B-CC Student Newspaper Blows the Lid Off of Drug Use and Distribution in MCPS High Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“One B-CC student who sells nicotine as well as THC (or marijuana) products to numerous students at B-CC admits, “When I get it from another trapper [slang for a dealer] then it’s from their supplier, which is likely homemade,” adding “you really don’t know what is in it since it’s not r
This says it all right here. These kids are just wannabe thugs and are emulating pop culture. Imagine a Bethesda kid talking about Trap culture.

Many of the kids at bcc come from silver spring. Lytonsville. Lots of subsidized housing with a lot of food insecurity. Something like 20% of BCC’s student body is FARMs. Not sure if you’ve spend much time in that area but there are true thugs who live there and subsequently attend BCC not just wannabe ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

You sound like such an ass and you're clearly speaking from a place of privilege of having never dealt with a child stuck in the throes of substance abuse. Do you really think if it were that easy that kids wouldn't be stuck in this vicious cycle? Get some perspective and empathy and STFU.

If you listened to the parents of S.O.U.L. (Surviving Our Ultimate Loss) https://www.survivingourultimateloss.org/ you hear story after story from parents who tried to save their kids but were limited by:

1. Existing laws on the books that don't allow them to involuntarily commit their children for treatment
2. Treatment centers that are overloaded or not staffed enough to take in their kids
3. The sneaky and wily behavior of their drug-addicted and rebellious teens who rely on their friends or dealers to run away or hide their ongoing substance abuse
4. A lax school system that turns a blind eye to the drug use going on in their school grounds
5. A sloth-like police force that fails to follow up on leads to stop the dealers who are supplying their child

So many parents do try to get their kids help, but our system is broken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BCC students enter bathrooms to see large groups of girls vaping?

My son is a senior at WJ, and has never entered a bathroom and seen someone vaping or smelled weed. Is it because boys don't use bathrooms for this? Is just particular bathrooms? I'm sure WJ has a drug problem too...

It is hard for me to believe that kids at WJ are not vaping or smoking weed.
I teach at a HS in SS and you can smell pot regularly in the hallways. Vaping in the bathrooms is also very common unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BCC students enter bathrooms to see large groups of girls vaping?

My son is a senior at WJ, and has never entered a bathroom and seen someone vaping or smelled weed. Is it because boys don't use bathrooms for this? Is just particular bathrooms? I'm sure WJ has a drug problem too...

Because your son is probably vaping too and doesn't want you concerned. And many go to the creek anyway

[Anonymous]

My issue is not the drugs. You will never stop them 100%. You have to be a proactive parent and look for signs and just keep encouraging communication.

My issues is the safety of the bathrooms. My kid at RM avoids the bathroom all day due to multiple issues walking in on drug deals and weed/vaping/pills. The students are intimidating and if you even think of going to staff, you will be bullied for being the snitch for the rest of the year. So the kids just hold it in. And there are many people that need places to destress without drugs. Gain composure and relax from gossip, drama, a failed test, etc... and these dealers love those type of people that come in the bathroom door. New customers that need something to help them relax.

It's highly concerning how little the school does. I grew up in a lower to middle class high school and there was never drugs in our bathrooms. The consequences were severe (long suspension or expulsion) MCPS doesn't have the staff, the staff that is there is burned out, and there is no fear of much really happening to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not the drugs. You will never stop them 100%. You have to be a proactive parent and look for signs and just keep encouraging communication.

My issues is the safety of the bathrooms. My kid at RM avoids the bathroom all day due to multiple issues walking in on drug deals and weed/vaping/pills. The students are intimidating and if you even think of going to staff, you will be bullied for being the snitch for the rest of the year. So the kids just hold it in. And there are many people that need places to destress without drugs. Gain composure and relax from gossip, drama, a failed test, etc... and these dealers love those type of people that come in the bathroom door. New customers that need something to help them relax.

It's highly concerning how little the school does. I grew up in a lower to middle class high school and there was never drugs in our bathrooms. The consequences were severe (long suspension or expulsion) MCPS doesn't have the staff, the staff that is there is burned out, and there is no fear of much really happening to you.

Another parent from RM and I will second everything this poster is eating because my kid has reported the exact same thing.

I am also incredibly discouraged by the fact that the school can’t seem to do much about the rampant drug use. Heck, another mom told me that there were issues with kids vaping in 5th grade at one of the feeder ESs. This is not good for anyone.

Our high school kids shouldn’t have to navigate this as much as they do.

Agree that there isn’t enough staff, the staff is burned out and there are not really any consequences when kids are caught with drugs at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

You sound like such an ass and you're clearly speaking from a place of privilege of having never dealt with a child stuck in the throes of substance abuse. Do you really think if it were that easy that kids wouldn't be stuck in this vicious cycle? Get some perspective and empathy and STFU.

If you listened to the parents of S.O.U.L. (Surviving Our Ultimate Loss) https://www.survivingourultimateloss.org/ you hear story after story from parents who tried to save their kids but were limited by:

1. Existing laws on the books that don't allow them to involuntarily commit their children for treatment
2. Treatment centers that are overloaded or not staffed enough to take in their kids
3. The sneaky and wily behavior of their drug-addicted and rebellious teens who rely on their friends or dealers to run away or hide their ongoing substance abuse
4. A lax school system that turns a blind eye to the drug use going on in their school grounds
5. A sloth-like police force that fails to follow up on leads to stop the dealers who are supplying their child

So many parents do try to get their kids help, but our system is broken.

Yes you can commit your kids. Yes I’ve dealt with it. Yes our school system is very broken but you are responsible for your own child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

Yes I have and for my kids I will not sit around and complain. With family history we talk about it and they know I’d drug test them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“One B-CC student who sells nicotine as well as THC (or marijuana) products to numerous students at B-CC admits, “When I get it from another trapper [slang for a dealer] then it’s from their supplier, which is likely homemade,” adding “you really don’t know what is in it since it’s not r
This says it all right here. These kids are just wannabe thugs and are emulating pop culture. Imagine a Bethesda kid talking about Trap culture.

Many of the kids at bcc come from silver spring. Lytonsville. Lots of subsidized housing with a lot of food insecurity. Something like 20% of BCC’s student body is FARMs. Not sure if you’ve spend much time in that area but there are true thugs who live there and subsequently attend BCC not just wannabe ones.

Wow this is gross

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

You sound like such an ass and you're clearly speaking from a place of privilege of having never dealt with a child stuck in the throes of substance abuse. Do you really think if it were that easy that kids wouldn't be stuck in this vicious cycle? Get some perspective and empathy and STFU.

If you listened to the parents of S.O.U.L. (Surviving Our Ultimate Loss) https://www.survivingourultimateloss.org/ you hear story after story from parents who tried to save their kids but were limited by:

1. Existing laws on the books that don't allow them to involuntarily commit their children for treatment
2. Treatment centers that are overloaded or not staffed enough to take in their kids
3. The sneaky and wily behavior of their drug-addicted and rebellious teens who rely on their friends or dealers to run away or hide their ongoing substance abuse
4. A lax school system that turns a blind eye to the drug use going on in their school grounds
5. A sloth-like police force that fails to follow up on leads to stop the dealers who are supplying their child

So many parents do try to get their kids help, but our system is broken.

Yes you can commit your kids. Yes I’ve dealt with it. Yes our school system is very broken but you are responsible for your own child.

Maryland is not one of the states that allows involuntary commitment: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/involuntary-rehab-forced

People are lobbying Maryland to change laws around involuntary commitment for precisely this reason: https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-1214-involuntary-treatment-criteria-20211213-zxuknjmrszhxnckkgt5esghwwa-story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

Yes I have and for my kids I will not sit around and complain. With family history we talk about it and they know I’d drug test them.

Complain? MCPS need to police illegal activity that happens on their grounds. Non school employers do it. Retail does it. Why is school exempt? That’s the complaint. If your kid is trying to avoid temptation, it is terrible to have it in their faces during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

Yes I have and for my kids I will not sit around and complain. With family history we talk about it and they know I’d drug test them.

And were the measures that PP listed sufficient to help your addicted relative? My guess is no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

NP - look. Many, many parents minimize alcohol and cannabis use in teens. Many parents SUPPLY their kids with alcohol out of the misguided belief that they’ll be safer or learn better or some other such nonsense. This article is less about “addicted” teens than it is about widespread substance use. And yes, parents do often look the other way. I hear what you’re saying, but I also think you’re talking about what are mostly two different groups of kids and their parents, albeit with a bit of overlap.

I would be interested to see the overlap between those in this thread saying it’s about the parents and those supporting beach week in the other thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

Have you dealt with an addicted child or watch a family a deal with their addicted child up close?

NP - look. Many, many parents minimize alcohol and cannabis use in teens. Many parents SUPPLY their kids with alcohol out of the misguided belief that they’ll be safer or learn better or some other such nonsense. This article is less about “addicted” teens than it is about widespread substance use. And yes, parents do often look the other way. I hear what you’re saying, but I also think you’re talking about what are mostly two different groups of kids and their parents, albeit with a bit of overlap.

I would be interested to see the overlap between those in this thread saying it’s about the parents and those supporting beach week in the other thread.

LMAO that would be interesting, wouldn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the parents? Clearly they are ok with their kids using.

This is not true. There are many parents who are at their wits' end but feel powerless.

Then stop feeling powerless and take control. Drug test your kids, put them in treatment, ground them, take away the money, etc. Stop making it easy. Kids will find a way but at least try.

You sound like such an ass and you're clearly speaking from a place of privilege of having never dealt with a child stuck in the throes of substance abuse. Do you really think if it were that easy that kids wouldn't be stuck in this vicious cycle? Get some perspective and empathy and STFU.

If you listened to the parents of S.O.U.L. (Surviving Our Ultimate Loss) https://www.survivingourultimateloss.org/ you hear story after story from parents who tried to save their kids but were limited by:

1. Existing laws on the books that don't allow them to involuntarily commit their children for treatment
2. Treatment centers that are overloaded or not staffed enough to take in their kids
3. The sneaky and wily behavior of their drug-addicted and rebellious teens who rely on their friends or dealers to run away or hide their ongoing substance abuse
4. A lax school system that turns a blind eye to the drug use going on in their school grounds
5. A sloth-like police force that fails to follow up on leads to stop the dealers who are supplying their child

So many parents do try to get their kids help, but our system is broken.

Yes you can commit your kids. Yes I’ve dealt with it. Yes our school system is very broken but you are responsible for your own child.

Maryland is not one of the states that allows involuntary commitment: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/involuntary-rehab-forced

People are lobbying Maryland to change laws around involuntary commitment for precisely this reason: https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-1214-involuntary-treatment-criteria-20211213-zxuknjmrszhxnckkgt5esghwwa-story.html

I’ve done it.