Youths’ code of silence on hard drug use
Lydia Sawtell
07 Sep 05:45am
A 21st birthday, with a house full of family and grandparents. The birthday girl and all her friends come from middle class families who are supportive and loving. They all attended good schools, work casually, go to uni and have active social lives.
It sounds like a scene of suburban tranquillity, so why is the only thing going through my head is: am I only the person who’s noticed that the birthday girl and many of the friends are completely wasted on drugs?
Talking to the mum and another girl, all I can think is ‘how can she not notice? She has to know. Is she too embarrassed to say something?’
It seems not so long ago that even talking about drugs was controversial. Back then, I thought coke was something you bought from the corner store and poured down your throat, not something you bought from the shifty looking guy and snorted up your nose.
Drugs have become normalised and glamorised, and are very much part of young people’s lives, whether we take it or are surrounded by it.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 54% of people aged 20-29 have used illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime, and were the most likely to have in the last 12 months compared to any other age groups.
The 21st birthday came ahead of the Ben Cousins documentary and the ensuing debate about whether it was suitable for children and teenagers to watch. Many people said it would be a good opportunity for parents to open up a discussion about drugs and discourage their children from following in his footsteps.
But most teenagers and young adults already know about drugs, and despite the consequences many continue to take them. The documentary should act as a wake up call to parents that a superstar footballer son, or a pretty, smart and intelligent daughter is likely to have taken or been offered illegal drugs.
The lesson of the Cousins documentary is that there is no typical drug taker. More often that not, it’s the ones you least expect. Some of my closest friends, even those who I’ve mentally pigeonholed into my “non-drug taking friend category”, were eventually convinced by boyfriends or other close friends to try it.
Neighbours, friends, family, school captains, football players, high achievers and everyone in between take drugs recreationally. Their parents have no idea, choose to ignore it or are too afraid to know more.
The most powerful statement in the whole documentary was from Bryan Cousins who said, “by the time parents find out, your in real strife”.
If your teenager is coming home more than once a fortnight or month from a party or night out in the early (or late) hours of Sunday morning, there’s a good chance that they’re doing that with the help of controlled substances.
From watching those around me, such benders are a common occurence.
Some parents would be mortified to find out their child pops pills at music festivals or does a line of speed in the toilets of a club.
But am I just as bad for not telling them? There’s an unofficial code of silence between young people and their friends. We’re determined not to let people know about the drug taking, for no reason other than not wanting to be the one held responsible.
The biggest drug dealers in my surrounding suburbs are all well known, but know one would ever dob them in.
Unfortunately not being a “casual” drug taker is out of the norm. I doubt this is going to change any time soon. If one good thing comes out of the Ben Cousins documentary, it should be that parents take note of warning signs and question their children.
Far too many young people are acting like a priest during the week and a devil on the weekend — even if they’re at their own 21st and grandma’s in the next room.
The Punch
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")