‘Trying drugs’ riskier than you think

The body is a beautiful and complex creation, of which the mind is the most amazing. Billions of intricate receptors transmit millions of commands to the body each second to ensure our body is working and responding correctly.
They are used to help us imagine, remember, create, understand, store and use information in decision making. It’s so intricate, one has to wonder why anyone would want to do anything that would reduce the brain’s ability to perform at its natural best.
But over the centuries, man has found ways to create drugs that alter the mind’s output and often destroy or reduce brain function in the process.
Recently, two states succumbed to advocates of marijuana to legalize its “recreational use” in order to appeal to the young folks and generate tax revenue. But it is costing tax dollars and hurting the younger generation.  
In fact, the Colorado governor has stated he regrets signing the law. And  the very liberal California governor vetoed recreational marijuana use asking; “How many people can you get stoned and still have a great state?”
Studies show that drug use results in a 55 percent to 75 percent worse decision making, worse recall, worse recognition, worse executive brain function, and long-term damage to the user’s body.
Additionally, marijuana costs employers an estimated $200 billion. The absentee rate is 78 percent higher, the injury rate is 85 percent higher, and medical costs are 300 percent higher, a major impact on our new public health care system. 
The big lie about drugs is they “have no lasting effect.” They do. You don’t “try” drugs, you offer your brain to drugs for ownership. Then you let the drugs choose the amount of mental capability they will return to you.  
Yes, there is a short “high.” But it is after it wears off that you find out the amount of brain power drugs have released back to you, often including a growing addiction to try it again.  
A friend’s sister holds a PHD, was on a fantastic career path, and had a good family.  After deciding to “try” meth “one time,”, her personality radically changed. Her ability to think, understand, and make decisions was severely damaged to the point she could not hold her job, lost her family, and is now near totally dependent. She lost it ALL! This is the “Real World” of drugs.  
Locally, we are challenged with kids and adults using meth and more highly concentrated forms of marijuana. The result is even more devastating brain damage, especially for our youth whose brain function is still developing. It results in more crime as the addictive process takes over.
As the need for more drugs costing more money intensifies, bad decisions are made, often with bad outcomes.
In 1990, the White House noted: “Schools, churches, synagogues, community groups, law enforcement — all can help us turn the tide on drug and alcohol abuse. But none can take a parent’s place. Drug education must begin at home and in the neighborhood long before the classroom.”
Twenty five years later, this is still our challenge as parents and grandparents.