The actuality of it is scary. Today children are desensitized from the world. They turn on the tv and see murder cases on CNN they play agressive video games, they are continuously in tune with the negatives in the world, including their awareness with drugs. The one this that has stayed the same throughout the centuries is that teens still associate the use of drugs as being the hip things to do. Today, getting drugs is simple. So simple, that it could be a quick stop at the grocery store or the pharmacy. Kids are continuously using over the counter cough medicine to get high, as well as nail polish removers.. but going beyond those are the teens that simply look into their medicine cabinet and find their parents or grandparents medication.. Getting percription medication is easier then getting illegal medication.. These days drugs are easy to obtain, and teens are easily talked into it. The best way to prevent this, is to have a good relationship with your child, don’t be the strict parent continuously, the less the child comes to you, the less you know about what is going on in their world. And if you happen to find out your child is involved with a bad group of people or that they are doing drugs, first, calmly get your child into a safe envoirnment, then confront them with why they did what they did, until you hear all of this, do not decide a punishment, and do not tell your child he or she is going to be punished. After hearing your child’s situation, sit for a few minutes, and evaluate the situation as to why your child did this? Would you of done it? Maybe pressured into it? Review the angles of the situation, and then determine a reasonable punishment. I believe it is better to look at most situation this way with teens and children in order to put yourself in their shoes, and also to stand back and play both roles and a mother and as a child to even out the punishment. Either way, Some sort of punishment is necessary for a child who misbehaves.