Declaration Of Dependence By The "So-Called" Independent

Michelle Jocson

English 114.34

Erpelo

Essay # 4

November 18, 2003

Final Draft

Declaration of Dependence by the "So-called" Independent

People are taught through history classes and such that for many centuries, all types of people have been fighting for independence--whether from a political standpoint or independence from mistakes made by earlier generations. Today however, people that have become notorious for fighting for their wants and independence have found material objects to become dependent upon. For every kind of disorder or possible abnormal behaviors, numerous types of drugs have been manufactured, developed and introduced into our world to make us believe that we cannot handle the daily stresses of life without some sort of unnatural remedy. Television advertisers of prescription medications are smart people by advertising, during any time of day, especially when teens should be at school or at work. Television networks broadcast every kind of depression medication commercial without the idea that their commercial is not the kind of motivation that people need. While previous generations are quickly prescribing medications to Generation Y, the message of "just saying no," is becoming a double standard. [Generation Y is becoming known as the group that expresses themselves and their emotions in very unorthodox ways and the emotionally unstable group of individuals that need to resort to different kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal, in order to accept the daily scrutiny of everyday life and.]

From society's perspective, Generation Y is the most emotionally unstable individuals where suicide statistics climb higher and higher every year, and school

shootings and violence are not a shock or surprising anymore. According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide has become the second leading cause of death for youths ranging in age from 15-19 years old ("Teen Suicides"). In an ideal world, teenagers should not have to think about how they want to die. Generation Y, however, lives in an idealistic world where things just seem to be perfect, hiding the real scars and pains of living everyday life. While adjusting to new lifestyles is what Generation Y is supposedly about, the simple adaptation to high school is more frightening than once thought. "4.3 percent of ninth graders make suicide attempts serious enough to require medical attention (Begley 3)." Whether they are just attempting what it would be like to commit suicide to actually successfully completing their task, suicide is not an uncommon event nowadays. Over the past couple of years, school shootings such as the Columbine event, or school violence such as students bringing weapons to school have become less frightening and more ordinary. "17 percent of teens and 37 percent of parents say they worry a lot about safety at school ("A Snapshot of a Generation")." While schools are supposed to be considered a safe haven full of open-minded and non-judgmental people, the welcoming environment of schools has changed. Students are expressing themselves by taking their personal anger out on innocent classmates as a way of seeking vengeance for being teased or socially rejected.

The "popping pills" generation has become a nickname for Generation Y. With different type of manufactured drugs and fashion drugs, such as ecstasy and marijuana, Generation Y has it the hardest from being able to escape the temptation of falling into some sort of addiction. "Fifty-three percent of young people who commit suicide abuse substances ("Teen Suicides")." Students who participate in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (DARE) have been taught that "just saying no" is the way to avoid being pressured into drugs. "25 percent of teens worry about getting into trouble with drugs ("A Snapshot of a Generation")." While 66 percent of parents worry about their children taking on illegal drug habits, teenagers do not seem to think that experimenting with drugs is that important. Teenagers are being sent mixed messages from their parents, as well as their elders. While teenagers are learning more and more from their mistakes in high school, they also learn how to become dependent on things that in the long run, will ruin everything that they worked so hard for. Even though they are being taught to not use illegal drugs and to stay away from pressuring situations, previous generations are quickly medicating today's youth with numerous, unnecessary drugs.

From childhood to adolescence, teenagers learn more quickly, that it is acceptable to self-medicate because nothing is perfect--that some type of drug can fix everything. Ritalin, a drug to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), has become the most widely known drug to be used in our country--especially by children. Parents of today have overreacted by having their children treated by psychiatrists who believe that normal, childhood hyperactivity is a disorder that needs to be treated. Children have been taught, at such a young age from such diagnoses, that being wild and themselves is some sort of disease. Time Magazine journalist, Jeffrey Kluger, reports that, Stephen Hinshaw, chairman of psychology