http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2011/06/30/news.qp-0075723.sto
If you read this article, it is clear that everyone, including Lauren, had problems with substance abuse. This is one of the cleaner articles I have read that consolidates that theory. hate to say it, but I am beginning to lose sympathy here. I would suggest that after the PC tomorrow, attention should be shifted. It should not be shifted to the cliche DARE 'Don't Do Drugs'. Rather, it should focus on HOW these tragic things happen to seemingly good people, who had no intention of harming themselves, or others. Substance abuse is a mental disorder. There are ways to help, but it takes time, patience, and practice. it appears Lauren Spierer had a choice here. She was arrested previously. Nearly everyone she was with (confirmed) that night had prior convictions as well. It will not be 'all right', things don't just 'work out'. Anyone with these type of history should AVOID situations that would make them want to indulge, for it is a DISEASE that must be treated. I hope we find Lauren, I really do. However, in the past few days I have had a massive paradigm shift. If you don't want to have bad things happen to you, don't hang out with people who cannot control their actions and are menaces to society. Everyone always thinks they are invincible. "It won't happen to me!". This is a tragic story! But, I have to admit, I am beginning to agree with some people here:
why is the media portraying Lauren Spierer as completely innocent? It appears, at least via these articles, that she had a problem. The underlying theme to this entire investigation shouldn't necessarily be that her friends are murders (though, they may be?). It should be that drugs and alcohol can kill you, and if you have a problem, you need to get help.
I hope we find her; but I also hope this is a wake-up call for many, many people. College kids party. We drink, we smoke pot. But, getting arrested multiple times and being charged is not very normal. I attended Purdue for my undergrad, MIT for my grad, and now am a PhD at Yale (engineering); I know that college kids party.
But trust me, there is a lesson to this. Just my opinion.