Teen discusses former addiction with peers

By Staff Writer

Although recent trends in youth drug use have shown the first significant downturn, they remain at high levels, the Office of National Drug Control Policy reports. In an effort to prevent teens from trying and potentially becoming addicted to drugs, a number of communities are hosting youth outreach programs.

NewsOK reports that a sober high school in the Midwest is bringing its students to local public schools in order for kids to hear about addiction recovery. One participant, Tyler Norsworthy, was addicted to ecstasy for two years.

Today Norsworthy is sober, in school and working. He told the news source that he remains sober because he now clearly sees what he lost during the years he was under the influence of drugs.

"I feel a hundred times better," Tyler told the media outlet. "I have a real good relationship with my parents, my own money, I can train for mixed martial arts and I can come to school."

According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future study, 20 percent of eighth graders, 34 percent of 10th graders and 47 percent of 12th graders reported using an illicit drug within their lifetimes.