The new high

By Crystal Phillips

Steinmetz Academic Centre

Video by Crystal Phillips

For teenagers, this summer’s job opportunities are dwindling while marijuana use is increasing and anti-drug advocates are warning that the spike in drug use will make the teen unemployment problem worse.

“Since I cannot pass a drug test it is much harder for me to get a job so I’m stuck working at delis for now,” said 19-year-old Patrick Korzeneiwski, a recent high school dropout.

His drug use has limited his job opportunities and academic success.

Korzeneiwski works for less than minimum wage and sees no room for promotion.

He even has problems at work since his boss assumes he does drugs, which has caused more problems.

“I get called into my boss’ office if I go to the bathroom too many times in an hour because she thinks I’m in there trying to get high,” Korzeneiwski said. “My job deals with a lot of stress by itself, but having my employer think I’m some kind of reckless drug addict makes it 100 times worse.”

The number of youths, 16- to 24-year-olds, looking for jobs skyrockets every year between the months of April and July, according to the United States Department of Labor.

Last year the department recorded an 11.5 percent growth of 2.4 million to 22.9 million youths who were employed or “actively looking for work.”

But for this summer the national teen employment rate for 2011 is projected to fall to a historic low of only 25 to 27 percent, according to a study released by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in May 2011.

And now marijuana use by teens is at an all-time high, even beating out tobacco.

In fact, more than 20 percent of high school seniors are currently using the drug, compared to about 19 percent of seniors who only smoke cigarettes, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In 2008, the institute conducted a study showing that students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and drop out of high school.

That same year the World Health Organization ranked the United States first among 17 European and North American countries for drug use.

For Korzeneiwski, his drug use not only affected the jobs he has been able to get, he says he dropped out school because of his habit.

“Most of the teens that come in to this office that have problems with drugs are not working,” said Mark Hasselman, a social worker and addiction counselor for Professional Consultations Inc., a drug treatment provider for adolescents and adults licensed by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

“Especially with pot, there’s the anti-motivational syndrome that goes along with that. You just really aren’t motivated to do a lot, so work is pretty low on their priority list.

Hasselman said teens with drug problems differ from adults because usually teens are in treatment against their will, whereas the adults he sees tend to seek help themselves.

But not all teens see marijuana use as being a negative influence in their lives.

While Patrick Korzeneiwski struggles to keep a job with his drug use, Natalie Myczk, a high school senior and grocery store cashier, said she has had no problems in getting or keeping a job.

“At my job, there are even employees who sell drugs at work.” said Myczk.

“I am a recreational user of marijuana, and for me there is no problem in getting a job or keeping a job since marijuana is more sociably accepted. Problems do not arise if you are either high at work or talk about the concepts of being high, as long as you can do your job.”