Editor’s Note:
Student sources are presented anonymously to protect their identities. This article has been reviewed for appropriateness and adheres to school journalism standards. It is intended for educational purposes, combining student perspectives with research on the effects of substance use. The publication does not promote or condone illegal activity.

Out of all the statistics and lectures on drug use among teens and young adults, there are few personal stories to compare them to.

According to a statistic from American Addiction Centers, the Midwest had the highest percentage of respondents reporting a drug-focused unit, with 83.57% in an educational setting.

Many, if not all, students understand the effects of drugs, yet some still use them anyway. Students have learned that different drugs affect the brain in different ways.

Research shows that teens who smoke, drink alcohol, or use other drugs are more likely than non-users to drop out of school and less likely to graduate from high school, attend college, or obtain a degree. Health experts warn that these short-term effects often lead to long-term negative consequences.

Students from Fremont High share their experiences with drugs and alcohol.

“I feel like being around people who participate in activities such as drinking or smoking did influence me to want to try it, and eventually I did,” one girl said. “After I first tried smoking weed, I realized I enjoyed the feeling of ‘not feeling real,’ so I continued to smoke. After a while, it all felt the same, so I felt like I needed to smoke more in order to feel something, and that’s when I got addicted.”

Getting addicted brought negative consequences.

“The use of marijuana for me affected my motivation for school and extracurricular activities,” she said. “I quit activities once I started using, then eventually stopped participating in other school activities shortly after because I had lost all interest in those activities. School became harder because I couldn’t concentrate on work; all I could think about was everything else other than what I needed to do, so it affected me in a negative way.”

Noticing these factors, she took steps to get sober.

“I had all failing grades for the three years that I was using,” she said, “but I am now six months sober and getting caught up in schoolwork. It affected my everyday life by causing me to lose motivation in the things I enjoyed before I started.”

Girls are not the only ones affected by alcohol and drug use.

“I started drug use in 6th grade with nicotine, and in 7th grade with marijuana,” one boy said. “I started simply to try something new, which wasn’t the best decision.”

He saw both positives and negatives from drug use.

“One thing that benefited me with drug use was the calmness it brought,” he said. “It helped me focus more. Using drugs daily was both negative and positive. On the positive side, it would get my day going. Negatively, there were some side issues with eating, like throwing up.”

Now sober, he shares the results.

“What stopped me was honestly wanting to know how my life would be without drug use,” he said. “I personally think I’m happier than I was.”

Despite the perceived positives, both students have since gotten sober. After seeing how drug use affected their lives, they now recognize the benefits of quitting.

Drugs and alcohol affect many aspects of a person’s life. If you or someone you know is using, seek support right away.

The high school counseling office says if students are concerned about someone or if a student needs help, they should visit to speak with an adult.