Cigarettes have become commonplace in today’s society. Whether in movies or the office break room, the use of such substances is on the rise, and the impact has proven detrimental.
Despite statistics, the use of alcohol, cigarettes and illegal substances has been increasing, especially among teenagers, over the past few years. From a young age, pre-teens are exposed to these substances.
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (www.gasubstanceabuse.org) is working to increase government support in deterring substance abuse. In January 2001, the group estimated that in the southeast, Alabama spends the most money per person, $6.43, on substance abuse programs, while Georgia spends no money.
The organization estimates that 53 percent of students in grade ten in Georgia reportedly used alcohol during 2000. During the same year, 30 percent of students used tobacco, while 25 percent used marijuana.
Schools throughout Fulton County have resource officers who patrol the halls of schools during classes to ensure that students follow the rules. However, some schools have only one resource officer to patrol an entire campus, making it nearly impossible to be aware of everything students do every minute.
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse believes the problem will not be quelled until the state government takes action.
As a result, the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse has released a report on the subject, “The Courage to Change.” The report provides graphs and other statistical information relevant to the government’s actions toward the subject.
