Teenagers underestimate the power of drugs on the mind and body. Not only are drugs dangerous, but they also are illegal for minors. Almost every mind and mood-altering drug, when abused, can cause severe long-term damage to your social life and to you physically and mentally.

“The most important thing young people can do is to never start [drugs] at all. Drugs destroy lives,” says Dean and Interim Assistant Principal Maria de la Garza as she describes the effects of drugs on young people. Now that marijuana is legal to buy and use in Colorado, it is becoming a more experimental drug to young people. With many young people thinking that it is a harmless drug since it is now allowed by our government. On the contrary, it can be extremely harmful and addictive, and is still considered a gateway drug leading to stronger and more powerful narcotics. Long-term use is visible as a teenager ages. There is a lengthy list of possible permanent or long-term effects that include: irregular and rapid heartbeat, damage to major organs including increased susceptibility to Hepatitis, an increased risk of cancer, chronic cough, permanent motor skill damage, tremors, blood damage, chronic stomach problems, and memory loss. “Because a person in high school is still growing and developing, drugs can cause many difficulties for the person as an adult because they did not experience normal brain development in their youth,” says de la Garza. Drugs can also affect your social life and family life by putting distance between you and your loved ones. Drugs become the priority leaving school, jobs, and even loved ones trailing behind.

In addition, high school students or any minor, could get in trouble with the law by being associated with the unlawful use of drugs, even prescription drugs. Students can be “charged with being under the influence, in possession, distribution and can include an arrest, thus creating a criminal record that will affect you for life,” says de la Garza. Also with an arrest, leaving the country is difficult because your visa or passport can be denied, even with a misdemeanor.  For instance, Canada restricts your access for misdemeanor infractions such as DUI and drug possession for up to 10 years afterward.

Once there is a criminal charge on permanent record, the likelihood of qualifying for a job is low to none because of background checks that nearly all employers utilize. Employers need to know if the application submitted represents the person accurately and is valid. Even if the arrest is not listed on the application, companies have the ability to find the arrest through government records. When a person is young it is difficult enough to figure out what the plan for next week is, much less the longer-term future.

In an interview with Deputy Chris Herman, from the El Paso County Sherriff’s Office, he explains the legal consequences for every Felony and Misdemeanor. The Class 1 drug Felony is 8-23 years in prison with $5,000-$1,000,000 in fines for having, using or dealing large amounts of schedule I or schedule II substances (like Heroin or Ecstasy). You can also be charged if someone dies on the drugs you provided them; 4-8 years in prison with fines of $3,000 – $750,000 is the penalty for a Class 2 drug felony; 2-4 years in prison with $2,000 – $500,000 in fines is the penalty for Class 3 drug Felony (possession of any schedule I or II substance, cocaine, meth, oxycodone, etc.); and the Class 4 drug Felony is 6 months – 1 year in prison with $1,000 – $100,000 in fines. Misdemeanor are not as severe, however, you can be assessed with a fine of $500 and/or 6 months in prison for the first misdemeanor, and a $50 fine with possession of less than 2 oz. of marijuana. Deputy Herman says that “the purpose of the juvenile court system is to get the offender to understand the consequences of their actions, so they do not continue to make poor choices that will end them in prison as an adult.”

The Juvenile Diversion Program is set up to help students charged with a crime to have the opportunity to start anew. Once improvement is seen in a juvenile who has learned to make better choices and show genuine remorse for what they’ve done, the charges are dropped from their permanent record completely. They have a clean slate. “If you are struggling with drug use tell someone,” says Herman, “personally, I will not charge someone if they come to me seeking help.”

From a clinical and societal point of view, drug addiction is so common that it is considered a disease and this type of disease does have treatment. Maria de la Garza suggests that, “the first thing you do is stop doing any drugs. Seek help immediately from your parents, your school counselor, a teacher, an administrator, etc.” Every grade level school counselor is willing to help. There are also online possibilities and inpatient and outpatient programs. Drugs ruin lives so don’t start and live a healthier life.

“I have been on small cases where a kid has weed in school and they end up getting expelled. I have been on the large busts where people have been put in prison for 20 years. I have been to the crash scenes where kids where killed because of a driver who was high. I have watched people kill themselves right in front of me, because their decision making was so affected by drugs. There is nothing positive that comes from drug use. It WILL ruin your life. Maybe not today or tomorrow but it WILL catch up with you. As your School Resource Officer I care about every one of you, just like every staff member at AAHS. Please know drug use is a decision that WILL affect the rest of your life,” deputy Herman said at the end of our interview.

Students hear this message often but it rings true nonetheless. Drug abuse can destroy you. It can steal your future before you even have a chance to dream it.