During high school, students struggle with outside influences causing them to rebel. A number of teens rebel by using drugs and drinking alcohol. However, not all teenagers do this.

Many teens are friends with a variety of people. Which means that people who do drugs and drink alcohol are also friends with people who don’t.

Dozens of KHS students are an example of this. Sophomore Ariel Desjardins describes how she feels about her friends’ drug and alcohol use.

“As long as my friends don’t force me to do it, I don’t care that they do,” Desjardins said.

A great deal of teenagers are influenced by their friends. To know that some teens aren’t influenced by their friends’ choices shows good morals.

“Teens don’t need drugs and alcohol to have fun,” Desjardins said.

When people watch the effects of this on their friends, it can be challenging. Some see change, while others don’t.

Senior Rebecca Moyer tells about the affects that drugs and alcohol use has had on her friends.

“I can see an effect. It changes them, personality and schoolwork-wise,” Moyer said.

Nobody likes seeing their friends being brought down emotionally or even physically. Dealing with their personality, physical appearance, and even their grades can be harsh on their friends.

Based on senior Jamelco Harvey’s personal experience, he disagrees with this statement.

“Their school work is not affected,” Harvey said. “They actually get their work done.”

Although there is not much data to support the claim that drug and alcohol use doesn’t effect teens, there’s also not a lot that proves it does.

Moyer thinks students should avoid drug and alcohol use.

“All in all, I’m OK with my friends doing drugs and drinking alcohol,” Moyer said. “But I would prefer them not to do it, at least while they’re still in high school.”