Drug Awareness Essay
By Oceana O’Boyle
COAL REGION–Coal Cracker reporter Oceana O’Boyle wrote this essay on drug awareness for a contest sponsored by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. This year’s theme was “Just Say No,” and was open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Oceana won third place for 6th grade in the local competition. The top essays went on to district competition. Her essay follows:
People who abuse drugs can die or get addicted to them without realizing it. Temptation is hard to deny, and you may think you’re cool. The truth is you are not. You can harm yourself. So, the best solution is to stay away from people on drugs and parties held by those people.
Drugs can kill you if you overdose. They can also make you hallucinate and do things you wouldn’t otherwise do. Also, you could say things you wouldn’t normally say. Sometimes it will not be a problem but it depends on who you are with. If you get someone angry who is on drugs they might start a fight. The police might have to come into the picture as well.
You may be taking drugs for other reasons than to be cool, for example, for an injury or depression. When you are depressed, just talk about it instead of doing drugs. Even though you forget what happened temporarily, it is just temporary. If it is for an injury, make sure you take the right amount and no more than that.
If you know someone on drugs, try to help them. You can be their friend and let them talk to you about why they are on drugs. Do not pressure them into talking about it if they don’t want to. Do not tease them because it will cause them to get more depressed and use drugs again. Try and help them by telling them they can stop with help from their parents or a teacher.
Overall, drugs are bad unless it is medicine. It can be bad by taking too much. You can get in physical fights on drugs because you do things you would not normally do. If you are depressed talk to people you truly trust to help you. Also, if you’re doing it to be cool, it is not cool or good.