It used to be people bought drugs from so-called friends or sketchy men in dark corners of clubs and alleys. Now, I’m told customers are buying products off Instagram, Grindr, Tinder, Whisper, Yik Yak, and something called the darknet.
Who knew?
For years, parents have been wringing their hands about how to tame cyberbullying and keep sexual predators from their children. Well, they’d better add this one to the list as well, experts say.
As helpful as social media can be, it can be a direct hit to an overdose, said Louise Stanger, a social worker and interventionist based in Southern California. She said parents should rethink when, where and how they allow their teen to use their devices.
“Social media is the ultimate oxymoron,” Stanger said. “You can score like an Olympian with the use of social media connecting with friends, researching study topics, connecting across the globe, and you can fall like Hades using it to score and sell dope and hook up with all the wrong folks. Parents must be vigilant in their communication with their teens, and teens must beware of the challenges a digital age faces.”
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