Unit 4: Understanding and Avoiding Hazardous Substances | Video
Transcript:
Understanding and Avoiding Hazardous Substances
LUCY: This is my day.
These are all the pills my parents take. I have no idea what most of them do. I hope when I'm their age I don't have to take as many as they do.
These are the kids that sneak cigarettes before school. Or at least the ones that haven't been expelled for it yet. I try not to talk to them. Their breath smells awful and their yellow teeth freak me out.
This is English class. Today we are discussing Ernest Hemingway. He was an alcoholic-which means he was an addict. Alcohol is just as dangerous as any other drug. Hemingway says he used to drink to make other people more interesting. I think people are plenty interesting enough if you just try to get to know them.
This is chemistry. We are learning how various substances can be combined to create a specific reaction. Like what happens when you mix the wrong prescription drugs and they interact in harmful ways. Some things that are supposed to be good for you aren't if you don't take them the right way. If you abuse them, they abuse you back.
This is physical education class. Those are the girls who sit out whenever possible because they can't breathe. They can't breathe because they've been smoking since they were twelve. They've already started destroying their lungs. It's called emphysema. They hack and cough constantly.
This is lunch. And this is the piece of chocolate I bring with me to eat every day. I think I'm addicted to chocolate. An addiction is when you feel like you have to have something. It's not great for me, I know. But there are a lot worse things I could be addicted to.
This is math class. Here's a little math problem. There are approximately 314 million people in the United States. One out of every six people in the U.S. has a drinking problem. X equals the number of people with a drinking problem. Solve for X. Personally, I think the solution would be for people to stop drinking so much. Or to not start to begin with. It's 52 million, by the way.
These are some girls I know. They are asking me if I want to go to a party this weekend. It's nice of them to invite me, but I have to say no. I just make up an excuse. "I have to babysit for my little brother," I say. But I've heard about their parties before and I know better than to even put myself in that situation. At the last one, somebody passed out and had to be taken to the hospital. He's not at this school anymore.
This is history class. Here's a little historical fact. Since 1990, the number of deaths due to drug overdose has nearly tripled. I'm sixteen years old. I have my whole life ahead of me still.
This is my best friend. She gives me a ride home from school every day. She drives like an old lady, but that's all right. Her mom almost died in a car accident a few years ago. Hit head-on by a drunk driver. So I understand. If it were me, I'd be careful, too.
Ernest Hemingway said, “Courage is grace under pressure.” It takes courage to say no sometimes. There’s a lot of pressure, but being graceful is worth it.