong enough, does not have the intestinal fortitude, backbone, heart, soul strength to not go toward all that glitter and posturing and flash and bang. It's somehow sexy when one is the age where the hormones are raging, the mood swings are huge, and the need to dramatize everything to death is irresistible. All that commingles. Now add rage at the general unfairness of life and peer pressure, and this is a cocktail that can take your head off if you're a parent.One of the biggest root of these problems is the lack of parental guidance when these people were young. In so many ways it's not their fault but that of their parents or guardians. We would hope that once these people get into adulthood, they would figure it out on their own. It's sad to say that this simple revelation isn't always acquired.
WM: That isn't always true. As I talk to various younger gangbangers, it's clear they have been taught general civil behavior and can turn it on and off as the mood strikes them. Those who are teenagers are in a general way rebelling against adults. It's a pain in the butt, but they think they're being cool or they're trying to appear cool to their friends when they start acting like jerks in public. Peer pressure is an ungodly weight on teens. The dealers are doing the same thing or other verbal assault so they can intimidate you. The drug business requires that they "own" the street or block or corner.
It's one of the saddest things to witness--bright young kids without enough sense of self to stay alive and healthy. It's awful to watch. All us adults have a lot to answer for and much of it we did or failed to do without meaning to do harm.
Too, this scourge has been upon us long enough so that the first of the crack babies are now adults. Crack affects the brain's synapses to shoot adrenaline all over the system in huge amounts. and then block the adrenaline from subsiding. What is the nature of the residual damage to the child?
WizardMarks, Central
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.)
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
