Drug Awareness in Health

In the world today, we are faced with many different challenges and problems that weren’t in the world a hundred years ago, or weren’t as threatening. One of these many dangers is drugs. “I think most people in the world today are affected by drugs, even if it’s not directly,” Mr. Ryan Chambers, the health teacher at Springville Junior High explained. “Even family members participating in drug use can affect a person’s life.”

In health, students are required to learn about the dangers of drugs and ways they can refuse them. Mr. Chamber’s health classes, just recently finished their unit on learning about drugs and the dangerous threat they can be to a persons life.

“We discussed some of the main drugs, effects, and, most importantly, refusal skills,” Mr. Chambers explained. According to Mr. Chambers, there are nine main “refusal skills” that a person can resort to when asked to participate in drugs, including the delay tactic, avoiding the situation, the broken record (no, no, no, no) and giving a reason or excuse.

“Now is the time to learn about the dangers of drugs,” Mr. Chambers explained, “Sometimes at this time in a person’s life, students are more likely to listen to their peers then to their parents and teachers. It’s critical for students to surround themselves with friends that have the same standards.” 

“I’m never going to take drugs; people that do, ruin their life, and the lives of those that watch them,” Mariah Snyder, a ninth-grade student at Springville Junior High explained.

Drugs are becoming more common and more dangerous. It’s a worry that everyone needs to be aware of.