The Lincoln Log

The half lidded blood shot eyes of a student at a “high school” and the dank trial they leave floating behind leaves a reminder that students come to school blazed like a car full of bongo players on their way home from hippy hill.

The issue is serious for both Lincoln students and faculty. Of course there are some who think otherwise.

According to Lincoln high school dean Joel Balzer, being cited for smoking tobacco on school grounds is a minor offence compared to being suspended and cited for marijuana.

“I’m quite certain that many students are intoxicated and or in possession of drugs or alcohol on campus that don’t get caught. I need to make it really clear that the use of alcohol, the use of marijuana, and the use of other illegal drugs are separate issues,” Balzer said.

According to Balzer, the drugs that students have been caught using include marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, huffing and cough syrup. However, the most common drug at Lincoln is marijuana. Ecstasy is also a drug that our students are constantly found using at dances. Two years ago there were reports of Methamphetamine.

“It’s not really news that high school students use drugs. Hell! An article would just draw attention to it,” a Lincoln senior who wishes to remain anonymous said.

Many students do not realize the consequence of using illegal drugs or alcohol. According to a Lincoln teacher, on Oct. 13, 2006 before Octoberfest, a student was recently caught with a bottle of hard liquor in the hallways. The teacher who caught the student immediately reported the incident to the dean. The student was then suspended.

According to state education code 48900, the first time offence of possession or being intoxicated a 3-day suspension is mandatory among, referral to counseling programs, police notification, student/parent conference and other consequences.

“I think it’s definitely a serious issue. It’s basically a social thing…I think [drug use] is pretty serious because some people don’t know how far their extent of their use is…some people take it to far, and it gets out of hand…” senior Jeff Corpus said.

Although some students at Lincoln are aware of the drug usage on campus, several others are unaware of the situation.

“I don’t know about drug use, but drug abuse isn’t very common from what I’ve seen,” senior Tony Albert said.

One of the health education teachers believes that kids don’t realize the potential consequences of illegal drug use.

“I educate kids about the consequences of illegal drugs…some don’t care…typically teenagers think they are invincible,” health education teacher Reid Russel said.

Some freshmen believe drug use at school is not existent.

“Not at school but away from school and before or after school,” freshmen Natasha Pryputniewizz said.

The wellness center is a good solution for students who are currently using drugs or want know more information about drugs.

“Students can come in if they have questions about specific drug problems, about the consequences of it or if they want to talk about their own use. They can always do that here in the wellness center confidentially…If any student is high or drunk and comes in we have to report them in order to keep them safe because if we were to allow them to get behind a wheel of a car…they can be potentially hit…we can get them help without parent notification because a student has a right to receive treatment in this state without parent permission…receive treatment in this state without parent permission…We get a lot of students who come in who the deans often times will refer students to the wellness center and they will meet with a councilor here who specializes in substance abuse…” Lincoln high school Wellness Coordinator Jen Kenny-Baum said.

“Tobacco use is down at Lincoln. Marijuana is still here [at Lincoln, but] alcohol use is less here because of the culture of the school,” Russel said.

Some students think tobacco usage among students isn’t a problem.

“I don’t think it’s that big of an issue. I don’t think that many people smoke. I know some people who smoke but I don’t think it’s as big an issue most people think it is,” junior Tomas Selby said.

Some students believe they can use illegal drugs without them interfering with their lives.

“I smoke marijuana multiple times a week and psychedelic mushrooms every once in a while. I don’t let it become a problem in my life,” a Lincoln senior who wishes to remain anonymous said.

According to Community Health Outreach Worker Ian Enriquez, substance abuse is not easy to predict.

“I think [substance abuse] is constantly changing…I think smoking has gone down.”

Some teachers compare other schools to Lincoln that drug use is about the same.

“It’s not just Lincoln it’s other schools I’ve been in and they are the same way…it’s not a problem unique to Lincoln,” earth science teacher Andrew Talarowski said.

“Just education, telling kids about the effects [will work]…I try to be unbiased and let the kids decide,” health education teacher Reid Russel said.