Auntie SparkNotes: Go Ask Alice

Well Auntie, I have a question.

Basically I am a good kid. I get good grades, I help my parents out, I have a job. But I guess I'm not one of those kids who is a good kid by "not smoking, not drinking, not doing drugs." Because I have tried that kind of stuff. Mostly because I was curious about the effects, and I made sure to be safe by researching and doing with a friend I trust. So I guess its a moral dilemma: am I a bad person for trying drugs? I know the effects of them and I am sure to be careful. But doesn't everyone experiment? Also, I have said no before to drugs that I know are not right for me and that I am not ok with.

So am I a bad kid? Irresponsible? Should I stop? Should I turn over my life to nunhood?

I almost didn't answer this question, because not only is it seriously tricky, but because offering advice on controversial topics like this is the equivalent of walking into a pit full of fire ants.
With no pants on.
With no pants on, and also, with your thighs covered in strawberry jam.

But then, I decided to go for it—fiery ant-bitten thighs be damned!—because gaining perspective on this subject is an important part of growing up.

Before we get to the meat of your question, I'd like to point out the following:

* Drugs are illegal. You shouldn't do illegal things. Breaking the law is bad. We at SparkNotes do not advocate breaking the law.

* What starts out as experimentation can easily turn into addiction. Meaning that while one cigarette isn't going to kill you, becoming a smoker now means that you're setting yourself up for dependency, and also, for a truckload of misery when you try to quit down the road.

* Certain drugs, like hallucinogens, are seriously dangerous even if you're taking them in a controlled environment. You're a teenager, your brain and body are still developing, and screwing with your internal chemistry like that is NOT a good idea.

That said, I'm guessing that you're already aware of all of the above—because like you said, your dilemma is a moral one. So, let's talk morals: does experimenting with drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes make you a bad kid?

No, it doesn't.

Despite the ads that depict these activities as a one-way ticket to Horriblepersonville (and their participants as deadbeat sloths, losers, and direct contributors to terrorism) the truth is that a lot of kids (maybe even most kids) will try out an illegal substance or two on their way to adulthood. Your parents, your teachers, your state senatorial candidates—more likely than not, they're all guilty of the same offenses they now tell you never to commit. Heck, even the President of the United States has admitted to experimenting with cocaine as a teenager.

That doesn't mean you should be drinking, smoking, or taking drugs—because, just in case anyone's forgotten, it's dangerous and it's against the law. But it does mean that doing these things won't automatically doom you to a lifetime of bare mattresses, filthy opium dens, unemployment, and eventual incarceration. A cigarette, a beer—they're objects. They don't have an inherent moral value. It's how you handle them that matters; the reason they're illegal, or illegal until you reach a certain age, is that we want people to be mature enough to exercise good judgment before allowing them to use a substance that impairs it (and because good judgment isn't exactly something teenagers are known for).

As for whether you're being irresponsible and ought to stop... well, you know better than me, but the fact that you're asking makes me think that yes, you should. You're wondering whether you're still in control, and the only way to know that is to take control—and to knock it off. Your curiosity has been satisfied, so take a step back, swear off the boozing/smoking/inhaling, and look at the world through clear eyes.

It should look pretty good.
If it doesn't... well, come back and we'll talk about the nun thing.

Alright, y'all, unleash your comments! And to get advice from Auntie, email her at advice@sparknotes.com.