By Joe Sutton-Holcomb

For The Beachcomber

Common sense tells us not to attempt the impossible. When a thing is known with reasonable certainty to be unattainable, it’s clearly wasteful and ludicrous to put effort and resources towards achieving that thing.

Yet despite the apparent obviousness of this, applying the theory to everyday life seems to be difficult at times for some parents and authority figures on Vashon.

It is, when you get right down to it, impossible to prevent adolescents from experimenting with drugs and alcohol. It can’t be done. Despite this fact, a surprising number of adults continue to conduct themselves as if it were an attainable objective. Their efforts could be put to better use elsewhere.

I comprehend the extremity of these statements and should preface my arguments by saying that I am not a radical devil’s advocate seeking the legalization of all controlled substances.

My doctrine is simply one of alternatives rather than prevention. The way I see it, when parents, counselors or health teachers preach complete abstinence regarding substances, it has the same effect as preaching abstinence regarding sexual activity. It is ineffective.

The best policy in both cases is a combination of moderation and common sense and is most effective in preventing bad decisions in the long term.

Though it might not initially sound like it, I don’t feel this is an unreasonable request. I am not encouraging parents to condone experimentation and give their children permission to do whatever they please. I only ask that they be realistic. Parents should educate their children about the dangers of drug use, especially the more dangerous practices, like drinking and driving. And they should undoubtedly issue consequences when lines are crossed. But they should also keep in mind that at the end of the day, if a teenager wants to experiment badly enough, there is no force in the world powerful enough to stop him or her, and attempting to do so is nerve-wracking and time-consuming.

In addition to adopting a more realistic approach to changing the habits of Vashon teenagers, those adults concerned with the fact that juvenile drug use on the Island is 20 percent above state levels should consider providing more constructive alternatives for young people. The euphemism “idle hands are the devil’s playground” rings truer than ever on Vashon today.

Being a Vashon teen myself, I can say without equivocation that the vast majority of drug use among my peers stems from a lack of enjoyable and healthy alternatives. It’s not that the youth of Vashon are poorly raised or more physically susceptible to addiction; it’s that many of them feel there simply isn’t anything better to do on a Friday night in a small, isolated town.

It is not my intent to stir up undue controversy or champion the freedoms of people my age at the expense of their safety. I don’t want to see the hard work of so many members of our community go to waste. There are so many concerned adults on Vashon that want nothing more than to improve life for younger generations, and I respect and admire their enthusiasm.

I simply request that some of them open their minds and their ears and think about the reality of the situation. Recall, perhaps, what it was like to be a teenager, remember the kinds of choices you were making at that time and avoid hypocrisy whenever possible.

With a mindset that is just slightly more pragmatic, you could do even more than you already are for people my age.

— Joe Sutton-Holcomb is a senior at Vashon High School.