To us as children, the best part of the War on Drugs were the anti-drug Public Service Announcements that interrupted cartoons and episodes of the Power Rangers. We still fondly remember these commercials and, hey, maybe they actually worked!
drugs
(Dead) Celebrities and their influence on drug abuse
Hollywood has long been plagued with drug abuse overdose, which has been a problem since before Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley were popular. Recent celebrity abuse scandals and deaths have brought more attention to the growing epidemic as the stories spread on Twitter, via text, and through more new media sources, all of which Gen Y is actively engaged in. But how do celebrities’ actions really influence our decisions?
Beer Pong and Gen Y: A match made in heaven
Beer pong, the king of drinking games, is the defining aspect of Gen Y’s party life. It speaks to our generation’s love of excess and competition, even though the game is generally dominated by frat boys. Still, girls can enjoy triangular formations of red, plastic cups too.
I guess I’m ‘above the influence’
My drug week confessions aren’t nearly as juicy as most others, but here it goes: I’ve never smoked pot, and the hardest drug that’s ever been in my system was the hydrocodone the doctor prescribed after I got my wisdom teeth pulled. It’s just a choice, and it’s my choice.
Caffeine and energy drinks, the ninja drugs
To say Gen Y is addicted to caffeine is an outrageous understatement. That’s like saying Wile E. Coyote kind of wants to catch Roadrunner if it’s manageable and doesn’t cut into his lunch date with Yosemite Sam. No, Millennials are full-out lunatics for caffeine. Not only do we consume tons of coffee and soda, but have come into the world of energy drinks, energy shots, and, so help me God, energy pills.
Hollywood’s highs and lows: Drug use in films
Filmmakers have thrown themselves right into the vortex of the national drug debate, and the use of drugs that appear in movies primarily targeted at Gen Y varies so greatly it makes you spin in circles until you think you’re on an acid trip.
The Adderall Business
As a culture, we want to be better, faster, stronger, smarter, prettier. Adderall helps us get there. Some people truly need the drug to function. And then there are other students whose pockets become much deeper as they sell Adderalls and Ritalins for cash.
Amsterdam has museums?
Usually when I have to have a connecting flight, I get upset, but Amsterdam is different. I love my connections there, and I always make sure that I have at least eight hours so I can enjoy the sights (museums, the Amstel brewery and all Amsterdam has to offer). The problem is that I never see the sights.
How I became a government-trained subversive
If you went to elementary school in America, you had the D.A.R.E. program. Through friendly lions, fun activities, workbooks and completion certificates, D.A.R.E. taught us a lot about drugs and how to refuse them – and it worked for me.
The War on Drugs is wasting our time, money and lives
The War on Drugs has affected young, non-violent drug offenders especially hard. Because, more often than not, drugs are first introduced to people during adolescence, it only makes sense that young people should have to deal with the legal ramifications of drug use. However, the cycle of penalization for drug deterrence takes a toll on our generation.
