By Lizzy Tsuang
Staff Writer
Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are substances most Costa students have heard of, however, few are aware that they are the top three contenders for abused substances at Costa. Not only is this an issue at Costa, but studies show that across the country, about 50% of high school seniors have consumed either alcohol or drugs, or both.
Costa’s People Attaining Complete Equality Organization took this nation wide issue into their own hands and continued their annual tradition of holding a drug panel on Friday, May 2l, which was followed up with the drug survey later in the month. Seniors Karishma Ahuja and Katy Heatherton served as head chairs for the panel, with help from survey head coordinator junior Laney Benson and MBMS drug panel chair senior Nikki Killman.
“I think the panel is important because it shows that drug and alcohol addiction can happen to anybody,” PACE member junior Isabelle Chau said. “I hope students can learn from the speakers’ stories and make better decisions.”
The panel featured four guest speakers who are former drug addicts or alcoholics. They shared their experience with drugs and alcohol and their story of their recovery process. The speakers emphasized the negative effects and outcomes of drugs and alcohol in an effort to convince high school students to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
“This year’s panel speakers were very effective,” Heatherton said. “They all had great stories of overcoming their addiction and it showed that there really is hope for those struggling.”
PACE hoped that the panel changed student’s perspective of drugs and alcohol and influenced students experiencing addiction with drugs or alcohol to seek help.
“I want students to be aware of their surroundings and what could possibly happen if they choose the wrong path,” Ahuja said. “The panel gives awareness about the consequences of drugs and encourages students to be smart about their decisions throughout their high school careers.”
The panel was followed up by a drug survey that was distributed throughout the last weeks of May. 70 boys and 70 girls per grade were selected at random to complete the questions electronically, via smart clickers, devices used to anonymously survey students . PACE plans to use the information gathered from surveys to plan for future events.
“We hope that the students will answer honestly and efficiently, so that we can have correct data to work with and have the latest information of the drug and alcohol use at Costa,” Benson said.
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