- April 17, 2024
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Dear Editor:
While I see the same community issues brought up again and again in the letters section of the local papers, I think the most concerning issue facing our community today lies in our kids. As you hopefully know, the recent rise of easily concealable and used "e-cigs" and "vapes" has virtually reversed all pre-2000s declines in drug use among youth, something anecdotally is seen here locally. The casual use of such allows for easy introduction, and while it does not guarantee, is a gateway into marijuana which is just as concealable in vapes.
Think of the innocent kids that have to witness this within classrooms, yet aren’t willing to say anything about it. Think of the societal damage this will cause as
more and more teens use such to cope with the recent rise in mental illness largely blamed on the advent of the internet and social media, something we didn’t grow up with.
I’ve heard that middle schools, such as Ormond Beach Middle School, are just as bad as high schools. There’s even been stories of fifth graders getting their hands on this, that’s fifth grade folks. Elementary school is still "safe," but it goes to show the nature of the issue being the stealthy usage of drugs through said vapes, which has brought drug use in middle school to whole new levels that wasn’t really possible back then. Of course, we can’t let society's new ills get us down. Instead, use it to fight for change, while always staying optimistic.
For us readers who aren’t in school and are older, this issue is not as obvious as it may seem, but it is slowly harming society nationwide in a number of ways in
which you could guess, more so, than say physical city developments or ordinances. Ask your kids, talk to teachers, look up the statistics, and be aware of the issue. Really, I wonder what can be done.
So, this Christmas, unbeknownst to gifting parents, arguably undeserving teenagers who were once young innocent children, will be gifted things of value lovingly, even cash, for themselves to enjoy this Christmas season.
Barbra Rawlings
Ormond Beach
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