Vol. 89, No.5 • February 2010 • Lakewood High School • 14100
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Vol.Vol. 89, 89, No.5 No.6 • February • March/April 2010 • 2010 Lakewood • Lakewood High SchoolHigh School • 14100 • 141Franklin00 Franklin Blvd. Blvd.• Lakewood, • Lakewood, OH • 44107OH • 44107 Staff Junior Greg O’Connor makes edits to a story. Photo by Deven Middleton. Staff members work dilligently during press night. Photo by Deven Middleton. Juniors Lisa Kowalski and Deven Middleton show off their ‘Times’ pride. Photo by Haley McGinty. The Lakewood Times 2009-2010 Editorial Board Fiza Shah Editor in Chief Deven Middleton Design & Focus Editor Al Rodriguez News Editor Julia Houska Opinion Editor Sam Cross Co-Lakewood Life Editor Greg O’Connor Co-Lakewood Life Editor Lisa Kowalski Co-Sports Editor Andrew O’Connor Co-Sports Editor Grant Graves Co-Sports Editor Jessica Paoli Graphic Designer Katy Eberl Advertising & Business Manager Lindsay Allamon Editorial Board Member Hallah Amawi Editorial Board Member Haley McGinty Editorial Board Member Matt Snyder Editorial Board Member Karen Ballash Adviser Sports Editor Grant Graves practices Lakewood Life editor Sam Cross cheesin.’ his swing at baseball Practice. Photo Photo by Deven McGinty. ---- by Fiza Shah 2 The Lakewood Times Contents Focus 4 – Pills prove popular 6 – Survey leaves school in a ‘Daze’ 7 – Canceled counseling 8 – Recognizing a problem 29 9 – Do the crime, do the time Starting pitcher Evan Roder hopes to see many Ws in the Rangers 10 – A professional perspective record before the season ends. Hotline help News 11 – News Briefs 12 – Levy explains it all 14 – Teachers move on to the next chapter 15 – Poetry is a slam dunk at competiton Saving a life one relay at a time Opinion 28 16 – Staff Editorial Letter to the Editor Ruggers Princess Bednarski and Justinia Puskas show off their competitive spirit by entering the Physics Boat Regatta 17 – The luck of 2013 just for fun. 18 – Privacy takes a beating Cheers & Jeers 19 – Artist: what makes one? Lakewood Life 20 – Food is art 22 – Hallways or runways? 24 – Chillin’ in the English department 26 – Music Recommendations 28 – Cardboard sails at boat regatta 15 Soft-Pack Review Bayan Hammad, a senior, participates in the Poetry Slam Sports competition at Westlake High School. 29 – Baseball swinging into the season 30 – Ranger Report Cover design and photo illustration 31 – Keep on Trackin’ by Jessica Paoli. Cover Photos by Lisa Kowalski. April 2010 3 Focus Focus Pull Towards Pills: By Haley McGinty, Editorial Board Member High school teenagers all over America admit to start- ing marijuana in middle school. So what is the pull towards pills, and why is it moving so swiftly through high schools? “I believe I was in the 6th grade when I had first [tried] weed,” explains a male LHS user. “An older friend had suggested it. So I tried it.” Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in America. Many teens claim it is easier to get weed than it is to buy beer or cigarettes (2005 CASA National Sur- vey). However, for most high school teenagers, it’s easy to see why “popping pills” has become so popular. “There is no smell, or really any evidence at all,” says a current user. “You can conceal them anywhere you go. All you have to do is put them in your mouth, or snort them. After that, you can continue on with your day.” Since taking a pill to get high requires no visible smoke, students of various high schools use pills almost every day. “I started pills my freshman year. They were easier to conceal, and they were fun to do,” he said. Pills such as Vicodin and Percocet are the most common among high school students. Vicodin and Percocet are gener- ally prescribed by a doctor for moderate, to severe, acute pain. Since these drugs are classified as opiates, they have the ability to produce euphoria, or a state of great sense of wellbeing and elation. They may make your head feel light, as well as vision and mood changes. This sensation is what most users are after. Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin are all opiates that contain acetaminophen or codeine, which are the ingredients that cause the effects of drowsiness, dizziness, etc. (medicinenet.com). Another commonly misused drug among teens is Adder- all. In 2004, it was estimated by the 17th annual National Study of Teen Drug Abuse, that 2.3 million young adults have used Adderall without a doctor’s prescription. Ad- derall is prescribed to kids with ADD and ADHD to help them keep focus and feel energized. A recent article on drugfree.org entitled “Adderall Abuse on Campus,” shows that many young Americans take Adderall in school be- cause they believe it will help them ace a big test, or com- plete a project they waited till the last minute to complete. Selling the drugs in school, however, can be a far more dangerous action. “I have never really been into pills,” ex- Photo and silhouette by Haley McGinty 4 The Lakewood Times Focus Focus What’s The Deal? plains a former LHS student and has stalled, while the use of prescrip- drug dealer. “Don’t get me tion medication has risen signifi- wrong, I have taken them, cantly. This survey states that “Seven but I’m not a fiend.” of the top 10 drugs abused by 12th For most dealers, graders in the year prior to the survey selling is a way to make were prescribed or, purchased quick cash. “I learned over the counter” about selling drugs from (NIDA). Although kids at school. When I these rates may figured out [that] I had con- be alarming due nections with older [adults] to our countries who would sell them to me for war on drugs, cheap, I began selling them for the number of more.” For an illicit drug deal- people using er, schools and activities in- methamphetamine, volving students is their big- cocaine, and even gest market. “With pills, I cigarettes have de- c a n c a r r y creased significantly. them “Many kids think in my pock- ets and book bag without any suspicions,” he says. “When I sell I am usually careful about who it is exactly is buying them. If I have okay to do these never known this person I’m not going pills because they to sell to them. But with people that I are FDA approved, know really [well], it’s not a problem.” which makes them Selling pills in school could not sound less dan- only result in a huge mark on a stu- gerous,” says an dent’s permanent record, but also in LHS male user. expulsion. “It’s not that they’re moving “But there is also swiftly in school, there are just a lot of a large amount that kids who are down with pills. Some knows the effects kids even sell to random people af- and consequences, ter they have just bought them… but uses them any- That’s why a lot of kids get caught. way because they like They don’t pay attention,” he says. them. The kids who Although over 10.6 million teen- get caught, how- agers say there are many drug ever, at least [in] our dealers and users in their school school, are some of (2005 CASA National Survey), a the only people who survey conducted in December actually do pills on a 2009 by the National Institute regular basis.” on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests marijuana use April 2010 5 Focus Focus Prescription drugs are the latest Buzz By Matt Snyder, Fiza Shah, and Hallah Amawi ers are the most abused of prescription drugs, increased by more than 300 percent in 2006. Lakewood has a good image, especially after closely followed by tranquilizers, stimulants, Emergency rooms have been overwhelmed being announced Ohio’s “Number one place and sedatives. with visits due to abuse of prescription or to raise your kids.” Our school attendance and According to the Times survey, 43% of stu- over-the-counter drugs with an increase of 21 grades are up, with excellent rating. Dr. Wagner dents admitted to using marijuana, while 36% percent from 2004-2005. has been giving quarter assemblies to each class admitted to using Percoset. Others mentioned Reasons why students use such drugs range to show what areas need improvement. drugs from alcohol to exctasy, all lower than from, “I need to concentrate and I think other Parents and staff see these ratings, and as- 5% in popularity. kids use because they’re too stressed out” to “I sume that everything is perfect. That nothing When asked why they use the pills, one LHS use for social purposes and it makes you feel could go wrong. That they know everything student wrote, “It relaxes me, and helps to re- good.” they need to know about the school. Staff. Stu- mind me of a simpler, carefree time.” Prescription drugs are becoming more dents. According to the Case Western Reserve sur- popular, yet so many teens are unaware of the The latest drug bust seems to be a wake up vey, 29.9% of LHS students are going to be eventual health risks. call for everyone, especially the administration lifetime prescription drug abusers, which is According to the CDC, from 1999-2004, and parents. higher than the CFHS (child and Family Health drugs caused nearly all poison deaths, while The Lakewood Times, in an effort to accu- Service) average. most drug poisonings were caused by the abuse rately assess the extent of the problem, con- Many of the students surveyed wrote in of prescription drugs. the written response questions that pills help Even though the use of pills is on the rise, them concentrate.