Alcohol and Drugs Life Changing Substances

In todays culture its almost stressed that if you dont party, then you arent cool.
Whether its through drug and alcohol references in pop culture or experiencing the effects
because of someone else, everyone in America is affected by substances. Alcohol use among
teens is a whopping 90 percent throughout America, according to the Florida Institute of
Technology. The problem isnt just alcohol though, drug use is widely common among teens;
over 50 percent of teens have tried marijuana, approximately 17 percent of teens admitted to
doing cocaine, and 12.5 percent of teens have used some kind of hallucinogen. The cost of
drugs and alcohol is much more dangerous than having fun for a couple of hours.
Heather Carpenter, a long time resident of Conrad, Mont., has learned from her own
experience the harmful effects of drugs. Carpenter was born and raised in Conrad. She
graduated in 2002 and went on to college at MSU for science and nursing. She worked in
Billings after she graduated college in 2006 until 2011. She was put on prescription drugs,
hydrocodone and oxycodone, for back pain. Then she slowly became addicted to her drugs.
Carpenter explained that, A pain pill took away my need for experience. I dont feel as if I was
ever accepted. I just always felt like I didnt fit in. When I took that pain pill it took everything
away and it made my life easier.
Brian Pringle, a bartender for the past 20 years, has personally felt the repercussions of
drugs and alcohol. Pringle says that he has lost at least 10 friends to drug and alcohol overdose
in the past 10 years. In 2010, a study done by the National Institute for Drug Abuse, says that
38,329 people died from overdose. Overdosing on drugs or alcohol beat falling, guns, and traffic
incidents in death rate. As a bartender, he has experienced many different types of people and
seen how the react to alcohol. He explained how it is state law to cut someone off when they
are visibly intoxicated. He then went on to say, People show up sober and become totally
annihilated after one drink, I dont know what theyre doing in the bathroom or what drugs
theyre on. Bars are loud and there are a lot of people, Pringle joked that, I bartend four nights
a week so I dont want to go to a bar. I want to go somewhere quiet like a library. Alcohol does
have some upsides though as Pringle explained, The enhancement of food when paired with
the correct wine. His overall feeling about alcohol was that it was a terrible, I feel like its
becoming an epidemic because its becoming a daily thing.
Defense lawyer Shari Gianarelli and her assistant Jay Reno, have dealt with many DUI
or MIP cases. Annually they deal with 20-25 DUI or MIP cases and 15 percent of the DUIs are
issued to teenagers. The cost for these cases can really stack up against a person. The lawyer
fees, insurance, fines, bond, court conditions, lost work, and sentencing can easily exceed
5,000 dollars. Alcohol and substance use affect the youth, according to Gianarelli, It impacts
their ability to make good decisions. Use of alcohol and or drugs can have long term
consequences on their employability, education, interpersonal relationships, and reputation.
She also went on to say that, A person does not get out of a DUI or MIP. The person will
always have the charge showing on their criminal and traffic record even if the case is
dismissed.
Drugs are not just a local problem they influence people world wide. Jason Miller, a
supervisor for the Border Patrol, has been involved in many drug busts. Miller has 15 years of
experience, 12 of those years were spent patrolling the Mexican border, he also spent 4 years in
the Navy. Miller said that heroine is the worst drug that you can try just once and that the best

way for a person to learn that drugs are bad is by showing them the effects of drugs and
alcohol.
According to a study done by the Foundation for a Drug Free World, says that
teens who drink are 7.5 times more likely to try other drugs. Alcohol has pros and cons just like
everything else. The problem is that some people cant stop after one drink. Drinking daily can
lead to liver failure and other illnesses. Drugs are worse, they make a person's body deteriorate.
Both drugs and alcohol can cause mental problems and behavioral problems; therefore, they
should not be considered a recreational passtime.