Have you seen the commercial for the website Friends Don’t Let Friends Die? It spins from the slogan Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Basically, it’s intervention freelance style. 

It really is okay to tell on a friend if that person is doing something to hurt him or herself. It really is okay to go against the crowd if it doing something that is not right. It really is okay to go to your parents when your friend confides in you that his or her mother or father is on drugs or drunk all the time.

We have to remember that sometimes our friends are victims of other peoples’ actions and other peoples’ addictions. We also have to remember that many times, a person can die from an overdose because his friends are just as high as he is and are not immediately aware that something is wrong. That is why it is important to educate people on what can and does happen when a person takes drugs. That is why it is also important to clarify responsibility.

A person is responsible for his or her own actions when voluntarily taking drugs. When a group of friends gets together to get high, none of them are thinking sensibly. If they were, they would not be taking drugs to begin with.

On that same note, however, a person who takes drugs damages his or her brain and way of thinking. What to do? If you are a friend, a true friend, then do what is right. If you are at a party and a friend overdoses or loses consciousness or gets sick, seek help immediately. The consequences are far less than if someone dies at a party and no one cared or sought help. Not to mention that, well, that is what friends are for, to be there for each other when needed.

Just as soldiers in combat lay down their lives for their buddies, have each other’s back, so too, does friendship involve going the extra mile. If your friend is using and you are not, seek help. Tell your parents, your teacher, someone in a position of authority who can help your friend get treatment. If you are at a party and something happens, call 911.

Friends don’t let friends die, not on purpose. If you and your friends were not wise enough to say no to trying something and then one of them gets sick, make the emergency call. Knowing you tried is what counts. If you succeed, even better. You and your friends are on a battlefield when it comes to drugs. Drugs can’t handle real friendships but friendships can beat out drugs.   Look out for each other, okay?

1 Comment

1.   JF   |  Thursday, 15 April 2010 at 12:27 pm

   Right on Monica! This is so true, friends are friends because they can take care and take responsibility for each other, particularly when it comes to help each other in whatever drug or alcohol abuse situation.

   Also the picture is cool and quite appropriate for te post.