Freshman+Respond

Freshman interviews Student 1 interview Question: How would you define substance abuse? Student 1: “Substance abuse would be overusing a drug so much that it’s just out of control, and not being able to quit. So bad that you just put yourself in a hole”. Question: So why do you think a high schooler would get into drugs? Student 1: “Like grades or if they were getting bullied in school. They might try to get high because they were always low, or to relieve some stress they might have at school or with fellow classmates.” Question: How hard do you think it is to resist peer pressure? Student: “Well, it depends on what you’re doing. Like if they’re trying to get you to do a drug and there’s a lot of people there and you’re trying to impress somebody then it might be hard to resist because you want to feel like they think you’re cool, so you might do the drug.” Question: Would you put alcohol in the same category as drugs as far as harmfulness? Why or why not? Student: “Yeah, because if you were to drink alcohol as much as you use the drug it might be worse than the drug because you’re drunk and you don’t have the same responses that you would if you’re sober or if you’re high and you’re not as alert.” Question: How big of a role do you think that drugs and alcohol play in a high school? Student: “I think it’s a big problem with a lot of kids because like I said before if they are feeling a lot of stress then they might get into it. High school is stressful because you are getting ready to go to college and you have to get your grades up so you can get a scholarship or something.” Freshman Interview 2 Question: How would you define substance abuse? Student: “It’s not good. Not good at all. It damages your brain. It’s bad for you.” Question: So why do you think a high schooler would get into drugs? Student: “Because that’s the only way they can turn when people make fun of them. Or once you start getting bad grades or you lose your friends you just think that you have nothing else to live for or they will help you have a good time and everyone else is doing it so why not.” Question: How hard do you think it is to resist peer pressure? Student: “For certain people it’s hard but for me it’s not because I have something to motivate me and other people don’t so just saying no when there are other people around saying let’s do it is hard for them.” Question: Would you put alcohol in the same category as drugs as far as harmfulness? Why or why not? Student: “Yes because a lot of people die by alcohol because they don’t know what they’re doing and the can beat somebody badly or wreck into something and die.” Question: How big of a role do you think that drugs and alcohol play in a high school? Student: “A big role. Huge. I think they [administrators and teachers] make it seem like we’ve all tried it. Everybody I talked to thinks that I’ve tried it maybe because the way act but I haven’t.” Freshman interview 3: Question: How would you define substance abuse? Student: “Bad but good. Well I mean its fun when you’re with your friends but the after effects are kind of bad so…it’s good but it’s not.” Question: So why do you think a high schooler would get into drugs? Student: “Because they think its fun or they’re pressured. They either think its fine, I can control myself, or they think this persons doing it and they seem pretty good so I can do it too but sometimes that’s not the case.” Question: How hard do you think it is to resist peer pressure? Student: “Not that hard. If you don’t care it’s not, but if you’re the kind of person who thinks Oh, I have to do my hair today or so and so is not gonna like it then it might be hard for you.” Question: Would you put alcohol in the same category as drugs as far as harmfulness? Why or why not? Student: “No, because like alcohol makes you stupid, but it doesn’t hurt you like some drugs can like meth. That stuff is crazy.” Question: How big of a role do you think that drugs and alcohol play in a high school? Student: “A big role. Friends, not in our class, but other friends party a lot or something. They kind of brag about it, like I’m a cool kid kind of thing.”