Friday Poll – Underage Drinking and Smoking

[image error]This week's Friday Poll is about underage drinking and smoking pot.

It's an issue that's pretty much as old as time, but after what seemed like a decline in the number of teens doing it, lately it seems like it's become an even bigger problem.

Despite my unconventional ideas about a lot of things and my disorganized religious views (which are basically a mish-mash of a lot of different things), I'm kind of a hard ass when it comes to underage drinking and smoking. In fact, I find it amusing when people assume that because teenagers like to hang out at our house, I'm some kind of crazy, party mom. This is because A) I rarely drink, not because I have a problem with it but because it makes me sleepy, B) I've never smoked cigarettes and never would smoke them because I have asthma and am somewhat militant about what I put into my body, and C) every teen in my life has – at some point – gotten the You Don't Need To Be Drinking and Smoking at this Age talk.

It's not that I'm opposed to drinking or even pot in general (gasp! I'm probably more on the side of legalizing marijuana).

It's more that studies PROVE the impulse center of the brain is undeveloped in teens.

And most sexual assaults involving teenagers also involve alcohol.

And most car accidents involving teens also involve drinking or using.

And in general, people are often stupid when under the influence, which makes it seem obvious that teens would be even more susceptible, what with that impulse thing and all those hormones.

Lastly, isn't it better to grow up a little? To develop the capacity for having fun WITHOUT alcohol and other mind-altering substances before equating them with "fun" and "partying". To learn how to deal with unpleasant emotions like anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness WITHOUT those substances instead of numbing yourself against them at such an early age that you never develop the capacity to FEEL and DEAL?

Anyway, that's my take on it.

But I sometimes think I'm in the minority, even among adults. I can't count how many adults I know buy multiple kegs for Prom parties (um, hello! Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor anyway?) and think it's just fine for teenagers to be under the influence in their presence. And "partying" has become so prevalent among teenagers that the ones who DON'T do it often feel like there's something wrong with THEM.

Now I want to hear from YOU. And because I recognize that there is a generation gap, I've split the poll into two separate surveys, one for people under 25 and one for people over 25.

So choose the appropriate poll and weigh in!!

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