Life gives people choices. These choices can lead to circumstances where people may feel lost. Tobacco, alcohol, legal and illegal drugs are part of life. Their influence is everywhere from social media to movies and even at home. What they may teach us is that sometimes when we choose to escape or to feel good, that is when we are our most vulnerable, that is when we may make mistakes. Because life isn't about being perfect, but rather what the imperfections teach us.I have a sister who likes to drink. She's not your typical lush. She drinks only when she has the time to. This is usually at night and her drink of choice is a bottle of dry, red wine. She, like most people, has experimented with marijuana. The more marijuana lost its stigma, the more she felt it was okay to partake in it. She would get some marijuana from her dealer, get her wine glass ready, and turn on the TV, making sure her favorite show was on. Then she would take out some chips and sit on her bed getting as high as she felt comfortable getting.

After about thirty minutes her eyes would appear glazed over and bloodshot. She had a relaxed smile on her face and she swore she could see Elvis in the corner of her room. I don't think marijuana could produce hallucinations but, everyone is different. She would drink about 2 to 3 full glasses of wine and eat maybe half a large back of potato chips, baked potato chips. Then she'd turn off the TV after about an hour and go to bed. That was it. That was the extent of her usage.

It seems strange recounting my sisters experience with marijuana, a decidedly illegal and legal substance and alcohol. Her experience is one that many shares. However, I had to include it because that...

The thing about drugs is, there is so much stigma attached to them. There is even stigma attached to alcohol. But this was the only time where using both seemed normal. It wasn't normal. For a time, she moved on to liquor. Still, this was one of my first times seeing such usage and therefore, it was an important part of my own experience.
My own experience of drugs and alcohol passes personal and dives into formal. I learned from years in school about the dangerous effects of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal and legal drugs. I learned alcohol abuse affects the liver, potentially leading to cirrhosis. (Lee and Moreau) One teacher stated an alcohol must keep drinking or risk dying. That was a wakeup call for me in understanding how dangerous it is to become addicted to substances like alcohol and the need to exercise restraint and moderation early on in life.

I had a similar experience with tobacco. Many people still smoke. Even with the use of anti-tobacco campaigns, people smoke outside and in their own homes. I learned in school about the dangerous of smoking, but in particular, second-hand smoking. Second-hand smoking could lead to the development of lung cancer and more frequently, ear infections. I also learned that nicotine, a key ingredient in my cigarettes, can be extremely addicting and can lead to people smoking upwards of two packs a day or more of cigarettes.

My education on legal and illegal drugs is not as extensive as alcohol and tobacco. For example, I know people can become addicted to legal drugs like prescription pain pills. I know illegal drugs like crack can kill someone with only one instance…