When sex education and love education fail, there are clear signs of such failure. They are all very, very important signs of problems for the developing young person.
Drugs: There is no high like the high of intimacy with another person. When that high is not available, it may be sought elsewhere, and that elsewhere might be drugs. Moodiness, changes in eating habits, anger without explanation, pallor, darkened circles beneath the eyes, withdrawal, defensiveness, and marked personality change are some of the signs of drug use. There are others, but I believe that our society’s failure to help our young people become sexual people plays a major role in their turning to artificial and deadly ways to get high. The war on drugs must be accompanied by an emphasis on teaching loving and intimacy. We are leaving our children with nothing to do with their developing sexuality. If we don’t teach them safe means of sexual self-expression, they may find other, dangerous ways to express themselves.
“Just say no” has been the new major campaign against dru{ use. It will never work. The issue is, What can our developing young people say yes to? How can they safely say it? Both answers relate as much to sexuality as any other aspect. A society thai campaigns against sex, drugs, and violence, but fails to teach sexuality, love, and tenderness, is running a dishonest and ineffective campaign.
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