Why then do all the agencies that target drug prevention only hire people with college degrees and certifications?
It would be more effective to get these people off the streets to talk to these kids, whether they are still using or not. A: You are right that stories are often the best way to communicate principles of living. But this is true only when listeners believe that those stories apply to them personally. Former addicts sharing drug experiences with children (or adolescents) has been tried, with limited success. Yes, some young children may be horrified and for a time convinced that they will never drink or use drugs. But stories told by recovering alcoholics and addicts can flop with teenagers. Middle and high school students soon learn that many older teens and adults use or have used marijuana, yet appear to be functioning very well. They see that alcohol is widely available and consumed by healthy, successful people, including some of the most admired among their peers. Finally, most teenagers simply do not believe that they could become, at some distant point in the future, dependent
