Drug Violence: The Baby Boomer Generation

Recent generations are growing up in a different world compared to the one older generations experienced. The newest generation, Gen Z, is defined as those born from 1996 to present, and is nicknamed iGen. The people born into this generation, including me, have never known a world without the internet. One of the older living generations, the Baby Boomers, include those born 1946 to 1964. Living off the booming economy after World War II, this generation sometimes struggles to adapt to the technological world of today. The differences between these generations engender different perceptions of each other on serious topics affecting society. One such topic is drug abuse. Drug abuse has been a big issue even before Richard Nixon declared

Although they may agree on some instances, the generation of Baby Boomers perceives Gen Z as more aware of the negative effects of drugs, but they act without thinking of the consequences; Gen Z perceives themselves as overlooking the normality of the presence of the “War on Drugs,” resulting in them taking the

Through a survey, I discovered that the Baby Boomer generation views Gen Z as more informed because of all the technology and media of today. News outlets and schools do their best to teach the effects of drugs, and push the understanding of the consequences of using them. This is accurate as each year students are shown a presentation or video, and they place red ribbons around the school showing support of drug awareness. In the past, Baby Boomers never experienced “Red Ribbon Week” nor watched videos or read news stories that made them cognizant of detrimental drugs. Furthermore, a treatment hotline conducted an analysis that proved, “millennials use less marijuana and cocaine than baby-boomers did at the same age.” (The Data Team). As Baby Boomers have shown higher rates of illegal drug use without the awareness of today (DrugAbuse.com), it proves that the lower rates of drug abuse within Gen Z are aided by being informed of harmful effects of drugs. Moreover, the claim that Gen Z doesn’t think of the consequences is inaccurate, as any generation or person involved with drugs most likely does not think of the repercussions. This perception emerges from the age gap that separates Baby Boomers and Gen Z. As older people have already experienced life and its ramifications, they regard newer generations as injudicious and reckless. In hindsight, Baby Boomers were more rash in