Soma use and today's juvenile offenders
...ve shown that a shocking 12% of eighth graders, 22% of tenth graders, and 26% of those in grade twelve have used illicit drugs within the past 30days. Not to mention that of those in grade twelve surveyed 32% admitted to drinking more than five drinks within the past 2 weeks. With numbers as such, the realization of the necessity to address this harmful situation is imperative. For the strong correlation between the serious drug use of youth and delinquent behaviour among juveniles across the world is increasing. Where studies have shown that more than 60% of juvenile offenders arrested in Canada have tested positive for the use of illegal drugs such as heroin, marijuana, and ecstasy. It is evident that the use of these drugs whether classified as ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ is irrelevant, for all drugs lead to problems. There has been recent discussion regarding the legalization of soft drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy in Ontario, where the provincial government would follow similar laws as those imposed in the Netherlands. As in Amsterdam’s red light district, where the existence numerous “coffee shops” for the legal tender of these ‘soft drugs’ is relatively common. The hope in legalizing such drugs is to remove the abundance of dealers, disease and junkies on the streets, by giving them a place to go shoot up and get high. Now is this a realistic solution to the increasingly growing problem that is arising among the young… the answer is NO. By having this places where society openly accepts drug use and allows children to do so, this leaves parents who are against having their child do drugs in a tight corner. Personally I do not feel that drugs of any sort ‘soft or hard’ should be made legal in Ontario. For the introduction of such drugs as being ‘acceptable’, will result in the increase dependence of youth on these drugs, as well as an increase in criminal acts both by the youth and adults. For with the use of drugs comes a large financial price, and quite often drug users resort to thievery and violence in order to pay for their habit. So although, by legalizing drug use the place in whi...