Drugs at Williamsburg middle school

[Anonymous]

Yorktown and its feeders are known to have a lot of problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WMS parent again - I haven't heard of H at WMS, I've heard that it's pills from personal prescriptions or taken from home medicine cabinets that are sold to other students. And apparently the OD was on these types of pills.

Maybe our new interim principal will speak out on this issue. Or she's too busy writing about fidget spinners and the kids that walk to the Lee-Harrison shopping center after school. Bigger problems here, lady!

any time there are kids that rich, there will be drugs.

Unfortunately it happens at poor schools, too. The drug problem is growing and it is scary. It seems to be on a few fronts including prescription medications as well as kids beginning with gateway weed and moving into harder stuff more quickly than 'the good old days'. It could also be that the high is more intense and the younger kids aren't recognizing the risks.

Ugh, weed is not a gateway anymore than cigarettes or alcohol are. Not everyone who smokes weed moves onto anything harder. It's unlikely that any kid would start out, before even smoking a cigarette, by injecting heroin. That's not how it happens. But there's nothing unique about marijuana that makes it anymore of a gateway drug, Jeff Sessions.

The REAL gateway here is LEGAL prescription medication, opiods specifically. Because they are extremely powerful and physically addictive and lead, quite quickly, to heroin use. But who's standing up to Big Pharma? Nobody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WMS parent again - I haven't heard of H at WMS, I've heard that it's pills from personal prescriptions or taken from home medicine cabinets that are sold to other students. And apparently the OD was on these types of pills.

Maybe our new interim principal will speak out on this issue. Or she's too busy writing about fidget spinners and the kids that walk to the Lee-Harrison shopping center after school. Bigger problems here, lady!

any time there are kids that rich, there will be drugs.

Unfortunately it happens at poor schools, too. The drug problem is growing and it is scary. It seems to be on a few fronts including prescription medications as well as kids beginning with gateway weed and moving into harder stuff more quickly than 'the good old days'. It could also be that the high is more intense and the younger kids aren't recognizing the risks.

Ugh, weed is not a gateway anymore than cigarettes or alcohol are. Not everyone who smokes weed moves onto anything harder. It's unlikely that any kid would start out, before even smoking a cigarette, by injecting heroin. That's not how it happens. But there's nothing unique about marijuana that makes it anymore of a gateway drug, Jeff Sessions.

The REAL gateway here is LEGAL prescription medication, opiods specifically. Because they are extremely powerful and physically addictive and lead, quite quickly, to heroin use. But who's standing up to Big Pharma? Nobody.

Okey dokey, the toker has spoken. Thanks for your insight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WMS parent again - I haven't heard of H at WMS, I've heard that it's pills from personal prescriptions or taken from home medicine cabinets that are sold to other students. And apparently the OD was on these types of pills.

Maybe our new interim principal will speak out on this issue. Or she's too busy writing about fidget spinners and the kids that walk to the Lee-Harrison shopping center after school. Bigger problems here, lady!

any time there are kids that rich, there will be drugs.

Unfortunately it happens at poor schools, too. The drug problem is growing and it is scary. It seems to be on a few fronts including prescription medications as well as kids beginning with gateway weed and moving into harder stuff more quickly than 'the good old days'. It could also be that the high is more intense and the younger kids aren't recognizing the risks.

Ugh, weed is not a gateway anymore than cigarettes or alcohol are. Not everyone who smokes weed moves onto anything harder. It's unlikely that any kid would start out, before even smoking a cigarette, by injecting heroin. That's not how it happens. But there's nothing unique about marijuana that makes it anymore of a gateway drug, Jeff Sessions.

The REAL gateway here is LEGAL prescription medication, opiods specifically. Because they are extremely powerful and physically addictive and lead, quite quickly, to heroin use. But who's standing up to Big Pharma? Nobody.

Actually, speaking with the experience of one who has worked with high risk kids for 15+ years, weed still is a gateway drug. Your insight is wrong and not backed by research. However, this is besides the point. What are the most important factors? Nature and nurture. Genetics play a role and environment plays a very strong role.

Frequently what I will hear kids say is that they started with weed because they didn't want to 'become a drunk' like mom or dad. Or maybe the parent isn't an everyday drinker but a binger. This in my opinion is usually worse because it indicates a temperament type and set of behaviors that certainly become internalized by the kid.

So after experimenting with weed they then move onto other things because they were looking for a better and more intense high. At that point the kids aren't so much anti-parent as now in with a crowd where drug use and experimentation is accepted and expected. It has become 'cool' OR makes the kid feel 'better' to 'escape'. The environment now supports this continued drug use.

Moving to drugs is a coping behavior. It is not a desirable coping behavior but it is a coping behavior.

Worried about drug use in your school? Start by looking at your school and what kids are doing before/after it. Are they supervised? Do they have things to do? One middle school recently had a kid OD before school started because the kid and friend were completely unsupervised, waiting for the bus and decided to try then what they thought they would do after school. Another person talking to the both kids teachers confirmed that there were lots of good intentions but little supervision and little to keep the kids occupied.

This is a community problem. It will take a community to band together to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WMS parent again - I haven't heard of H at WMS, I've heard that it's pills from personal prescriptions or taken from home medicine cabinets that are sold to other students. And apparently the OD was on these types of pills.

Maybe our new interim principal will speak out on this issue. Or she's too busy writing about fidget spinners and the kids that walk to the Lee-Harrison shopping center after school. Bigger problems here, lady!

any time there are kids that rich, there will be drugs.

Unfortunately it happens at poor schools, too. The drug problem is growing and it is scary. It seems to be on a few fronts including prescription medications as well as kids beginning with gateway weed and moving into harder stuff more quickly than 'the good old days'. It could also be that the high is more intense and the younger kids aren't recognizing the risks.

Ugh, weed is not a gateway anymore than cigarettes or alcohol are. Not everyone who smokes weed moves onto anything harder. It's unlikely that any kid would start out, before even smoking a cigarette, by injecting heroin. That's not how it happens. But there's nothing unique about marijuana that makes it anymore of a gateway drug, Jeff Sessions.

The REAL gateway here is LEGAL prescription medication, opiods specifically. Because they are extremely powerful and physically addictive and lead, quite quickly, to heroin use. But who's standing up to Big Pharma? Nobody.

Actually, speaking with the experience of one who has worked with high risk kids for 15+ years, weed still is a gateway drug. Your insight is wrong and not backed by research. However, this is besides the point. What are the most important factors? Nature and nurture. Genetics play a role and environment plays a very strong role.

Frequently what I will hear kids say is that they started with weed because they didn't want to 'become a drunk' like mom or dad. Or maybe the parent isn't an everyday drinker but a binger. This in my opinion is usually worse because it indicates a temperament type and set of behaviors that certainly become internalized by the kid.

So after experimenting with weed they then move onto other things because they were looking for a better and more intense high. At that point the kids aren't so much anti-parent as now in with a crowd where drug use and experimentation is accepted and expected. It has become 'cool' OR makes the kid feel 'better' to 'escape'. The environment now supports this continued drug use.

Moving to drugs is a coping behavior. It is not a desirable coping behavior but it is a coping behavior.

Worried about drug use in your school? Start by looking at your school and what kids are doing before/after it. Are they supervised? Do they have things to do? One middle school recently had a kid OD before school started because the kid and friend were completely unsupervised, waiting for the bus and decided to try then what they thought they would do after school. Another person talking to the both kids teachers confirmed that there were lots of good intentions but little supervision and little to keep the kids occupied.

This is a community problem. It will take a community to band together to fix it.


And this is why I'm worried that with all the overcrowding at APS, they'll move to offering more online classes and staggered schedules.

Also, why isn't anyone talking about this? Do parents not "see" what is actually going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WMS parent again - I haven't heard of H at WMS, I've heard that it's pills from personal prescriptions or taken from home medicine cabinets that are sold to other students. And apparently the OD was on these types of pills.

Maybe our new interim principal will speak out on this issue. Or she's too busy writing about fidget spinners and the kids that walk to the Lee-Harrison shopping center after school. Bigger problems here, lady!

any time there are kids that rich, there will be drugs.

Unfortunately it happens at poor schools, too. The drug problem is growing and it is scary. It seems to be on a few fronts including prescription medications as well as kids beginning with gateway weed and moving into harder stuff more quickly than 'the good old days'. It could also be that the high is more intense and the younger kids aren't recognizing the risks.

Ugh, weed is not a gateway anymore than cigarettes or alcohol are. Not everyone who smokes weed moves onto anything harder. It's unlikely that any kid would start out, before even smoking a cigarette, by injecting heroin. That's not how it happens. But there's nothing unique about marijuana that makes it anymore of a gateway drug, Jeff Sessions.

The REAL gateway here is LEGAL prescription medication, opiods specifically. Because they are extremely powerful and physically addictive and lead, quite quickly, to heroin use. But who's standing up to Big Pharma? Nobody.

Actually, speaking with the experience of one who has worked with high risk kids for 15+ years, weed still is a gateway drug. Your insight is wrong and not backed by research. However, this is besides the point. What are the most important factors? Nature and nurture. Genetics play a role and environment plays a very strong role.

Frequently what I will hear kids say is that they started with weed because they didn't want to 'become a drunk' like mom or dad. Or maybe the parent isn't an everyday drinker but a binger. This in my opinion is usually worse because it indicates a temperament type and set of behaviors that certainly become internalized by the kid.

So after experimenting with weed they then move onto other things because they were looking for a better and more intense high. At that point the kids aren't so much anti-parent as now in with a crowd where drug use and experimentation is accepted and expected. It has become 'cool' OR makes the kid feel 'better' to 'escape'. The environment now supports this continued drug use.

Moving to drugs is a coping behavior. It is not a desirable coping behavior but it is a coping behavior.

Worried about drug use in your school? Start by looking at your school and what kids are doing before/after it. Are they supervised? Do they have things to do? One middle school recently had a kid OD before school started because the kid and friend were completely unsupervised, waiting for the bus and decided to try then what they thought they would do after school. Another person talking to the both kids teachers confirmed that there were lots of good intentions but little supervision and little to keep the kids occupied.

This is a community problem. It will take a community to band together to fix it.


And this is why I'm worried that with all the overcrowding at APS, they'll move to offering more online classes and staggered schedules.

Also, why isn't anyone talking about this? Do parents not "see" what is actually going on?

It is scary so it is easier not to talk about it. Keep bringing it up. Keep trying to get the PTA and the school administration and the school system to work together on this.

There are resources, too, at the county level. Are those services being offered to the most at-risk kids? Do they have the county program in place so someone is working directly with the kids at school to talk about risk behaviors and how to stop? Is the school putting on any 'say no' programming?

This is a problem that crosses all demographics: SES, race, ethnicity, family type. It will take a community to come together to 'solve' this.

In the meantime, keep your own kids active and engaged through sports, arts, chorus and band, clubs, church. Do things with them so that they know you are interested and supportive.

The tween years are so important and it usually is when parents begin to drop supports (like checking homework) but most teachers and counselors will tell you that this is when you need to be more visible and present than ever to help provide structure. Sure you can start releasing controls but in a controlled way so that the kid doesn't go in to a free-fall.

But don't let the school or the school system slide. They need to do their part by identifying and working with the most at-risk kids so that they can get the help they need and the problems don't spread.

Keep in mind that peer pressure works both ways. It can be bad but it also can be good. Active, involved, happy kids will get much more accomplished than a few counseling sessions for bored, unhappy, un-involved kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend of mine is dealing with this with her daughter right now. It is absolutely terrifying.

I had not heard anything about the overdose.

The W/L death was supposedly natural causes. That is what was reported to me by my W/L student.

The student death at WL was absolutely from natural causes.

Thank you for posting that. I wasn't sure what happened. My heart breaks for his family.

[Anonymous]

And this is why I'm worried that with all the overcrowding at APS, they'll move to offering more online classes and staggered schedules.

This is the stupidest idea ever. Kids this age (MS) don't have the maturity or the stamina to take online classes--it's hard enough for college kids to stick with them. I certainly hope APS doesn't really intend to do this as a way to solve overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

Chasing the dragon is an FBI documentary that all parents should watch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WMS parent again - I haven't heard of H at WMS, I've heard that it's pills from personal prescriptions or taken from home medicine cabinets that are sold to other students. And apparently the OD was on these types of pills.

Maybe our new interim principal will speak out on this issue. Or she's too busy writing about fidget spinners and the kids that walk to the Lee-Harrison shopping center after school. Bigger problems here, lady!

any time there are kids that rich, there will be drugs.

Unfortunately it happens at poor schools, too. The drug problem is growing and it is scary. It seems to be on a few fronts including prescription medications as well as kids beginning with gateway weed and moving into harder stuff more quickly than 'the good old days'. It could also be that the high is more intense and the younger kids aren't recognizing the risks.

Ugh, weed is not a gateway anymore than cigarettes or alcohol are. Not everyone who smokes weed moves onto anything harder. It's unlikely that any kid would start out, before even smoking a cigarette, by injecting heroin. That's not how it happens. But there's nothing unique about marijuana that makes it anymore of a gateway drug, Jeff Sessions.

The REAL gateway here is LEGAL prescription medication, opiods specifically. Because they are extremely powerful and physically addictive and lead, quite quickly, to heroin use. But who's standing up to Big Pharma? Nobody.

This doesn't have to do with big Pharma.
This has to do with our legal system, our malpractice laws, compensation structure, and our insurance companies.
One can and do sue hospitals and doctors for pain and suffering, and that your pain was not attended to.
Insurance companies and various employers are tying compensation to patient satisfaction scores, which are tied to achieving pain control.

Of course, availability is just one side of the issue. The other is teenagers taking what they know they are not supposed to take.

[Anonymous]

Wow Arlington county has such high drug abuse vs fairfax and loudon county...
Very bad .. bcoz both parents are working busy with their life no time for children.
Give them all the money they want than what will happens to such young kids. Very sad ..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow Arlington county has such high drug abuse vs fairfax and loudon county...
Very bad .. bcoz both parents are working busy with their life no time for children.
Give them all the money they want than what will happens to such young kids. Very sad ..

Where are you getting that Arlington has higher drug use than the surrounding counties? Arlington families just happen to be discussing this. It's sad that you need to make a meaningful discussion into trying to put others down. I live in Fairfax and a friend has told me about rampant drug use at her kid's high school, to the point where her DC doesn't want to go into the bathrooms at school. This is a global problem, step back from the pettiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow Arlington county has such high drug abuse vs fairfax and loudon county...
Very bad .. bcoz both parents are working busy with their life no time for children.
Give them all the money they want than what will happens to such young kids. Very sad ..

Lot more money in Loudoun and Fairfax than in Arlington. I think Loudoun County is one of the highest incomes per capita in the country.

APS is confronting the problem. It's a bigger one elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow Arlington county has such high drug abuse vs fairfax and loudon county...
Very bad .. bcoz both parents are working busy with their life no time for children.
Give them all the money they want than what will happens to such young kids. Very sad ..

Lot more money in Loudoun and Fairfax than in Arlington. I think Loudoun County is one of the highest incomes per capita in the country.

APS is confronting the problem. It's a bigger one elsewhere.

So quick to point the finger and missed the memo from a couple years ago where Loudon county was written about as being heroin highway. Call your police department and get the stats dear.

[Anonymous]

North Arlington definitely has a bigger problem with drugs than most FCPS.